Big changes ahead as redevelopment impacts the Tampa Riverwalk
By Ashley Gurbal Kritzer
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Published: Oct 22, 2021

Expect some major changes along the Tampa Riverwalk in the years ahead.

Two major projects are in the works: the renovation of the Tampa Convention Center's waterfront-facing facades and the redevelopment of the David A. Straz Jr. Center for Performing Arts property.

Construction on the convention center overhaul — part of an ongoing $38 million capital improvement plan that kicked off in October 2020 — is underway. The convention center construction will re-route about 400 feet of Riverwalk traffic for more than one year.

Tampa City Council, acting as the downtown Community Redevelopment Agency on Oct. 14, approved $25 million in CRA funds for the Straz redevelopment. Hillsborough County will also kick in at least $2.5 million, and Straz officials are raising private funds to come up with the balance of the $80 million price tag on the renovation.

The Tampa Riverwalk has become the city's central spine in recent years, connecting the Armature Works-anchored Heights district on the northern end to Sparkman Wharf and Water Street Tampa to the south. The redevelopments at the convention center and the Straz will further open up the city to the Riverwalk. The convention center improvements include the addition of 18 new waterfront meeting rooms spanning two stories and 18,000 square feet will be added to the convention center.

The Straz improvements include things like expanded event and outdoor space and a public rooftop terrace open year-round with seating and a full bar.

Michelle Van Loan, director of the city's community redevelopment department, told the Business Journal that no previously approved projects were canceled due to the Straz's ask of the downtown CRA. The $25 million payment is spread out over five fiscal years, from fiscal 2023 to fiscal 2027.

"We developed the payment schedule so that any one of those years would not be overly burdened by the payment," she said. "We also loaded the payments at the end of the five years, when other funding commitments had ended, and the budget had more capacity."

City councilman Luis Viera cast the lone dissenting vote against public funding for the Straz redevelopment, saying the project could have "unintended consequences."

“I think there’s still a lot of work to be done downtown,” he said, listing off other priorities for money, including the TECO Line Streetcar, affordable housing and parks in need of renovations.

“As a percentage of the downtown CRA revenue and budget, that could be anywhere from 30% to 40%, if not more,” Viera said. “Respectfully, this allocation at the level it’s at is not consistent with the intent of downtown CRAs.”

Van Loan said it's impossible to say what other projects may not get done due to the Straz funding.

"I would not be able to predict what projects might have been considered in the coming years if the Straz funding did not move forward," she said.

The other six members of the CRA board disagreed with Viera, saying an investment in the performing arts center will be an economic catalyst for downtown Tampa.

Hillsborough County Commissioner Harry Cohen spoke to the CRA board in support of the city funding. Cohen said the county has committed $2.5 million to the Straz for the redevelopment.

“In our private conversations, I know you’re trying to get a much bigger number,” Councilman Bill Carlson said to Cohen.

“I will be working very hard to support this project with additional funds as we go forward,” Cohen told the board.

“I particularly believe in public subsidy for the arts when the arts are an economic engine for the community they serve,” Cohen continued.