Happy New Year
Tampa’s Downtown and the Tampa Downtown Partnership experienced many changes and celebrations in 2017. We kicked off the year with the College Football National Championship, placing our shining Downtown in the living rooms of viewers across the country. It was our chance to prove Tampa as a city to be recognized – and we delivered – resulting in over $100 million in earned media and the praise of every visitor who set foot on Tampa’s Riverwalk. We never slowed down after the New Year with groundbreakings, ribbon cuttings, and announcements for future developments and public space improvements. Our city leaders are focused on making Downtown a walkable, vibrant, and diverse city and making it more connected through design and transit. We’re excited about where we’ve been and look forward to making 2018 another break-out year for Tampa’s Downtown. View our Year in Review for more details.
Winter Village – Don’t Miss It!
This is your last week to enjoy Winter Village at Curtis Hixon Park! Now through January 5, come out to enjoy outdoor ice skating, waterfront dining along the Hillsborough River, and local shopping with our Winter Village Shops. Thank you to everyone who has come to enjoy our installment and we invite you to come back for one last memory-making trip. For hours and more information, visit Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or WinterVillageTampa.com.
Our Members Are People to Watch
Tampa Downtown Partnership has a large and active community of member companies committed to promoting smart growth in downtown and advancing downtown Tampa’s position as the vital urban center for the region. Our membership includes key stakeholders and developers in downtown and Tampa Bay, and last week six of our members were included among those announced in the fifth annual Tampa Bay Business Journal 25 People to Watch list. This list represents a prediction of who will be making Tampa Bay business news in 2018. Tampa Downtown Partnership members included on the list are; Nancy Tower of Tampa Electric, Melanie Lenz of the Tampa Bay Rays, Maryann Ferenc of Mise En Place, James Nozar of SPP, Dave Burton, and Larry Feldman. View the full list here.
Resolve to be Social and Fit for Free
Did you know that Tampa Downtown Partnership brings you four free fitness classes in Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park each week? These classes are a free and fun way to stick to your fitness goals in 2018! Join for yoga on Sunday, U-JAM fitness on Monday, Zuma on Tuesday, and/or the Bamboozle Fit Club on Wednesday! Yoga begins at 5pm (6pm during Daylight Savings) and weekday classes begin at 6pm. Get more information about our fitness classes.
The following is just a sample of upcoming events in Downtown Tampa. Visit the Downtown Tampa Events Calendar for a more comprehensive list. Going to one of the events? Snap a photo and tag #UrbanInsiderTPA
Winter Village at Curtis Hixon Park
Through Friday, January 5 Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park Celebrate the holiday season in Downtown Tampa at the Winter Village presented by USAmeriBank and brought to you by Tampa Downtown Partnership. The park will be transformed with the sights, sounds and activities of the holidays for children and adults of all ages. Skate around at the outdoor ice rink or get some gift shopping done at the Holiday Market. For more info, go to Winter Village at Curtis Hixon Park.
Mayor’s Food Truck Fiesta
Wednesday, January 3, 11am to 2pm Lykes Gaslight Square Looking for a larger selection of lunch options? Step outside for a meal in the park! Choose from a wide variety of local food trucks serving up all sorts of delicious culinary creations. You’ll have your pick of dishes from plenty of delectable kitchens on wheels! For more information, go to Mayor’s Food Truck Fiesta.
Paws in the Park
Thursday, January 4, 5pm to 8pm Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park The park has gone to the dogs! Bring fido for a fun evening out in Curtis Hixon Park followed by Rock the Park beginning at 6:30pm. Select vendors in the Winter Village Shops will donate a portion of their proceeds to a pet charity of their choice. For more information, visit Paws in the Park.
Rock the Park
Thursday, January 4, 6:30pm to 9pm Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park Listen to some great musical talent in a beautiful, relaxing setting. This month’s show features Siobhan Monique and Bob Anthony. With food and drinks on the premises and an always exciting vibe, this free concert is guaranteed not to disappoint. For more information, go to Rock the Park.
Marvel Universe LIVE! Age of Heroes
Friday, December 5 to Sunday, December 7 Amalie Arena This all new show unites some of Marvel’s greatest Super Heroes including Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Black Panther, Hulk, and Black Widow against some of the most threatening villains. Their journey sparks new feuds with old foes, pitting student against mentor, sister against sister, and brother against brother. Witness cutting-edge special effects, aerial stunts, and video projection in this incredible adventure. For more information, go to Marvel Universe LIVE! Age of Heroes.
On Stage at the Straz Center
School of Rock – Tuesday, January 2 to Sunday, January 7 Classical WSMR presents The Florida Orchestra featuring Jahja Ling conducting Beethoven & Sibelius – Friday, January 5, begins 8pm Patel Conservatory presents Winter Cabaret – Saturday, January 6, begins 5pm
Bavaro’s is an authentic Neapolitan pizza & pastaria, focusing its made from scratch menu on a 3rd generation, handmade Italian oven. Bavaro’s imports the finest Italian meats, cheeses, flour, tomatoes, wine and beers to assure an authentic dining experience. Since 2009, 514 N Franklin St has been Bavaro’s flagship with new locations opening up in St. Petersburg, Sarasota, and Tampa International Airport. Their signature pasta sauce is so delicious it can now be found in over 2,000 retail locations!
New Coworking Space Hosts Launch Party
On Thursday, January 11, Industrious welcomes the Tampa community to join them from 5pm to 8pm as they officially launch their Downtown Tampa location. Located inside the SunTrust Financial Centre on 401 E Jackson St., Industrious has taken the entire 33rd floor totaling 19,702 square feet. With locations throughout the US, Industrious seeks to offer a modern workplace with bright glass-walled private offices within a large, beautiful loft space, giving its clients the privacy they need to be productive, but the community to stay invigorated. At close to 20,000 square feet, the Industrious location is a significant deal in downtown Tampa, where the majority of office leases are between 5,000 and 10,000 square feet, according to the Tampa Bay Business Journal. More office employees mean more customers for downtown shops and residents and potential residents for the residential developments under construction. Looking to schedule a visit? You can book a tour here. View their information sheet with pricing and layout options.
Port Tampa Bay Selects Local Fuel Provider
In a move designed to lower carbon emissions and improve air quality, Port Tampa Bay is getting a new fueling station that will include compressed natural gas pumps, a convenience store and a restaurant. Integral Energy LLC will provide the station and compressed natural gas (CNG) pumps. It is a minority-owned and operated energy services firm founded three years ago in Tampa by Anddrikk L. Frazier, its president and CEO. The project will occupy 5.7 acres of land on Port Tampa Bay property, and will also house a convenience store and restaurant. The site at the Southeast corner of Maritime and Causeway Boulevards that vehicles will use will be open to both commercial and passenger vehicles, with four CNG pumps designed to service long-haul trucking, as well as parking for drivers seeking to refuel as well. More than 9,000 trucks exit and enter Port Tampa Bay daily. “Port Tampa Bay Will Use Local Firm to Provide New Clean Energy Fueling Station” – Tampa Bay Business Journal
Gasparilla Music Festival Lineup
The Gasparilla Music Festival is coming in hot again in 2018 with an initial lineup headed up by the coolest cats in contemporary music and progressive hip hop – The Roots. Also on a bill chock-full of diverse acts are indie, experimental rockers Spoon, the electronic-rock duo Break Science, alternative rocker Mondo Cozmo, singer-songwriter Father John Misty and more. Set to go off March 10-11 in downtown Tampa, the two-day festival promises 40 bands performing across five stages including Eric Tessmer, Imagination Movers, Kolars, The Cave Singers and The War And Treaty, with more to be announced. “Gasparilla Music Festival Initial Lineup Promises Wild Ride Through Music’s Landscape” – MusicFestNews.com
Strategic Property Partners’ Downtown Headquarters
Strategic Property Partners is laying the groundwork for its new headquarters in downtown Tampa — a space that will also eventually serve as a marketing center for Water Street Tampa, its $3 billion, mixed-use district. SPP on Friday filed its renovation plans for the former District 3 events venue, a 20,000-square-foot building at 802 E. Whiting St. SPP, which is controlled by Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik and Cascade Investment LLC, bought the District 3 space and an adjacent building in May. The space was home to The Art of the Brick from June 23 until September 4, drawing thousands to Tampa’s Downtown. “Vinik-Cascade Team Moving Forward With New Downtown Tampa Headquarters” – Tampa Bay Business Journal
Kennedy Blvd. Hotel Approval Delayed
The Tampa City Council on Thursday delayed approval of plans for a hotel project in one of downtown’s most visible locations — the block on Kennedy Boulevard across Florida Avenue from City Hall. The reason: concern about changes in the project’s design. Instead of 223 apartments and a 225-room Hyatt Centric hotel, the building will include no apartments and two adjoining hotels — an extended stay Hyatt House and a Hyatt Place, both slightly lower on the chain’s quality scale. Several council members said the design looks less attractive than the initial architectural renderings, including what council members said were conspicuous blank walls and vehicle entrances. “Tampa Council Delays Approval of Kennedy Boulevard Hotel Plans” – Tampa Bay Times
On the Horizon for 2018
Tampa’s Downtown is expecting several residences, public spaces, hotels, and more private development to be delivered in 2018. See where they are and when they are expected to be delivered with our development map.
Best of 83 Degrees: Channel District Growth
In Tampa’s Channel District, construction cranes swing across the sky. Below, workers in hard hats mill about at the spot off Meridian Avenue and Madison Street where construction on the Channel Club building has reached the halfway point. When it is completed in 2018, the 21-story Channel Club will have 323 apartments and an adjacent Publix, the first full-service grocery store in the Channel District. Ten years after residential development first began to change this warehouse district between downtown and Port Tampa Bay, the steady stream of new construction is continuing the transformation to a mixed-use, walkable neighborhood where start-up companies, arts venues, and an eclectic mix of largely locally owned and operated restaurants, pubs and shops are all part of the mix. So what’s next for Channel District? “Channel District Grows Along Waterfront in Tampa” – 83 Degrees
ULI 2018 Trends Conference
On January 24, join over 400 senior real estate leaders from across Tampa Bay for a half-day program filled with insights from local and national experts about how to capitalize on the latest trends in real estate. This year the program will be filled with exciting keynotes, dynamic panel discussions and a cocktail reception at the brand new Armature Works. Early bird rates end Thursday, January 4. More information is available at tampabay.uli.org.
Tampa Theatre Shows Off Facelift
The Tampa Theatre in Downtown Tampa is ready to show off it’s new look. The historic structure, built in 1926, just underwent a six week, $6 million facelift. The renovations include fresh coats of paint in the entrance and halls. The colors are a perfect match from nearly a century ago. There are portions of the theatre that are the same from opening day. A few water fountains, the ticket booth, some telephones inside, the tapestry and a great deal of the art. For a complete list of the upcoming events at the Tampa Theatre, click here. View the story from ABC Action News here.
SPP Names Innovation Hub CEO
Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik has named a chief executive to run his innovation hub in Channelside Bay Plaza. Lakshmi Shenoy, who was previously vice president of strategy and business development at 1871 Chicago, will be CEO of Vinik’s new venture. She will begin in February, Vinik said Thursday, with a goal of opening the hub by late 2018. Vinik announced plans for an innovation hub in early December in Channelside Bay Plaza — a space that will bring together Tampa Bay’s entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and other key players. Vinik also intends to launch a $20 million venture capital fund to support the startups that will eventually be housed in the innovation hub. “Vinik Names CEO For New Innovation Hub In Channelside Bay Plaza” – Tampa Bay Business Journal
Lightning Announce New Mobile App
The Lightning and AMALIE Arena have selected Venuetize, a mobile technology company dramatically improving the customer experience at shopping, entertainment, and sports venues. The Venuetize platform will provide a turnkey mobile experience for guests attending live events through a new AMALIE Arena app. With the app, Tampa Bay Lightning fans and other event goers visiting AMALIE Arena will be able to enjoy a new mobile experience that allows them to personalize their visit; pay for concessions and merchandise from their handheld device; and access a range of services that make planning and enhancing their experience at the arena much easier. Learn more about the app here.
Five Legislative Issues to Watch
Bullies, texting, hurricanes and juvenile detention facilities are some of the issues that will get attention when the legislative session begins January 9. Read the full article in the Tampa Bay Times.
Economic Indicators Signal Strong 2017
The Tampa metro area’s economy has been strong all year, and the latest economic indicators suggest that our momentum isn’t abating. The unemployment rate in September 2017 for our local labor force of 1.5 million was 3.3 percent, 1.4 percent less than the same time last year. Individual employment sectors are seeing major growth in comparison to September 2016 as well. Professional and Business Services added 12,900 over the one-year period, an increase of 5.6 percent. Finance and Insurance added 2,300; and the Education and Health Services sector added another 3,000 local jobs. For more information on the most recent economic indicators, please click here. For other reports, including demographics and cost of living information please see the Tampa Hillsborough EDC’s online data center.
Transportation Changes in 2017
Transportation is one of the hottest topics and toughest challenges in the Tampa Bay region. Traffic congestion gets worse each year and solutions seem elusive. While 2017 didn’t see any major improvements, a lot changed the conversation. Plans are in place for a new Howard Frankland Bridge and the region’s transportation improvement plan is being reconsidered amid mounting controversy. The top five headlines, according to the Tampa Bay Business Journal, include; Tampa Bay Express gets “reset”, Howard Frankland Bridge will include transit, Tampa Bay Next becomes the region’s new hope for transportation, Central Avenue Bus Rapid Transit seeks federal funding, Hillsborough County Public Transportation Commission gets pink slipped.
TBBJ President & Publisher Announces Resignation
Bridgette Bello, the Tampa Bay Business Journal’s top executive, announced her resignation on Wednesday. Her last day as president and publisher will be Jan. 15, the TBBJ reported. Bello has been with American City Business Journals, the company that owns the Tampa Bay publication, since 1999 when she took over as advertising director at the Jacksonville Business Journal. She took over leadership of TBBJ in 2007. She is also a member of the St. Petersburg College Board of Trustees. “Tampa Bay Business Journal’s Bridgette Bello To Step Down In January” – Tampa Bay Times
Plans Surface for Bayshore Social Club
The Casper family — Caspers Co. CEO Blake Casper and his wife, Tate, and sister, Allison Casper Adams — has filed plans with the city to rezone the historic Stovall-Lee estate and allow for alcohol sales. The Caspers went public with their plans to buy the home and convert it into social club in late October. Caspers Co. is the largest McDonald’s franchisee in the state of Florida; Blake Casper and Allison Casper Adams are the co-owners of Tampa’s Oxford Exchange. The plans will preserve the existing, 5,050-square-foot main home and demolish some of the smaller structures currently on the site. It will add two new buildings, including a two-story building on the western side of the property and a one-story conservatory on the north side. With the existing main home and new construction, the club will total no more than 18,000 square feet. But neighbors say they intend to fight the social club to hold onto their Bayshore tranquility (ABC Action News). “Caspers Moving Forward With Plans For Bayshore Social Club (Rendering)” – Tampa Bay Business Journal
Monday Morning Memo –Monday Morning Memo is a weekly update of “insider downtown information” regarding developments, transportation, special opportunities and other useful information to help you make the most of downtown. Subscribe to receive this weekly newsletter.
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