Ybor developer Darryl Shaw talks affordable housing, Rays stadium
By Ashley Gurbal Kritzer
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Published: Dec 15, 2021

Tampa executive Darryl Shaw has long been adamant that his Ybor City development will be an inclusive place — going beyond glitzy high-rises with skyscraping rents to include affordable and workforce housing, public spaces and more.

But on Dec. 9, when Tampa City Council held a public hearing on the first phase of Shaw’s Gas Worx development, council members questioned why only 5% of 724 apartments, or 36 units, were designated for affordable housing. Council chairman Orlando Gudes and councilman John Dingfelder voted against the project’s rezoning request, citing those concerns; councilman Charlie Miranda voiced similar concerns but voted in favor of the rezoning.

The city has no requirements on its books that developers include any affordable or workforce housing within multifamily developments. Shaw, CEO of BluePearl Veterinary Partners, is developing Gas Worx in a joint venture with Washington, D.C.-based Kettler and said affordable housing is a focus for him. The entirety of Gas Worx — which spans more than 50 acres — will include more affordable units, he said.

Council will hold its second and final vote on the rezoning on Jan. 13, 2022.

“I respect their concerns,” Shaw said of city council. “There is the history of Tampa Park Apartments, and I think it’s important to make a statement. We weren’t speaking for the entire development. It was just that first phase.”

Tampa Park Apartments was a low-income housing development that Shaw acquired earlier this year. He spent more than $800,000 relocating residents from the apartments.

“We want to create a live-work community, and it’s hard to do that if you can’t afford to live there,” Shaw said. “We’re talking about truly affordable housing, and that’s something that every city should focus on. A big component of it is also workforce housing for bartenders, waiters — where do they live as well?”

The first phase of Gas Worx — properties at 1502 Nuccio Parkway, 1015 Lily White Court and 1555 Scott St. — includes 20,000 square feet of retail space and a 924-space parking garage. Shaw said he and Kettler decided to begin with those properties as a first phase to stay out of the way of a potential Major League Baseball stadium for the Tampa Bay Rays.

The Rays are currently focused on another property in which Shaw is a partner — the former Kforce Inc. headquarters. Shaw was also a partner in the first property the Rays targeted in Ybor. The Rays in 2018 unveiled renderings of a glass-domed stadium but were unable to come to terms on public financing with Hillsborough County and Tampa officials.

Shaw said that while the Kforce headquarters is the team’s preferred site, the project is still in discussion with city and council officials. That financing deal has to be finalized before negotiations can begin with the private development team, he said.

The Rays continue to tout plans to split the season between Tampa Bay and Montreal, though MLB owners have yet to vote on the split-city plan.

“We’re hoping that they come and that they’re able to work it out with city and county,” he said. “It’s not just about baseball itself, but having that open-air stadium that can accommodate the Rowdies and possibly women’s soccer and concerts would be amazing for Tampa.

“I’m really hoping they can work it out, and if it’s the split-city concept, I’m supportive of that, too.”