Tampa Riverwalk: will there be stuff to do there?

[cee]

just curious, does the city plan on brining things to do along the riverwalk? there had better be some restaurants, shopping, etc going on along the riverwalk, otherwise its just going to be some random park created by the city that no one will use.. don't think for a second that if you build a park in downtown, people will flock.. tampa doesnt work like that. you gotta give people an excuse to blow their money in order for people to go anywhere, otherwise, its gonna be infested with hobos sleeping on city park benches... (ahhh, i can see it now... )

[tampamobster21]

Well I know of one restaurant that will be on the riverwalk. Malio's, and my resaurant manager is thinking about going downtown (opening a restaurant).

[moxwax]

I have a feeling it's going to be the downtown version of Bayshore...

[tampamobster21]

What do you mean by that??????

[moxwax]

I mean a place that is used solely as a place to walk or run... like Bayshore.

People who use Bayshore don't usually use it as a means to get places, but as a public park to play in.

That's what I think about when I hear the word "Riverwalk". I think of a place where downtown residents walk their dogs or jog along and things like that. Not a San Antonio style riverwalk that is lined with restaurants and shops.

[robbie]

Sounds like they need to build restaurants and other stuff right on the banks. As for Malio's, they are taking a chance there. There is no guarantee that it will work out there, but if it does, then others will follow. I will go eat there just because I really liked Malio's. Their food was always great.

[Tampa610]

I recently had the opportunity to visit the San Antonio Riverwalk which is a great example of what a Riverwalk can be. Their Riverwalk however, has been under development since the 1930’s and is still being expanded thanks to a PROGRSSIVE city council. The San Antonio Riverwalk is planned to be a pedestrian and transportation corridor to the older neighborhoods surrounding downtown.

The Tampa Riverwalk has a long way to go. I fear that, like everyone says, it will be a downtown version of Bayshore Blvd. The renderings I have seen so far only show people walking or running. What about cafes, restaurants, bars, shops, hotels, homes, etc? It seems like this was only given lip service. There will be some of these amenities at the northern end around “The Heights” and southern end around Channelside, but what about IN downtown proper? 2.4 miles is a long way to go without a drink or break.

I believe the city should take down the old art museum and instead of creating a giant park, which no one will use, work with developers through a public/private organization to bring in hotels, condos, storefronts on the river. There would still be plenty of room for an urban park but not one that puts so much emphasis on creating a large vacant parcel with little use. As a requirement, all future riverside developments should include storefronts facing the river. This quasi-public organization would also be charged with developing the Riverwalk project as well as locating, acquiring, and developing vacant land in the downtown area and central Tampa neighborhoods.

[tampamobster21]

Originally Posted by Tampa610

I believe the city should take down the old art museum and instead of creating a giant park, which no one will use, work with developers through a public/private organization to bring in hotels, condos, storefronts on the river. There would still be plenty of room for an urban park but not one that puts so much emphasis on creating a large vacant parcel with little use. As a requirement, all future riverside developments should include storefronts facing the river. This quasi-public organization would also be charged with developing the Riverwalk project as well as locating, acquiring, and developing vacant land in the downtown area and central Tampa neighborhoods.

I think that would be a great idea. I have been downtown after dark and the park turns into a giant bumfest. I think there should be a development with pedestrian traffic only. Also, it should have a high-rise property.

[tampamobster21]

Trump is finally completing its portion of the Tampa Riverwalk.

[Quegiebo]

Originally Posted by tampamobster21

Trump is finally completing its portion of the Tampa Riverwalk.

Are you sure? I would think that completing the Riverwalk would be the last part of the project -- landscaping and all. . .

[Dave01walk]

Trump has nothing to do with the riverwalk

[moxwax]

Originally Posted by Dave01walk

Trump has nothing to do with the riverwalk

I thought part of the deal was that he had to provide a segment of riverwalk as well. In fact in renderings you can see people walking along a piece of riverwalk behind the tower.

[Dave01walk]

I thought the city was doing the riverwalk. You could be right

[tampamobster21]

He isn't, but Trump had to finish his part to have a continuous walk.

[TPAMAN]

The city is spearheading the riverwalk project. Any developer who submits plans to build along the riverwalk will have to make a commitment to cover that portion of the project.
In other words, if you want to build here, you MUST cover this portion for the city as well as provide open access to the public.

[tampamobster21]

Landscaping yes, Building the seawall no.

[Dave01walk]

Private funding steps up for Riverwalk project after veto
Tampa Bay Business Journal - June 2, 2006

TAMPA -- The group raising $20 million in private funds for the $40 million Riverwalk is on course, despite a veto of state funding for the project.

Friends of the Riverwalk has collected $1.5 million, an increase of $314,000 since officially kicking off a capital campaign March 14 when the group had about $485,000 in cash and commitments and $695,000 in in-kind contributions.



The private not-for-profit group continues to talk to businesses and individuals about lead gifts, those of at least $1 million, said Dan Mahurin, Friends chairman and president of SunTrust Bank, Tampa Bay.

This summer, the group will unveil a major donor program, providing recognition for those who contribute to funding the Riverwalk, a 2.4-mile continuous pedestrian walkway extending from Channelside to Tampa Heights on the banks of the Hillsborough River.

Mayor Pam Iorio has made Riverwalk a top priority and hopes to have most of it completed by 2009, when Tampa will host Super Bowl XLIII.

An effort already is under way to get in the state funding cycle for next year, Mahurin said.

Gov. Jeb Bush, who vetoed $5.5 million in proposed state funds for Riverwalk, is completing his second term in office and will leave the job in early 2007.

Bush vetoed $3 million for the Riverwalk and $2.5 million for parking improvements downtown that also would have benefited the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Ben Wacksman, president of Capital Realty Investors and chairman of the Friends of the Riverwalk funding committee, said the project had tremendous support from legislators. Mahurin said he and Iorio met with Bush personally.

"We thought we did a good job telling our story to the governor," Mahurin said.

But he also said he knew the odds were against state funding.

Bush cut a total of $449 million from the $74 billion state budget, saying some of the projects circumvented the process while others did not serve a statewide interest.



"Many of these projects are worthwhile but are more appropriately funded by local government or through private sources," Bush said in a release.

Mahurin said members of Friends of the Riverwalk were disappointed at a meeting held after the veto was announced.

"That would be a good way to spike a campaign at this point," Mahurin said. "But it's just one 'no.' "

The state funding made up about one-third of the $16 million in public funds planned for the Riverwalk. The City of Tampa will contribute $4.6 million, including $1.74 million allocated in the 2006 budget, with $3 million coming from federal funds. Another $2.9 million potentially could come from public sources such as Hillsborough County, tax increment financing districts for The Heights and the Channel District and the Community Development District of The Heights.

Developers of The Heights, a proposed residential project north of downtown, and of Trump Tower Tampa would contribute an estimated $4 million, contingent on design and construction timing.

The governor's veto demonstrates the significance of private funding, Wacksman said.

"When the government funding doesn't come in, it just makes it that much more difficult to finance the project, and it makes the private side of the effort that much more important," Wacksman said. "We believe the private sector support is going to build the closer we get to 2009."

http://tampabay.bizjournals.com/tamp...4.html?i=45821

[tamparican]

miight be old news, but I just recently joined this forum, and this is actually my first thread, so bare with me till I get around here.. I just moved to Tampa about 8 months ago, and i really feel it was a good move. I came down from new haven, CT. Now on to the thread, being new here I can really see how this riverwalk would greatly benefit all of downtown, and tampa should truly capitalize on the opportunities in this riverwalk. DO NOT simply just make a park, make it an additional section of downtown. Get tired of Ybor, go to channelside, get tired of there, go to the riverwalk.. There should be some river taxis right there on the water to get people back and forth the 2-3 miles. As far as hotels, who needs them, with all the construction of them and condos going on DT.. This riverwalk i feel is very important to tampa and its disctinction as a vibrant all-american city, as we dont have any beaches here in tampa, this riverwalk should at least be our water outlet to entertainment. st petes got the pier at least...i really believe all these new condos DT should also strive to make this thing great as it would only benefit them and grow interest in the night life there and DT itself. just my 2cents

[Jasonhouse]

The problem is that the waterfront land in DT Tampa is almost all either owned by the govt, or is already developed with its ass ignorantly facing the river. There is little opportunity to commercially develop the waterfront.

[tamparican]

yea it seems that one of the main problems holding alot of projects up here huh, the GOV...if its not some zoning issue...