TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa City Council is expected to take a final vote Thursday on the South Howard Flood Project, a multi-year effort aimed at reducing flooding in one of South Tampa’s busiest commercial and residential areas.
The project has drawn strong reactions from residents and business owners, with supporters pointing to recurring flooding concerns and opponents warning that prolonged construction could hurt local businesses.
The city’s plan would require closing South Howard Avenue between Swann Avenue and Bayshore Boulevard in sections for up to a year.
Thousands of emails have been sent to the city about the project, and hundreds of people have spoken during public comment in recent months.
The city of Tampa says the project would create a new stormwater drainage route to move water more quickly out of flood-prone, low-lying streets near South Howard Avenue.
Supporters say the area regularly experiences flooding, even during heavy summer rain, creating challenges for residents, businesses, and emergency vehicles.
Dr. Mark Abdoney, a dentist whose practice is in South Tampa’s HCA medical district, is among those supporting the project.
Abdoney said flooding can create dangerous conditions for emergency responders transporting patients to the hospital.
“Do you guys know that there’s a window of time that is crucial in a stroke patient? Do we want our ambulances transporting a stroke patient to the hospital having to navigate floodwater?” Abdoney said.
City-provided maps show areas where flooding could be reduced after the project is completed.
Some business owners say the anticipated road closure and traffic disruptions could make it difficult for customers to reach restaurants and other businesses along South Howard.
Jason Brunetti of Ciccio Restaurant Group said the company operates six restaurants in the area and is concerned about the potential impact on employees and sales.
Brunetti said businesses are already facing higher costs and customers who are spending less.
“Look at all these folks right here. If we don’t have any sales and we don’t have any guests coming to the restaurant, all these people lose their job,” Brunetti said.
Jay Luigi’s Italian Restaurant, located about a block north of the proposed construction site, has about 60 employees who could be affected by the project.
The city has promised to make efforts to keep businesses accessible during construction and launch a marketing campaign to help maintain foot traffic.
Brunetti and other business owners have questioned whether those efforts will be enough to offset the anticipated traffic disruptions.
The project has also divided the Tampa City Council.
Previous votes on funding allocations for the project narrowly passed, with four council members voting in favor and three opposed.
Wednesday’s vote is expected to draw a large crowd as residents and business owners make a final push to influence the decision.
The outcome will determine whether the city moves forward with the project and its anticipated construction impacts on the South Howard corridor.