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Join us for the Tampa Downtown Partnership’s quarterly Donuts & the Download on Downtown! This morning event will highlight what’s happening in Tampa’s Downtown and ways to engage with the Partnership’s programs and initiatives.

Get the download on the benefits of membership, networking opportunities, transportation initiatives, marketing efforts, new developments, public art, crime prevention, beautification efforts, and much more. Complimentary pastries and coffee will be served.

This event is held at the Partnership’s office at 400 N. Ashley Drive, Suite 2125, Tampa, FL, 33602 on July 31 from 8:30am – 9:30am. For more information and to register, click here.

Tampa Downtown Partnership is looking to fill the position of Public Space Operations Manager.

Position Overview

The Tampa Downtown Partnership is a private, not-for-profit 501(c)(6) organization.  It is a membership organization comprised of companies, organizations, and individuals with a common goal of advancing Downtown Tampa.

Through an annual contract with the City of Tampa, Tampa Downtown Partnership administers the Special Services District. In addition to the Tampa’s Downtown Guides and Clean Team, Tampa Downtown Partnership works to promote Downtown Through marketing, communication, community engagement, beautification, and placemaking.

The public space operations manager ensures the delivery of high-quality service through development and implementation of efficient operational systems by managing staff and financial resources related to beautification, maintenance, litter abatement, and ambassador services in Downtown Tampa.  The position supervises facilitation of landscaping and public space maintenance services, as well as supporting the execution of special projects related to public programming.  The operations manager reports directly to the Senior Director of Public Programming & Operations.

Responsibilities

• Manages all on-street services provided by the Special Services District (SSD), supplemental maintenance, litter removal, beautification, and special program support.
• Oversees Tampa’s Downtown Guides and Clean Team’s and all related employee relations, to include annual performance reviews, uniforms, equipment purchases/maintenance, hiring, interviewing, training, etc.
• Works directly with Clean Team and Downtown Guides’ project manager, supervisor, and team leaders to determine priorities, identify and assign project teams, develop assessment and evaluation tools, establish procedures, and oversee planning and implementation. Ensure meaningful goal setting, measurable outcomes and accountability, and deliverables.
• Negotiates and administers contracts with outside vendors for maximum service and cost effectiveness.
• Oversees development and implementation of data collection and evaluation tools, and performance measurements to ensure effective delivery of services to all constituents.
• Assists in convening property managers, public safety stakeholders (i.e. local law enforcement, security providers, emergency preparedness agencies, business owners, etc.) to provide effective communication channels and problem-solving opportunities.
• Serves as staff liaison to the Special Services District Advisory Committee, facilitating monthly meetings, along with committee chairs, and represents a variety of key downtown stakeholders.
• Manages Downtown Security Network contact list and works closely with event coordinator for Downtown Security Series programming.
• Creates and enhances partnerships as liaison with City of Tampa senior staff levels to ensure maximum attention to maintenance within the SSD area.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Required Skills and Competencies

• Excellent written and verbal communications skills, including demonstrated ability to articulate the organization’s philosophy and position to a wide range of audiences. Must be able to document incidents appropriately and timely.
• Demonstrated ability to work with, and foster partnerships in both the public and private sectors.
• Demonstrated fiscal and business management skills to develop, manage and track budgets and contracts, handle multiple priorities and execute projects for timely completion.
• Demonstrated ability to manage and motivate employees; high degree of excellent judgement skills, and problem-solving ability required. Hands-on leadership and pro-active approach are essential.
• Experienced and knowledgeable in Human Resource applications, policies and procedures.
• Must be able to interact with all levels of staff, Board members, business and community leaders, and stakeholders.
• Thorough and excellent attention to detail.
• Works well under pressure.
• Ability to work occasional early morning, evening and/or weekend hours.
• Ability to lift heavy objects.
• Able to work outdoors.
• Ability to walk long distances.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Familiar with operations of Business Improvement Districts (BID).
• Familiarity and connections to current industry trends related to clean and safe programming and some urban development.

Required Education and Experience

• Minimum of five years management experience in service industry, construction management, municipal government, business improvement districts, or convention and hospitality services; preferably in a special services district, urban partnership or closely-related environment.
• Comprehensive understanding of Downtown Tampa and acquainted with significant stakeholders.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

To apply for the position, please email a cover letter and resume to Shaun Drinkard. Please, no phone calls.

Join us for the inaugural Tampa Downtown Partnership’s Local Leaders Luncheon on September 10^th from 11:30am to 1pm at the Tampa River Center at Julian B Lane Riverfront Park featuring Dr. Judy Genshaft, former President of the University of South Florida (USF) System.

This engaging luncheon features local leaders who have made a significant impact on Tampa’s Downtown. Since becoming president in 2000, Dr. Judy Genshaft has catapulted the University of South Florida System to national and international prominence for student success, academic rigor, research and innovation, and economic development. USF recently was given the elite designation of “Preeminent State Research University,” becoming only the third Florida institution to earn this prestigious honor. USF was also recently accepted into the distinguished Phi Beta Kappa honor society, a sign of the institution’s growing national reputation.

For more information and to register, click here.

Strategic Property Partners, LLC (“SPP”), the Tampa-based real estate development firm, today announced the signing of an important retail tenant at Water Street Tampa, the transformational, 56-acre downtown waterfront neighborhood. GreenWise, a natural, organic specialty market owned by Publix Supermarkets Inc., has signed a lease for 26,000 square feet of space on the ground-floor of 815 Water Street, the dual-tower residential building that is currently under construction and located at the intersection of Channelside Drive and Water Street. Promoting a key pillar of the Water Street Tampa vision, GreenWise will emphasize health and wellness, and will serve as a vital amenity for Water Street Tampa and the surrounding communities.

“We are excited to bring a critical grocery anchor to downtown Tampa, which will be walkable for residents of Water Street Tampa and our neighboring communities,” said James Nozar, CEO of SPP. “Our GreenWise partnership reflects SPP’s vision of creating a holistic lifestyle by prioritizing access to products that promote health and wellness.”

Set to open in 2021, GreenWise’s Water Street storefront will blend health and wellness with culinary offerings in one expertly curated store. GreenWise provides access to fresh foods and convenient, in-house prepared meals made from organic and antibiotic-free ingredients. As a walkable and easily accessible grocery store for downtown Tampa, GreenWise will be a welcome convenience for residents of the Water Street Tampa community, including employees, students and faculty at the nearby USF’s Morsani College of Medicine and Heart Institute, as well as residents of nearby neighborhoods such as the Channel District and Harbour Island.

The announcement of GreenWise taking space at 815 Water Street comes on the heels of the recent news that Water Street Tampa is the first neighborhood in the world to receive WELL D&O (Design and Operations) designation under the WELL Community Standard. Grounded in its evidence-based approach, the WELL Community Standard aims to positively impact individuals throughout the public spaces where they spend their time. A WELL community functions to promote health and well-being across all aspects of community life. The addition of GreenWise fulfills the Nourishment objective of the WELL D&O designation by providing access to fresh foods. The grocery store will be supplemented by regular farmers’ markets throughout the neighborhood.

One of the largest active downtown real estate developments in the United States, Water Street Tampa is a multi-phased, mixed-use community that will include more than nine million square feet of commercial, residential, hospitality, educational, entertainment, cultural and retail space. Upon its completion, Water Street Tampa will welcome over 23,000 residents, workers and visitors every day.

To learn more about Water Street Tampa and the project’s latest news, as well as current retailers and available space, please visit www.waterstreettampa.com.

If you haven’t figured it out by now, then know that an investment in a Pirate Water Taxi annual pass is one of the best buys a Tampa resident can make.

It’s a good time to invest, too, since Pirate Water Taxi’s President and CEO just said that his company is about to invest $1.6 million. In a news release, Troy Manthey explained that the money will be spent on adding three new boats to the company’s existing fleet of four, 46-passenger water taxis.

One of the new boats is a 100-passenger vessel equipped with a bar. Designed by Florida Naval Architects, the large boat will be made of aluminum and should be completed by December. It also includes outdoor and air-conditioned indoor seating as well as ADA compliant restrooms.

TBBJ said that two other new boats will be 20-passenger water taxis, but a Facebook post from Pirate Water Taxi says the two smaller boats are 25-passenger vessels. CL has reached out to Pirate Water Taxi manager Amanda Wiley for clarification, and Wiley said that the final capacities of the taxis will be determined in the final Coast Guard inspections

“We anticipate the capacity for the skiffs to be between 20 and 25 passengers,” Wiley said in an email.

The vessels should be on the water before 2019 is over, according to the release.

Plant City’s Pirate Water Taxi Marine Department — which is rebuilding some of the 12 of San Antonio’s river barges it recently acquired — will provide the two 20-passenger vessels, and their low-profile design will allow Tampa’s Pirate Water Taxi to service stops at Sparkman Wharf and the Florida Aquarium (clearance issues due to high tides made passing underneath Channelside’s Meridian Bridge tough for the current fleet).

“Tampa Pirate Water Taxi will add a new 100-passenger vessel with a bar” – Creative Loafing

Water Street Tampa has started construction on downtown Tampa’s first new “trophy” office tower in more than a quarter of a century, developers said Tuesday.

The project, a 20-story building at 1001 Water Street, will rise next to the new 13-story building nearing completion for the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine and Heart Institute. to be complete in late 2021 and will have about 380,000 square feet of office space and retail, a green plaza shared with the USF medical school and a rooftop terrace.

The building’s design, by CookFox Architects of New York City, is based on a “biophilic” design philosophy that developers say has been shown to reduce stress, enhance creativity, improve well-being and expedite healing. At 1001 Water Street, developers say that will mean using natural materials, planning for lots of plants throughout the building and making sure plenty of sunlight streams in through floor-to-ceiling windows and nine double-height exterior terraces.

And Water Street’s developers say they will carry that approach throughout the 56-acre development, which has been named as the first neighborhood anywhere certified by the International WELL Building Institute as a healthy community for walking, working and living

“It is not just the first new trophy office tower in Tampa in decades, but the first office of its kind,” Strategic Property Partners chief executive officer James Nozar said in an announcement about the start of construction. “We are seeking to re-imagine the workplace, where employees, their experiences and overall well-being are at the heart of the design and functionality of the space.”

Strategic Property Partners, the development company for Water Street Tampa, has said it is building 1001 Water Street on “spec” — meaning without having a set number of pre-leased agreements in hand before starting construction. That’s possible because of the capital that Strategic can draw on from its founders: Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik and Cascade Investment, the personal wealth fund of Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates. Gross rents are expected to be in the mid $50s per square foot, not including parking.

So far, the audit, tax and consulting firm RSM has signed a lease for a full floor in 1001 Water Street, said David Bevirt, Strategic’s executive vice president for corporate leasing and strategy. In addition, discussions are under way with two more prospective tenants, one for another floor and a second for four floors.

“It’s where we expected to be,” Bevirt said in a call from London, where he was meeting with brokers and site selectors. “If you can pre-lease well over 30 or 50 percent of the building, that’s exceptional in a pre-lease market. … We’re very happy with the activity and how the market has received our product.”

Bevirt said he expects a smaller percentage of tenants to be local regional firms and a larger percentage to be national and international firms. That’s why he went to London and also why he has traveled to New York, Chicago, San Francisco and Silicon Valley and plans to go to Boston. It’s also why Strategic is working with the organizations like the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce and the Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corp. to raise Tampa’s profile and make the case for why Water Street is a good value compared to what’s available in larger, more expensive cities.

The tower at 1001 Water Street is one of three office projects planned for Water Street Tampa, a $3 billion mixed-use development near Amalie Arena. Strategic also is converting the old Channelside Bay Plaza complex into Sparkman Wharf, which will have 180,000 square feet of loft-style offices. It also plans to build a 19-story office tower at 400 Channelside Drive with 500,000 square feet of space accessible by two lobbies, as well as a 27,000-square-foot outdoor garden on the fourth floor with space for business meetings, informal gatherings, events, fitness activities and work breaks.

Together, the three projects eventually are expected to bring another 1 million square feet of Class A office space to downtown Tampa. Water Street’s plans call for an additional 8 million square feet of new and existing hotels, apartments and condos, stores and restaurants and other development.

Tuesday’s announcement was low-key for a big Water Street Tampa project, which typically get rolled out with well-planned ground-breaking events featuring speeches, guest dignitaries and TV-friendly visuals. Asked why the company didn’t do a similar event for 1001 Water Street and whether developers skipped the event this time because they don’t want people near an area where archaeologist are investigating an unspecified number of possible grave shafts from Tampa’s early history, Strategic said via email that the company looks “forward to celebrating the milestone of starting construction on our office offerings at an event in early fall.”

“Water Street Tampa starts work on 20-story office tower” – Tampa Bay Times (subscription required)

The developers of Riverwalk Place have stopped taking reservations for condos in the 50-plus story tower planned for the downtown riverfront.

A statement Friday attributed only to “Riverwalk Place” indicated the halt was temporary and did not stem from any major problems with the project.

“Now that the tower will be all residential, the designers are updating floorplans,” the statement said. “Once complete, buyers can reserve those updated plans. We continue to market the project, and potential buyers have always been welcome to visit the sales center to learn all they wish.”

Larry Feldman, who is partnering on the tower with a South Florida firm, was asked via email when the updates will be finished, how many reservations have been made and when construction, set for this year, might actually begin. His response: “We will update you with more information on each topic as soon as we can.”

Riverwalk’s sales center, which is in the Feldman-owned Wells Fargo Center at 100 S Ashley Drive, was open Friday. Across the street, demolition of a vacant office building on part of the tower site was underway.

When Feldman announced the project four years ago, it was to have a combination of office space and condos. According to a 2017 lawsuit filed by his then-partner, Feldman wanted more office space than the market warranted.

That suit was settled, and Feldman said last year that Two Roads Development, which specializes in luxury high-rises, would be a partner and co-owner of Riverwalk Place. In November, it was revealed that the tower would be totally residential except for restaurants on the ground floor.

“A developer’s job is to fill demand,” Feldman said at the time, “and the demand tells us people want condos.” He said prospective buyers already had reserved nearly $70 million worth of units with required deposits of $25,000.

Riverwalk Place has been the subject of a lavish marketing campaign kicked off by a November gala attended by more than 250 guests. In the sales center, a virtual reality video enables buyers to “see” the view from their desired unit. Model rooms were designed by Thom Filicia of TV’s Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, who also designed the tower’s lobby and other common areas.

In 2005, a local group announced plans for Trump Tower Tampa on the same site now proposed for Riverwalk Place. The real estate crash killed that project, and the tract at 102 E Whiting Street was vacant until Feldman bought it in 2015 for $12.05 million.

Since then, Tampa has developed the Riverwalk on the east side of the Hillsborough River into one of the bay area’s most popular outdoor venues. Hundreds of new apartments have gone up nearby, and plans were announced in June for a 34-story condo tower in the heart of downtown.

For the past two years, though, there has been speculation that the current boom might be nearing its end.

Robert Stern, a Tampa real estate lawyer who works with developers and lenders, said no developer wants to be stuck with a half-finished building when a recession or downturn hits.

“It’s better to put the brakes on it if you’re not 100 percent certain you’ll get to the finish line,” he said. “Then you can be the first one out of the gate early in the next cycle.”

“Planned Riverwalk Place condo tower in Tampa stops taking reservations” – Tampa Bay Times (subscription required)

Your Downtown Calendar

The following is just a sample of upcoming events in Downtown Tampa.  Visit the Downtown Tampa Events Calendar for a more comprehensive list!

Zumba in the Park

When: Tuesday, June 16 from 6-7pm
Where: Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park
In partnership with the Downtown YMCA, instructor Meagan Simmons leads all ages of attendees in Zumba, a Latin-inspired dance and cardio workout.

Cycle Under the Stars with CAMP Tampa

When: Wednesday, July 17: check-in at 8:15, cycle from 9-10pm
Where: Sparkman Wharf
Sparkman Wharf has teamed up with CAMP to ‘Cycle Under the Stars’ on their lawn – all to help raise funds for The Special Olympics! To learn how you can participate in this unique fitness experience benefiting a wonderful cause, please visit: www.camptampa.com. Pre-registration is required, to register, click here.

3rd Thursdays

Thursday, July 18, begins 6pm

Grand Central at Kennedy

Enjoy some gourmet food truck fun paired with independent short flicks and live music! Pour House and City Dog Cantina provide micro brews and tasty cocktails. Over ten gourmet food trucks will be on site, offering everything from burgers to vegetarian bites and much more. This is a spectacular way to spend a Thursday evening in Downtown Tampa! For more information, go to 3rd Thursdays.

Riverwalk Dine & Wine Tour

When: Thursday, July 18 from 5-8pm beginning at Oxford Exchange
Where: Explore downtown Tampa’s amazing local independent restaurants on a food & wine tour. You will visit Oxford Exchange, Mise en Place, Malio’s Prime, Riversedge, TamPiz and Anise Global Gastropub for food and wine pairings and dessert and coffee. Book your spot for the tour here!

Friday Night Heights Brew Bus

When: Friday, July 19 from 7-9pm
Where: Sparkman Wharf
The Friday Night Heights shuttle takes off every Friday at 7PM and operates similarly to Sunday’s Local Loop. Our drivers run a continuous loop between all 7 stops and riders can #HopOn and off as they please, visiting as many or as few of the stops as they like.

The buses will frequent each stop every 35-45 minutes. Our Friday Night Heights partners include Lowry Parcade, Red Star Rock Bar, Armature Works, Rock Brothers Brewing, Hall On Franklin, Seminole Heights City Wine Bar and of course, The Brew Bus Terminal & Brewery.

Tickets can be purchased for $15 in advance and $20 on Fridays. Book your ticket here.

Rompers & Mimosas

Saturday, July 20, 11am to 5pm

Mole Y Abuela

Show off your favorite romper and treat yourself to a day of brunch and mimosas all over Tampa! The event kicks off at Mole Y Abuela for an amazing brunch buffet and bottomless mimosas. After enjoying brunch, attendees will board the Downtown Crawler Party Bus to visit District Tavern Tampa, American Social Tampa overlooking Tampa Bay, and then finish the crawl at Remedy at Riverwalk to enjoy their amazing views. Local business pop-ups will be featured for your enjoyment along the way! For more information, go to Rompers & Mimosas.

Anuel AA: Real Hasta La Muerte Tour Part 2

Sunday, July 21, begins 8pm

Amalie Arena

Anuel AA, the Puerto Rican rapper who helped bring Latin Trap music into the mainstream, is hitting the stage with his Real Hasta La Muerte Tour Part 2. He will be bringing his unique mix of reggaeton and trap genres to perform live Downtown Tampa. For more information, go to Anuel AA: Real Hasta La Muerte Tour Part 2.

On the Marquee at Tampa Theatre

Wild Rose (2019) – Through Tuesday, July 16

Between Me and my Mind (2019) – Wednesday, July 17, 7:30pm to 9:15pm

Jurassic Park (1993) – Sunday, July 21, 3pm to 5:15pm

Taking the Stage at the Straz Center

Constellations by Nick Payne – Through Sunday, August 4

Patel Conservatory presents Annie, Jr. – Thursday, July 18 to Sunday, July 28

Patel Conservatory offers Jazz Intensive – Friday, July 19, begins 5:30pm

Patel Conservatory presents Next Generation Ballet Summer Intensive Showcase – Friday, July 19, begins 7pm

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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.