Former Trump Site. What will ever be built there?

Why can the Sykes Tower be able to work along the river and not something here?

I still think a skyscraper of 500 ft.+ will end up here. Maybe with the HCAA relaxing their height restrictions, something along the 700 ft. range can happen. Retail, parking, offices, hotel, maybe a couple floors for penthouses on top. It should be the hottest lot in Tampa, in the CBD area, walking distance from the convention center, offers great views, right next to the Riverwalk, I don't see how it could not have a proposal by next year.

The riverwalk isn't ever going to be the draw you folks think it will be. Not only has its construction been done in a way that has left it largely useless for a decade now (thereby giving it a poor reputation from the start with many residents), but future prospects of this being a magnet for complimentary development are near zero. This is the only vacant lot in DT that can be developed adjacent to the riverwalk, until you get all the way north into Tampa Heights. (Which btw, is in my opinion the only place there is any real hope of the riverwalk becoming more than an exercise trail for DT residents. Remember, the vision was to emulate the San Antonio riverwalk here. Anyone who has enjoyed that city's awesome riverwalk knows full well that the one in Tampa has none of its charm or attractions) Whichever city or county leader decided that the riverwalk should be developed almost exclusively with donations and federal grants, and is funded with little taxpayer money should receive an award.

From an email I received last year from Roger Kurz, co-executive director of Friends of the Riverwalk:

"We all look at San Antonio as the model for Riverwalks. They have approached it differently in that they built the canal (which they call a "River") and then, for the most part, developed the property adjacent to it with hotels, restaurants, shops and attractions.

If you look at our property adjacent to the Riverwalk, there are very few spaces that will allow the type of development we would all like to see. Channelside is our main retail attraction to date. From there we have the History Center, Cotanchobee Park, the Marriott, Convention Center, and USF Park...all areas with limited expansion opportunities. North of MacDill Park is the Trump Property, which has a high potential for retail development. The property was just purchased by an Orlando based company and they have mentioned some type of retail/food/parking as potential additions to the property.

Beyond Trump, we have the Sheraton, Beer Can (which has Malio's), Curtis Hixon, MoA, and Straz. There is an opportunity for restaurants and retail at Curtis Hixon on which the city is working.

From Straz north is our biggest opportunity for retail growth...Water Works Park and the Tampa Heights project. You will see a mixed use development there in the coming years.

We are also examining the possibility of floating markets and restaurants along the river."

Nah. That lot will eventually get developed and will hopefully be halfway decent. But even so, the riverwalk here will hardly resemble the sort of bustling pedestrian activity center some people think it will be. It's an amenity, but I personally am glad that we didn't have to drop $40-50 million from the city's transportation or park funding to do it.

TampaMike said:

Why can the Sykes Tower be able to work along the river and not something here?

I still think a skyscraper of 500 ft.+ will end up here. Maybe with the HCAA relaxing their height restrictions, something along the 700 ft. range can happen. Retail, parking, offices, hotel, maybe a couple floors for penthouses on top. It should be the hottest lot in Tampa, in the CBD area, walking distance from the convention center, offers great views, right next to the Riverwalk, I don't see how it could not have a proposal by next year.

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Sykes is built in a much better location road wise. Trump was always going to have major problems with people getting in and out. Unless Tampa wholesale changes to mass transit then this is a bad location for more than a few hounded cars at once, IMO.

That said I could see a 3-400 ft tower going in in the next 5-10 years. The property is a good one.

Steve

Here is the thread that was opened a while back about the former Trump lot so Hart, you may want to delete the other.

Since we are on the subject, I think Mr. Sim and Mr. Dag are no where to be found. They must be very embarrassed.

We need a really good reputable developer to build a luxury tower there as most agree it's way too valuable piece of land.

Del Mayberry said:

Here is the thread that was opened a while back about the former Trump lot so Hart, you may want to delete the other.

Since we are on the subject, I think Mr. Sim and Mr. Dag are no where to be found. They must be very embarrassed.

We need a really good reputable developer to build a luxury tower there as most agree it's way too valuable piece of land.

Click to expand...

A luxury tower would have the most beautiful views of the bay around from DT.