Downtown Tampa's waterfront potential is changing in the wake of growth
By Alexis Muellner
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Published: Apr 14, 2023

A series of Tampa Bay Business Journal reports raise questions about the future shape of downtown Tampa and the direction of development amid growth.

In the April 14 cover story, Henry Queen thoroughly examined a question many people have been asking: Does downtown Tampa need the cruise industry?

Port Tampa Bay executives share that they remain bullish and optimistic that sailings from Carnival Cruise Lines and Royal Caribbean Cruises to Port Tampa Bay still provide a growing economic engine — and that projected growth is one of the reasons it abandoned a more than 70-story tower as part of a redevelopment floated on 2016.

But as the reporting shares, the placemaking at Water Street Tampa and the growth of residential life downtown make a case for the changing land use, and because the Sunshine Skyway exists, the current class of cruise ships that could drive growing revenue can’t exist.

The reporting further explores a growing discussion about opening up the popular Tampa Riverwalk behind the port’s terminal 2. The Florida Aquarium is planning a $40 million expansion soon, and there are growing calls to open up a restricted area behind Sparkman Wharf to foot traffic — at least on days no ships call there. A theme here: Tampa’s downtown has different priorities, and does this valuable waterfront land have a higher and better use? The port may have some competition.

SeaPort Manatee is also looking to attract a cruise line. Now it has allocated over $25 million to building a cruise terminal to attract the same type of ships as Tampa, its President and CEO Carlos Buqueras told the Business Journal.

A goal to extend the Tampa Riverwalk west of the Hillsborough River has entered its next phase, the Business Journal reported this week. Two companies — PCL Construction Inc. and The Haskell Co. — submitted statements of qualifications before a deadline of March 20, eliminating the need to short-list three companies this week. The two companies must submit price proposals by Aug. 17. A final selection is expected later that month.

And a change in leadership is ahead at the Tampa Downtown Partnership. Its CEO, Lynda Remund, will retire after five years at the helm of the special services district. Shaun Drinkard, a longtime senior staff member, will serve as interim president while a nationwide search for Remund’s replacement is conducted. That selection process will be worth watching.

Given so much change afoot downtown, the new CEO will be able to take a visible stand on some of the key issues facing the future shape of the district — like what to do with the cruise terminals or plans to extend the Riverwalk.