On Tuesday, we get a look at the future of downtown Tampa.
Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik’s development company Strategic Property Partners (SPP) is making a presentation to the Board of Port Tampa Bay on Tuesday morning about the estimated $2 Billion master plan slated for the Channelside District.
Much of the work to be done is around Amalie Arena and the future site of the new USF Morsani College of Medicine.
The development company confirmed some details released early ahead of the meeting with Port Tampa Bay, and reveals the makings of a whole new neighborhood alone Channelside Drive that replaces several empty lots often used for parking during events at the Arena.
The redevelopment plan includes up to 9 million square feet and up to 5,000 new residential units, about 2.6 million square feet of office space, about 500,000 square feet of retail, and a new, 650-room hotel.
The plans also include space for a small grocer, and a new parking garage.
Ferg’s Live, the restaurant and bar on Channelside Drive which is a popular spot before Lightning games, will be torn down to make room for an office space, according to SPP.
Infrastructure and road construction has already begun, but work on the new buildings won’t break ground until late 2017, says SPP.
For more about the coming road closures involved in the construction, the city of Tampa is encouraging people to go to DowntownTampaGrid.com, which will be regularly updated.
