Vinik real estate team makes key hires for master planning phase of downtown Tampa development
By Ashley Gurbal Kritzer
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Published: Mar 18, 2015

Tampa Bay Lightning Owner Jeff Vinik's real estate team is moving into the master planning phase of its billion-dollar development in downtown Tampa.

Strategic Property Partners, the holding company for Vinik's real estate endeavors, on Tuesday announced two key hires to aid its master planning process: David Dixon of Stantec's Urban Places Group and Washington, D.C.-based urban planner Jeff Speck, author of "Walkable City: How Downtown Can Save America, One Step At a Time."

The plans Vinik and SPP unveiled in December were a "vision plan," whereas the master plan will be the definitive outline of the development, laying out the exact mix of uses and where each will be located within the district. Master-planned districts are attractive to commercial tenants because the plan is laid out from the get-go, so they know exactly where complementary - and competitive - components will exist.

Speck and Dixon have been retained for 120-day planning process, SPP said in a statement. The Tampa Bay Business Journal first reported Speck's hire as a consultant on Vinik's project on Friday. Stantec has previously been engaged on the project, in the civil engineering, roadway realignment and zoning work.

"Moving forward we are asking Jeff and David to help us advance a great live, work, play and stay district; one that is welcoming, pedestrian friendly, progressive and also healthy as we aspire to create a true 'wellness' district for our residents, employers, students and visitors," Vinik said in a written statement.

Ashley Gurbal Kritzer is a reporter for the Tampa Bay Business Journal.