Ritz-Carlton Residences on Bayshore win preliminary approval from Tampa City Council
By Ashley Gurbal Kritzer
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Published: Oct 2, 2020

Tampa City Council has given its preliminary approval to a massive redevelopment on Bayshore Boulevard that could bring Ritz-Carlton to Tampa for the first time.

Council on Thursday voted 4-3 to approve Miami-based Related Group's plans to build a Ritz-Carlton branded residential development — 170 condos in two towers and 12 townhouses — on the site of the Bay Oaks apartment complex. Councilmen Orlando Gudes, John Dingfelder and Bill Carlson voted to deny the rezoning request.

Thursday evening's hearing was the first time the project was presented to council; the ordinance to approve the rezoning will have a second reading for final approval in November.

Related purchased the Bay Oaks property in mid-2019, paying $26.25 million for the nearly 5-acre site. Truett Gardner, a partner with Gardner Brewer Martinez-Monfort who represents Related, said the residences will be "truly iconic for Tampa" if the project moves forward.

"The property is 50 years old and nearing the end of its economic life," Mike Hammon, Related senior vice president, told city council on Thursday. "A lot of structural issues are starting to appear. We wanted to redevelop it to create a new standard for residential living in the city of Tampa."

The majority of neighbors who oppose the project were represented at the hearing by Tampa attorney George Vaka, who is also president of the Stovall condo association, and Tampa ophthalmologist Dr. Stephen Gross, who also lives in the Stovall building at 3203 Bayshore Blvd., directly south of the proposed Ritz project.

Vaka and Gross' primary objection to the development was its proximity to their building. They cited concerns about privacy and presented a drone video with what they said were electronic measurements of space between other towers on Bayshore Boulevard to support their argument that it was too close.

Bernardo Fort-Brescia of Arquitectonica, the architect of the Ritz residences, said that privacy isn't an issue because of the tower's larger units, and that its large windows are on the front and back of the building.

"This is a luxury product that can afford larger units, and the views face the front and back," he said. "I don’t think we can be compared with buildings that have primary windows on the side."

Dingfelder, who ultimately voted against the development, at first said he was in favor of a continuance to allow Related to work more closely with the neighbors.

"I think with all due respect to a world-class architect — and I’m not questioning his abilities by any means — but it just didn’t appear to me that they worked closely enough with their new neighbors in the Stovall," he said. "I think the Stovall showed that Tampa is not Miami, and Bayshore is not downtown Manhattan."

His denial and commentary came after he questioned Tampa architect Mickey Jacob, who spoke as a private citizen in support of the development. Dingfelder asked for his professional opinion of the site design as "a respected architect in this town."

"Assuming that it’s true that these buildings are going to be 43 feet apart, does that concern you as an architect?" Dingfelder asked Jacob. "Especially when it’s on a fairly large piece of land and there could have been more flexibility?"

Jacob said he supported layout of the project because of the activation at street level, which includes public art and a lush landscaping design.

"I believe the design as a whole is a very good design of the site," Jacob told Dingfelder.

Jodi Johnson, who said he is a professor at the University of South Florida, said he opposed the development because it would displace the people who currently live in Bay Oaks.

"I don't care about the Ritz. I care about the people who live here now," Johnson said. "I'm a professor at USF and I can't afford this area."

More than a dozen speakers spoke in support of the plans, with most saying that the Ritz-Carlton name would be a major win for Tampa.

"I love this city and I think for us to be competitive, we need to compete globally," said Cesar Hernandez, president of the Tampa Bay Latin Chamber of Commerce. "It's time for us not to be compared with Sheboygan but be competitive with Singapore and London.”

For all the support of the Ritz-Carlton branding, senior assistant city attorney Cate Wells told council before the vote that the Ritz name was not to be considered for their decision. A rezoning decision, Wells said, is contingent upon code requirements.

"I think this is a reasonable use," councilman Luis Viera, who voted in favor of the project, said. "The Ritz has no bearing whatsoever on my decision, but that’s certainly something a lot of people can be excited about. We’re doing the use, not the institution. They could sell it to Howard Johnson, but ultimately I think the use is a reasonable one."

In a statement after the meeting, Hammon said Related is "very excited to continue moving this project forward."

"This is truly a defining project for Tampa, and we are committed to extending our investment beyond The Residences to complement and enhance the surrounding community," Hammon said.