Franklin Street has historically served as the commercial corridor connecting Downtown Tampa and its surrounding neighborhoods. There were many local firsts celebrated along Franklin Street: the first paved street, the first brick building, the first theater, the first multi-story department store. Some of those original buildings have survived the test of time; however, many other significant treasures have been demolished and replaced by modern buildings or parking lots.

The Tampa Downtown Partnership commissioned the preparation of this study in an effort to document the remaining historic resources along the Franklin Street Corridor and to recommend strategies and an action plan for the preservation of those resources. The project was funded by the Tampa Downtown Partnership and the Hillsborough County Historic Preservation Challenge Grant Program.

Check out the plan here: Franklin Street Historic Preservation Plan_FINAL