Landscaping, Green Spaces and Public Commons in Urban Tampa

[TampaMike]

Originally Posted by wslupecki

In short, our city is a big f**king mess. Partly due to the slumping housing market and government incompetence.

I wouldn't call our city a "mess, more disorganize than anything else. If you want mess, look at my room!

[AKBTampa]

Originally Posted by dudeintampa

Another example, - Look at the Channel District. It will soon be FOUR years since the TIF district was approved. What city improvements have taken place? Almost none! Millions have been spent talking about doing this and that - but virtually zero projects have been started and/or completed in four years! Hell, the Downtown Partnership has had a much greater impact on the Channel District than the TIF has....

Were the Meridian St. improvements part of the CRA plan or part of the crosstown plan?

[dudeintampa]

Originally Posted by AKBTampa

Were the Meridian St. improvements part of the CRA plan or part of the crosstown plan?

The Meridian Street improvements were part of the Crosstown Xpressway Upperdeck. It was financed as part of the upper deck project and is paid for by the tolls.

[Quegiebo]

Originally Posted by dudeintampa

I agree with most people that it would be prudent to do the basics now and pay for the luxuries later, but unfortunately I just don't trust our elected leaders to follow through on this promise....

Look at the streetcar for example, everyone was sold on the big loop system and planned phase II, but look at it now... They don't even want to give it a chance or follow through on their commitment to do phase II.

Another example, - Look at the Channel District. It will soon be FOUR years since the TIF district was approved. What city improvements have taken place? Almost none! Millions have been spent talking about doing this and that - but virtually zero projects have been started and/or completed in four years! Hell, the Downtown Partnership has had a much greater impact on the Channel District than the TIF has....

My fear is the same will happen with this park. If we don't force them (the city council) into doing this park the right way, we will be allowing this park to follow the same fate that most of city projects have been comprimised with.

I've sent the city council a letter in the past basically telling them outright that their actions speak louder than words - and that their actions are telling the developers and pioneers who actually want change and better standards that they stand alone in that goal. The city talks a good game, but they consistently fail to deliver.

Just look at the 2007 TIF budgets. Millions of dollars being wasted for administrative and consultant fees... It's incredible that the residents in those districts haven't demanded for full accountability.

Well said, Dudeintampa. Based on your remarks, it appears to me that you really thought this out.

I can't help but think of the movie, Field of Dreams, wherein one of the most memorable lines was, "if you build it, they will come." And as we all well know, you have to spend $$ before you make $$...

Here's one time where I see the ROI being worth the initial investment - even with all fiscal priorities considered. It's not easy, but it's certainly not going to get any cheaper later on. If they shelve it now, then just set it on the shelf with the rest of the other wonderful ideas of yesterday. It will never see the light of day because it will never be a priority.

I wonder what Tampa's representatives promised the developers before they risked $100s of millions to invest in the ghost town that was Tampa after 5:00p.m.. I'll bet a brand new landmark park was in order for "America's next great city"...

Thomas Balsley said it best, “It’s almost a ‘duh,’ but Tampa does not now have such a space.” - at least not downtown. And maybe I'm just an optimist, but I have a feeling that if it gets built, we all are going to be very proud of it and will come to see a residual financial value years from now and for years thereafter.

It looks nice to me. Throw in a nice parking garage and a few tennis courts... a large public pool would be too much to ask for...

[FlaNatv]

...Something interesting I found about a fellow Florida metro. Maybe there are some useful tips from this. Sounds like a good idea though I'm not sure how they plan on financing.

50-Year Blueprint for Parks Is All Green

Scraggly canal banks transformed into scenic public pathways. Tree-shaded, pedestrian-friendly ''greenways'' replacing barren streetscapes. Bikeways and walkways linking far-flung neighborhoods to local, state and national parks. An inviting public space -- park, natural area, cultural or recreational facility -- within a safe, five-minute walk of every resident. Miami-Dade County today will roll out an extraordinarily ambitious parks and open-space master plan that aims over the next half-century to re-green and reconnect a community that has spent much of the previous 50 years carving up and paving the natural landscape. ''This is probably the single most important thing that Miami-Dade Parks and Recreation has been involved in in decades,'' said county parks director Jack Kardys. [Source: Miami Herald]

[FloridaFuture]

Really seeing is believing---The City of Tampa and Skanska U.S., master contractor for the Curtis Hixon Park/Tampa Museum of Art project, have made a “webcam” available for viewing the dramatic changes happening at the site. If you have not seen what’s happening, now you can view everything from the comfort of your favorite chair in front of your computer. To begin, click here. Then enter this information:

User Name: tampamuseum@webcam.com
Password: downtown

http://www.tampasdowntown.com/newsletter.aspx?newid=67

[FloridaFuture]

New Museum, Park Estimates Within Range

By ELLEN GEDALIUS

The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 22, 2008

TAMPA - Construction cost estimates for a new art museum and redesigned Curtis Hixon Park appear to match projections, reducing the possibility either project will have to be scaled back from existing plans.

Skanska, the general contractor for both projects, has given a guaranteed maximum construction price of about $24 million for the new Tampa Museum of Art. The guaranteed maximum price for the park is more than $12 million.

Knowing the guaranteed maximum prices of the projects is important to secure construction loans from banks. The Tampa City Council also needs the information when considering whether to approve the construction contracts.

The council is scheduled to vote on the contracts April 3. If they are approved, a groundbreaking for both projects will take place about two weeks later.

Steve Klindt, development director for the art museum, said the construction cost estimate came in within range. The entire museum project - including architect fees, moving, furniture, financing and demolition - is expected to cost $33.5 million.

The city is contributing $18.5 million of Community Investment Tax money, generated from a half-cent sales tax. The museum won't disclose how much it raised in pledges, but the amount is more than $7 million. Klindt said the museum has enough to start constructing the new 66,000 square-foot building.

"We have enough to cover that with a loan against the pledges," he said.

The museum is working with a consortium of banks for a loan, with Wachovia serving as the lead bank.

The park project will be paid for with city money.

Reporter Ellen Gedalius can be reached at (813) 259-7679 or egedalius@tampatrib.com.

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/mar...-within-range/

[FloridaFuture]

Tampa prunes makeover plans for Curtis Hixon Park
By Janet Zink, Times Staff Writer
Published Friday, March 21, 2008 10:36 PM

TAMPA — There will be no dog park, no misting fountain and no place to buy snacks.

Those bells and whistles, along with several other features, have been cut from the planned makeover of Curtis Hixon Park to trim millions in construction costs.

Mayor Pam Iorio wants the park to be a centerpiece of downtown and a central gathering place for all Tampa residents, and she planned to spend $15-million on the project.

But after getting itemized costs from Skanska construction, city officials are working on a scaled-down version with a total cost of $12.6-million. "We want to make sure we get a basic park, a complete park to begin with," said city contract administrator David Vaughn. "You're getting all of the geometry and physical shaping of the park, all of the ground surface elements, walk areas, landscaping, irrigation. What you're not getting, for lack of a better term, is the icing."

A price list of park features released Friday includes $1.3-million for a decorative fountain along Ashley Drive, $333,000 for a playground, $264,000 for the Riverwalk and $396,000 for a terrace with seating overlooking the river.

More than 100 trees also will be planted in the park.

The city will postpone construction of a dog park, a building to house canoe or kayak rentals, a snack bar, visitors center, shaded trellis and misting fountain near the river.

City Council member John Dingfelder, who has questioned Iorio on the cost of the park at a time when the city has laid off employees to save money, said he thinks the city should forego the $1.3-million fountain.

"If we opted for the less expensive mist fountain, you could then afford to add the dog park back in," he said. "Urban dwellers will have dogs, and they need a place downtown to let their dogs run free."

The contract with Skanska construction to build the park is slated to go to the council for approval April 3.

Skanska also put the price of construction of a new art museum at the northern end of the park at $24-million. The city will contribute $17-million to construction. Museum leaders will be responsible for the rest.

Demolition of the existing art museum began last month to make way for the park. It will be financed with property tax revenues collected in a special taxing district downtown.

Reach Janet Zink at jzink@sptimes.com or (813) 226-3401.

[Last modified Sunday, March 23, 2008 10:42 PM]

http://www.tampabay.com/news/localgo...icle427602.ece

[FloridaFuture]

Great, no dog park. Just when I was hoping we'd get one.

"If we opted for the less expensive mist fountain, you could then afford to add the dog park back in," he said. "Urban dwellers will have dogs, and they need a place downtown to let their dogs run free."

Dingfelder is right. I may not particulary live downtown but I would LOVE to take my dog there. Getting a cheaper mist fountain doesn't sound like that bad of a sacrifice.

All I can think of is that they plan to eventually add it all anyway, so might as well go for the expensive mist fountain and hold the other things off. But still.....

[Robert.Maddrey]

Hmm, cutting those aspects of the park essentially negates its creation, at least in my book. If you want something to be a center piece of the community and an iconic meeting place for the city, then you have to plan accordingly and be innovative.

[koopalicious]

I don't think cutting those amenities negates the need for the park, unless you're going specifically for those things (which I'd imagine many people aren't).

Quite frankly, they could save even more money by cutting some of the other useless stuff, like the fountain and playground.

[jonknee]

^ Yea, what's a playground good for in a park that you want families to go to?

[koopalicious]

Considering the fact that there is a larger, more activity-oriented park right across the river, the need for similar amenities becomes redundant. And, seeing as how this city already has an abundance of parks, creating a unique environment (none of which a dog run, playground, or fountain provide) should be a priority.

[jonknee]

Originally Posted by koopalicious

Considering the fact that there is a larger, more activity-oriented park right across the river, the need for similar amenities becomes redundant. And, seeing as how this city already has an abundance of parks, creating a unique environment (none of which a dog run, playground, or fountain provide) should be a priority.

This is the park that's going to be attached to the Children's museum. There are going to be lots of kids around and a playground just makes sense. Riverfront Parkis geared towards athletic facilities (soccer, baseball, tennis, basketball), not families and workers. Its playground is pretty much exclusively used by the Boys & Girls club.

[Robert.Maddrey]

Having a flash back to the last time I went to that park...two hoodlums were apparently aiming to steal my Z. How about some security over there? Another good investment, if Tampa really wanted to make general community use of that park.

[FlaNatv]

image hosted on flickr


This would be great. A large park near the conagra site. Hopefully ConAgra will move out soon. Eventually the park could be lined with mid-rises and some high-rises with residents. offices and shops.

[FlaNatv]

Some more of these downtown would be nice. It just cools you off looking at it. I know many say it would be a bath...or we're in a drought...but if other cities have many of them what's stopping Tampa.

image hosted on flickr

Nashville

[chuc98]

Originally Posted by FlaNatv

Some more of these downtown would be nice. It just cools you off looking at it. I know many say it would be a bath...or we're in a drought...but if other cities have many of them what's stopping Tampa.

image hosted on flickr

Nashville

I agree with you, but you're talking about Tampa. People here have some sort of allergic reaction when talk is even brought up about spending money on public art and/or public use of water for beautification.

[HARTride 2012]

:cough: homeless bath :cough:

[TamHavPolis]

Originally Posted by FlaNatv

Some more of these downtown would be nice. It just cools you off looking at it. I know many say it would be a bath...or we're in a drought...but if other cities have many of them what's stopping Tampa.

image hosted on flickr

Nashville

Specifically, what's stopping Tampa are the political realities of this town. Tampa is traditionally a strange "working-class paradise." For a short while in the early 20th century, we played a role as a resort town. This changed as northern tourists gained access to Key West, Miami Beach, and the Gulf Beaches.

For most of the 20th century, this place was almost exclusively about industry. With a decent port and local access to agriculture, fishing, and phosphate mining, Tampa grew as a sort of industrial market center on the Gulf Coast. The fact that it is in a desirable area brought a lot of people who had hard luck in other parts of the country and wanted to make a fresh start in the sub-tropics (it's also brought a lot of scam artists, but that's Florida). The Mafia thrived in the 20th century in Tampa because of the large immigrant communities and working-class rackets that were available.

Tampa is gradually transitioning to more glamorous industries and a richer tax base as it grows and is "discovered." However, even with more money moving to the city, Tampa's continued growth depends on providing incentives through low taxes and a business-and-development-friendly government.

If you've lived here for 28 years like I have, you know that Tampa is on the verge of transforming from a large Southern factory town to a metropolitan hub and major city in its own right. The demographic changes are profound. Eventually there will be a large enough concentration of wealth that elaborate parks and sophisticated support for the arts and public works will be possible. For the time being, though, Tampa needs to pursue its strategy of private economic growth at the expense of municipal growth.

We don't have glamorous parks for the same reason that we don't have efficient public transit - with gas prices shrinking over the decades, relative to inflation, people were content to live far out of the city and commute into work. The interior parts of the city were blighted, and public transit was seen only as a necessary evil for the poorest people who could not afford cars. The concentrations of people living in the city proper, particularly near the core, have been poor, and wealthy people paying the lion's share of ad valorem taxes are reluctant to subsidize nice parks for the lower class. The city is also strapped to use its funds to improve infrastructure to deal with massive long-term growth.

The nicest parks, like Kate Jackson (which has an awesome fountain) and The Bayshore are in the wealthy neighborhoods.

Give it time. Tampa is growing up, but for now it's still an emerging neo-rust-belt town, not a "Big City" in attitude.