The Official Tampa Bay Developments/Urban Enthusiast Thread (St. Petersburg, Bradenton: leasing, condos)

[theurbanfiles]

A few things to note, development/etc. wise:

1. The Toronto Blue Jays joining the Raptors in making Tampa Bay their 2nd/temporary home
2. Mixture of reasons, including a more relaxed stance around COVID, but Tampa Bay hotels with highest occupancy rate in country for 2020
3. First REI in Tampa area opening March 5th
4. Seven potential renderings for Tropicana Field, with or without the Rays
5. Darryl Shaw looking to connect Ybor to the rest of the Downtown core
6. High quality ice cream arrives in Tampa, with Jeni's in UTC Sarasota/Tampa Heights/Sparkman Wharf
7. JW Marriott opens (joining Hotel Haya, Element/Aloft Midtown, and Hyatt House/Place this week.)
8. Museum of American Arts and Crafts movement with delays, but will eventually openy
9. St. Petersburg joins Tampa in having an AV system running through downtown
10. ..and a bunch of other things. Most importantly IMO, SCF's CATI, and Lakeland's Bonnet Springs Park

BTW.. a worthwhile Podcast you might want to check out on Spotify, or wherever you listen, talks about things like this in Tampa and elsewhere and is called The Urban Files. I believe that their next episode will be a discussion of Tampa vs. Miami, from the opposite perspective (one person from show lives in Tampa Bay and the other Miami, but they will be arguing for the other city).

[theurbanfiles]

It's been a bit! Here's a six-month update:

1. Axios Tampa Bay is great as local news blurbs go: https://tampa-bay.axios.com/ They have an almost daily email too with various things discussed, not just development. Free!

2. Selby Gardens Master Plan broke ground a couple of months ago, down in Sarasota. One of the more impressive botanical gardens in the United States, particularly in regard to it's collection of orchids and bromeliads (largest in world, I think), but also it's setting on the waterfront, is getting more impressive and expanding it's presence in the downtown area:
https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/...an/7517016002/
3. Also, Spanish Point, a prior historic site, is under it now, in case I hadn't mentioned that:
https://www.sarasotamagazine.com/new...gardens-merger

4. Daryl Shaw's Gas Worx Development renderings, west of the main portion of Ybor City currently:
https://www.baynews9.com/fl/tampa/ne...bor-city-space

5. Midtown Tampa is coming along. Whole Foods, Joffrey's, REI, both hotels, and Shake Shack are open there now:
https://www.83degreesmedia.com/devne...ps-080321.aspx


6. All-time record passenger traffic at PIE, just 15 months following the start of the pandemic. Now has 64 domestic routes-I am particularly intrigued by the addition of Provo, for the possibility of a Western US direct trip for National Parks, etc. out of a secondary ULCC friendly airport:
https://www.tampabay.com/news/busine...st-month-ever/
See in attachments the images I took on a recent visit to TPA of the future airport rendering with capacity increase to 35 million per year.

7. https://www.tampabay.com/news/real-e...rea-this-year/ Tampa Bay area rent increasing faster and more significantly than any other metro area in the US.

8. Housing costs, too: https://www.axios.com/tampa-bay-real...mpa&stream=top Median value in Ybor City/Palmetto Beach has gone from $83K to $195K in the last FIVE years. Massive jump.

9. Tampa Theatre planning to open a micro cinema for arthouse films:
https://www.83degreesmedia.com/devne...ck-071321.aspx

10. MRA Capital Partners relocating it's headquarters from New Jersey to Tampa Bay. https://www.globest.com/2021/08/13/m...20210716105145
Signode moving it's HQ from Chicago to Tampa
https://tampabayedc.com/news/signode...s-to-tampa-fl/
ConnectWise moving from Westshore to Downtown next year. A little closer, I'll say.
https://www.tampabay.com/news/busine...owntown-tampa/

11.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDCA2ZUnlv8 Another year, another boat parade.

12. The esteemed La Segunda Bakery, expanding over to St. Petersburg: https://stpeterising.com/home/2021/7...y-in-ybor-city

13. Publix GreenWise Market opening this month in Water Street (is it open yet? I really don't know lol)
https://thatssotampa.com/water-stree...enwise-market/



Truly hope you all are well. See attachments for Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals Watch Party, Midtown, Future Airport Renderings, and views from our friend's place at Heron, definitely some of the highlights of summer in TPA.

[Jandrew5]

Originally Posted by cavsfan137

5. Midtown Tampa is coming along. Whole Foods, Joffrey's, REI, both hotels, and Shake Shack are open there now:
https://www.83degreesmedia.com/devne...ps-080321.aspx

I went to Sal Y Mar. It's whatever, the drinks are very pricey. But the view is incredible. A top 5 Tampa view. The downtown skyline looks massive from one side, and on the other side you can see St Pete. It's a great panorama.

You dont have to get a drink or stay at the hotel to go up there. Folks should definitely go up there for a sunset just to take the view in.

[theurbanfiles]

Originally Posted by Jandrew5

I went to Sal Y Mar. It's whatever, the drinks are very pricey. But the view is incredible. A top 5 Tampa view. The downtown skyline looks massive from one side, and on the other side you can see St Pete. It's a great panorama.

You dont have to get a drink or stay at the hotel to go up there. Folks should definitely go up there for a sunset just to take the view in.

I went up in the middle of the day and didn't grab a drink, in fact, I'm not even sure the bar was open at the time! But you are right, it was a very nice view.

So far, my favorite (not private) view of Greater Tampa Bay from any rooftop, would actually be from the Westin in Sarasota because of the overall height and immediate landscape of downtown and water views. That being said, that may change if I ever get around to going to something at The Tampa Club, or when the 27th Floor Rooftop at the JW finally opens.

[FL_Expert]

Originally Posted by Jandrew5

I went to Sal Y Mar. It's whatever, the drinks are very pricey. But the view is incredible. A top 5 Tampa view. The downtown skyline looks massive from one side, and on the other side you can see St Pete. It's a great panorama.

You dont have to get a drink or stay at the hotel to go up there. Folks should definitely go up there for a sunset just to take the view in.

Thanks for the tip, I might have to stop by there soon.

Originally Posted by cavsfan137

I went up in the middle of the day and didn't grab a drink, in fact, I'm not even sure the bar was open at the time! But you are right, it was a very nice view.

So far, my favorite (not private) view of Greater Tampa Bay from any rooftop, would actually be from the Westin in Sarasota because of the overall height and immediate landscape of downtown and water views. That being said, that may change if I ever get around to going to something at The Tampa Club, or when the 27th Floor Rooftop at the JW finally opens.

The Westin is pretty good! I think the best is probably the Tampa Club; where if I recall correctly you can see over Pinellas County to the gulf. Armani’s at the Hyatt is another good one in Tampa.

St. Pete has some really good views too. In 2008 I recall looking at a 1/1 apartment around 2nd ave and 1st st n that had great bay and city views. It was only something like $700 a month too, boy have times changed! Unfortunately most of the best views in St. Pete are private, but they’ve got some really good ones.

If you’re ever in Daytona, the Top of Daytona restaurant has a very nice view from the 29th floor. It’s well worth checking out.

[theurbanfiles]

Originally Posted by FL_Expert

Thanks for the tip, I might have to stop by there soon.


The Westin is pretty good! I think the best is probably the Tampa Club; where if I recall correctly you can see over Pinellas County to the gulf. Armani’s at the Hyatt is another good one in Tampa.

St. Pete has some really good views too. In 2008 I recall looking at a 1/1 apartment around 2nd ave and 1st st n that had great bay and city views. It was only something like $700 a month too, boy have times changed! Unfortunately most of the best views in St. Pete are private, but they’ve got some really good ones.

If you’re ever in Daytona, the Top of Daytona restaurant has a very nice view from the 29th floor. It’s well worth checking out.

Need to figure out my timing on that. I know they have events, but sometimes they are members only, and if you don't check in advance, I think it fills up pretty fast.

That's the thing... yeah I've been to Spinners in St. Pete Beach and Birchwood in DTSP, and both were good overall, but many of the best views in St. Pete for sure are private.

Thanks for mentioning that Daytona one, it's worth checking out.

[theurbanfiles]

1. I managed to get to The Tampa Club for an open house a few weeks ago-it was pretty cool! They are renovating it right now, but it will soon be even better, with a full restaurant, deck opening upstairs, etc.

2. I also managed to go to an info session for the Residences at 400 Central in St. Petersburg. https://residences400central.com/ Unfortunately, no longer a hotel component attached, but still, it will be an amazing space when open. They are having their groundbreaking on October 18th, however, I am unsure if that will be open to the public: https://stpeterising.com/home/2021/1...-st-petersburg

3. Cafe Con Tampa, a weekly event in the upstairs of the Commerce Club of the Oxford Exchange open to the public every Friday morning at 8, has hosted several notable guests recently, including outgoing St. Pete mayor Rick Kriseman, and President of the Tampa Bay Rays, Brian Auld. It made some big news in the form of the Wall Street Journal a few days ago, with Auld's appearance there. https://www.wsj.com/articles/tampa-b...al-11633668244 Here is the YouTube channel, which has all of their speakers, at least since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, archived and available to watch:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaL9T3T44iQ I particularly enjoyed seeing USF Softball and US Olympic Softball team coach Ken Eriksen, his words were very inspiring.

4. This is vague... right? https://stpetecatalyst.com/fortune-5...hq-in-st-pete/ Project Athena. Any guesses on which company this is?

5. New Marina Districts: Namely, Westshore Marina District in Tampa: https://westshoremarinadistrict.com/retail-restaurants/, and Skyway Marina District in St Pete: https://stpetecatalyst.com/starbucks...rina-district/, joining Midtown Tampa.. it has been a busy year for the area in this regard.

6. Wagamama Asian Fusion.. opening early 2022.. this sounds and looks really good, and I can't wait to try it once it opens up: https://patch.com/florida/southtampa...t-water-street

7. For the kids... and not in Tampa or St Pete themselves, but it is in neighboring Polk County.. Legoland announced the opening of a Peppa Pig Theme Park in February 2022.. prices actually look relatively family friendly compared to the insane rise of Disney pricing over the last couple years: https://apnews.com/article/entertain...fb73c7f144648f

8. The part of the Tampa Riverwalk near the convention center will be closest for a little over a year to make way for an 38 million dollar expansion/renovation happening there https://www.fox13news.com/news/touri...worth-the-cost

And... the Bolts raise another banner!

[theurbanfiles]

Anyone who has any interest in experiencing an active public space in the city, or in taking kids to a public, daytime Trick or Treat event, or just looking for a fun time in general, would do well to check out Halloween on Central, where from 12-5 this coming October 31st, 22 blocks of Central Ave will be closed off to a Halloween themed festival, free trick or treating, and a myriad of other activities. From what I can see, the stretch that is considered the Edge District (near/adjacent the Trop) will be more family-friendly, whereas Grand Central (across 275) will be a bit more of a party stretch. Could be wrong, but just my impression.

Anyhow, here's the link: Halloween on Central - Car-Free St. Pete

[theurbanfiles]

Hotel Floridan Palace now under new ownership, sold for 22.5 Million

Tampa Bay Beer Documentary Airing Friday at Tampa Theatre for Free

Clearwater with a weekend Hispanic Farmers Market 3rd weekend of month on Sat/Sun from 9-3

Florida Poly lab space + mixed use

[Kid Ashbury]

Ark Investments is moving their headquarters from New York City to downtown St. Pete and will be building a new Talent Innovation building just south of downtown.

https://www.tampabay.com/news/busine...st-petersburg/