TAMPA, Fla. — Tampa City Council is poised to approve a substantial funding package for the development of Ybor Harbor in the Channel District.
This initiative is part of a larger effort to revitalize the area between Channelside and Ybor City, which was initially approved by the city in April.
The proposed funding is seen as a foundational step in the transformation of the 33-acre waterfront property known as Ybor Harbor. The project aims to improve traffic flow, pedestrian access, and infrastructure to ensure its success.
The city has long considered Ybor Harbor a neglected area, lacking in sidewalks, bike lanes, and pedestrian access points. This contrasts sharply with the more developed Channelside and Ybor City areas nearby. Today, the Tampa City Council will vote on a $35-million funding package requested by developer Darryl Shaw. This funding will be allocated for upgraded utilities, transportation, roadway improvements, and a new seawall.
“Our connections in the urban periphery are key to our success in the future,” said Abbye Feeley, administator for Tampa’s Development and Economic Opportunity Department. “Having those connections from Encore Gasworks, now North Ybor Harbor, Water Street, all play a part in our success, especially related to transit and micro-mobility options for our future.”
Once completed, the redeveloped Ybor Harbor will feature 500,000 square feet of office space, 800 hotel rooms, over 150,000 square feet of retail space, and nearly 5,000 new residential units.
The Ybor Harbor project is still in its early stages, with completion several years away. The funding requested involves CRA funds, which means the developer initially covers all costs. Once work begins, the funds are reimbursed over time.
If approved, the funds will be distributed over five years, starting in 2029.