TAMPA | SouthGate | 20 stories | 450,000 sq. ft. office | APR

[HARTride 2012]

I'm with you. This building looks awful...all of it.

[smiley]

You know, aside from all this dreaming - there are actual things that need to be taken into account - money being the first one. You can't jsut toss large buildings around. Moreover, since the point tower is the plan - they have a good argument for saying they are following that plan.

As I said, I am not sure about this building, but all the arguments advocating loading up the lot with crap will fly even less - especially for office. IF you want office in dt Tampa (at least any time soon) - this is how you are likely to get it.

[tampamobster21]

I thought this was the project that was supposed to be a hotel with residential attached. Or am I wrong.

[smiley]

I also want to point out that no one really knows what the plan is - the rendering in the biz journal hardly gave any detail.

[Robert.Maddrey]

Originally Posted by smiley

You know, aside from all this dreaming - there are actual things that need to be taken into account - money being the first one. You can't jsut toss large buildings around. Moreover, since the point tower is the plan - they have a good argument for saying they are following that plan.

As I said, I am not sure about this building, but all the arguments advocating loading up the lot with crap will fly even less - especially for office. IF you want office in dt Tampa (at least any time soon) - this is how you are likely to get it.

I think that is a good point, often we forget that for the people footing the bill for production its not just a flight of fancy as to what they would like to see, so much as the product of what will be the most practical and profitable.

[dmpeek77]

I think it could be a catalyst for more business space in the downtown core. It is not great but it is functional.

[Robert.Maddrey]

Very true, we have many such buildings here in Westshore and corporations go all googly at the prospect of leasing multiple floors. So, who knows it may well be a good stepping stone in a slowing market, aesthetics aside.

[smiley]

What gets me is that people get all excited for a 20 story condo box and say it is good filler but this - which adds a new use - is instantly panned before anyone has any real idea what it looks like or the layout (barring some inside info That has not been passed on)

I'm sure it won't be great, but the building that make the filler for St. PEte aren't very nice either.

[HARTride 2012]

Originally Posted by smiley

I also want to point out that no one really knows what the plan is - the rendering in the biz journal hardly gave any detail.

Well, that sucks. Is it a hotel? Condo? Offices? WHAT?

[jonknee]

Ummm... It's an office tower. By not knowing the plan is Smiley means site layout. Floorplans. Etc. All we know is the size and that its got more space than your average tower (not a skinny tower) and lots of parking (which is unfortunately not below the tower). Nothing else has been announced, such as retail slots.

[HARTride 2012]

Oh............Well, hopefully it will be used for something good. If its a success, maybe it will help spur more residents into moving to DT/Channelside area.

[smiley]

And, Trammell Crow being midly intelligent - hopefully they will build the garage so that you can put something on top of it should you decide to at a later date (unlike the good folks who build the Wachovia building, wasting one of the best lots downtown (in terms of preserve views) for a parking garage (and a bad one at that)

[randommichael]

I've always wondered why they don't tear down the Wachovia parking garage and actually build something there. It is the worst use of space.

[HARTride 2012]

That thing looks real ugly to me...

[Robert.Maddrey]

Originally Posted by randommichael

I've always wondered why they don't tear down the Wachovia parking garage and actually build something there. It is the worst use of space.

Simple, $$$

[HARTride 2012]

Originally Posted by Robert.Maddrey

Simple, $$$

Of course that's logical! Developers want to make $$$ no matter how shoddy the result is.

[randommichael]

Well, of course it comes down to money, but at some point I would think it would be more cost effective to tear it down and build something in its place.

[FloridaFuture]

Especially if a moderate to major office boom happens in downtown soon, any developer that has built a stand-alone non dense parking garage will see their mistake.

[Robert.Maddrey]

Originally Posted by randommichael

Well, of course it comes down to money, but at some point I would think it would be more cost effective to tear it down and build something in its place.

There are plenty of open lots, such as the Maas Brothers/610 Franklin block. Down town is riddled with lots where buildings once stood that have been parking lots for decades, I would see developers swooping in on that long before a lot where there is more serious demo work.

[Jasonhouse]

Originally Posted by smiley

What gets me is that people get all excited for a 20 story condo box and say it is good filler but this - which adds a new use - is instantly panned before anyone has any real idea what it looks like or the layout (barring some inside info That has not been passed on)

Not everyone here is basing their opinion on assumptions.

I've seen enough to reach a simple and I suspect spot-on conclusion... TC is looking for a quick buck... They are going to build this, lease it to full occupancy and then sell it, before flaws in their cheap, rushed project are exposed over time. However, the community, nor its residents are going anywhere... Hopefully, the city will get it right for a change.