Tampa project seeks to re-imagine downtown

[Jasonhouse]

They're probably doing it because people haul ass on Palm, and there are plenty of peds crossing it throughout the day.

[miketpa]

The city needs to take one of it's existing 'surface lots' and move out the 40 or so cars taking up an entire city block and lease that land dirt cheap, like $1/year, to a company willing to develop a grocery store with terms that guarantee that in exchange the city gets a grocery store for a minimum of 10-20 years or the developer is on the hook for the market value of the land. I think it would entice a lot more developers if they knew they weren't forking over exhorbinant land prices for the risk, and something sorely missing and impeding development gets built. Just make sure it's not a half block of store and a half block of a parking lot again.

[kmthurman]

Originally Posted by miketpa

The city needs to take one of it's existing 'surface lots' and move out the 40 or so cars taking up an entire city block and lease that land dirt cheap, like $1/year, to a company willing to develop a grocery store with terms that guarantee that in exchange the city gets a grocery store for a minimum of 10-20 years or the developer is on the hook for the market value of the land. I think it would entice a lot more developers if they knew they weren't forking over exhorbinant land prices for the risk, and something sorely missing and impeding development gets built. Just make sure it's not a half block of store and a half block of a parking lot again.

Yeah, possibly, but they'd HAVE to force a building to go up on top of the store. I am 1000% against a one or two story grocery store only building downtown. Will defeat the point.

[rmaddrey]

Which ties into the fact downtown needs more than just grocery. Downtown needs to be a shopping destination that brings people from the suburbs in as much as it draws local residents. Multi-story, multi-concept shopping mall that can accommodate a myriad of retailers from boutique to big-box and incorporates integrated parking. Get a Target down there, get a Publix and then places like Johnston and Murphy's. Look back in time to look forward...downtown was once a vibrant neon laden shopping and business district. People flock to weak attempts at recreating this like Wiregrass, baffles me why the real deal can't be equally as succesfull.

[Del Mayberry]

Originally Posted by rmaddrey

Which ties into the fact downtown needs more than just grocery. Downtown needs to be a shopping destination that brings people from the suburbs in as much as it draws local residents. Multi-story, multi-concept shopping mall that can accommodate a myriad of retailers from boutique to big-box and incorporates integrated parking. Get a Target down there, get a Publix and then places like Johnston and Murphy's. Look back in time to look forward...downtown was once a vibrant neon laden shopping and business district. People flock to weak attempts at recreating this like Wiregrass, baffles me why the real deal can't be equally as succesfull.

It would have to be better than Hyde Park or it would need to put Hyde Park out of business.

[miketpa]

Until there is enough mass of urban dwellers downtown, anything that tries to move in and attract residents by driving there will fail, unless it is completely unique. People here go to places like Wiregrass because parking is free and they feel safe there. DT doesn't have free parking and doesnt feel safe to most people, and the streets confuse a lot of the yocals. I understand the desire to vertically build up downtown but I think too many people on here ONLY want something that is tall without thinking past height. Go to Manhattan, there are plenty of one story retail buildings outside of Midtown. Not saying I wouldnt prefer something tall or bigger, but the scale downtown right now doesnt support much and smaller steps are what make a better city in the long run.

[Jasonhouse]

^I'll never understand people who go to Wiregrass, who aren't forced to by sheer proximity. It's on reclaimed swampland in the middle of nowhere, and absolutely sucks in my experience. It's like a cookie cutter suburban mall, except take away the a/c and weatherproofed corridors, and replace them with asphalt and automobiles. Who in their right mind wants to deal with the heat, rain and bugs while trying to shop?

[smiley]

Originally Posted by miketpa

Go to Manhattan, there are plenty of one story retail buildings outside of Midtown.

I understand and agree with a lot of what you are saying about why many people go to places like Wiregrass, but Manhattan has a lot of 1 story buildings? huh?

As for Tampa, downtown does not need to be all 50 stories - and it won't be, but it should be mixed use and more than 1 story. It is a downtown, not a suburb. The success of much that is there - especially because it is a pretty lame downtown, shows the market exists for more. The real problem is that the city government and developers work together to not deliver - they keep letting the suburbs creep in. (Wiregrass has appeal to many because it is an urban facade with suburban amenities - and it is in Pasco.) In other words, Tampa has not really tapped into that market.

[tampasteve]

Chicken and the egg argument. Wiregrass attracts people because they already live there. It is not a regional draw for the most part.The houses (most of them) were already there when the mall was built; the same goes for most every other commercial development in the last 5 years in the area. DT needs more residences, but most people say they will not move there because there are either A) not enough amenities (IE, grocery, etc.) or B) It is too expensive.

The houses came first in Pasco and people moved out there because they could get a new house for cheaper than in town, so they put up with a lack or amenities. DT does not have that luxury at this point. That being said, DT needs to attract more residents, and likely in this market for a while that means apartments that are affordable.

Steve

[TampaMike]

Invision posted a report from all the workshops and knowledge exchanges on their Facebook page today.

http://www.tampagov.net/dept_plannin...ies_report.pdf

Seems like Tampa is on the same page as we are. Lets see what develops from Invision and everything else.

[koopalicious]

Hard for me to argue with much of what is mentioned.

Do you and Kevin get a hard copy so you can frame that picture?

[Jasonhouse]

lol!

[TampaMike]

Thank god I got rid of those sideburns and I'm going tanning at my gym now.

[kmthurman]

The draft plan open house is on Tuesday from 6PM to 8PM at Tampa Prep.

http://www.invisiontampa.com/news2.html

November 27, 2012 from 6 – 8 p.m.
727 W. Cass St., Tampa, FL 33606
Tampa Preparatory School

[TampaMike]

Originally Posted by kmthurman

The draft plan open house is on Tuesday from 6PM to 8PM at Tampa Prep.

http://www.invisiontampa.com/news2.html

November 27, 2012 from 6 – 8 p.m.
727 W. Cass St., Tampa, FL 33606
Tampa Preparatory School

Sadly won't be able to attend it. Already had to move my hours for class tomorrow and very limited in workers at the moment that could possibly be able to take over.

I am planning to attend the statue ceremony along the Riverwalk on the 11th though.

[Jasonhouse]

I'll go if anyone else is going.

[kmthurman]

I'll be there.

[Jasonhouse]

Ok cool. I'll text you tonight about it.

[koopalicious]

This is the link to the draft plan:

http://www.tampagov.net/dept_plannin...2012-11-26.pdf

Did anyone (Kevin, Jason?) end up going to the open house?

[kmthurman]

Originally Posted by koopalicious

This is the link to the draft plan:

http://www.tampagov.net/dept_plannin...2012-11-26.pdf

Did anyone (Kevin, Jason?) end up going to the open house?

Nope, got pulled away for work before it started. But it seemed to be an overview of the document. Which has a lot of good stuff. They seem very dedicated to changing the streets in Downtown and putting more bike walk paths that would connect it with the west Tampa area.