From Vacant to Catalytic: Tampa to Upgrade City-Owned Property

West Tampa, among the Hillsborough River, is already gaining development momentum, and new plans to develop a city-owned property on the river could add fuel to the fire.

1 minute read

November 12, 2020, 6:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Florida

VIAVAL TOURS / Shutterstock

The city of Tampa is planning to redevelop a vacant, city-owned property on the Hillsborough River, known as the Rome Yard, into a mixed-use project with big ambitions as a catalyst for more development on the west side of the river.

"Last month, the city issued a request for proposal for the property. A late October technical workshop drew 53 interested parties, indicating that strong interest remains in constructing an enticing mix of market-rate and affordable housing and retail," reports Charlie Frago.

Add the project to a list of recent completed and planned developments in the area, and Tampa is hoping for a revitalization program.

"The city completed the ambitious $35 million makeover of Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park in 2018," among other development projects, according to Frago. "And it recently snagged a $24 million federal grant to extend the Riverwalk west along the river, including a dozen miles of biking and pedestrian trails separated from traffic."

More details of the development variables in play at the Rome Yard site are included in the source article.

Monday, November 9, 2020 in Tampa Bay Times

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 2, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Map of Haussmann's redesign of Paris in the 1850s through 1870s under Napoleon III.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking

Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

June 30, 2025 - Tom Sanchez

Brutalist grey department of housing and urban development building in Washington DC.

How Trump's HUD Budget Proposal Would Harm Homelessness Response

Experts say the change to the HUD budget would make it more difficult to identify people who are homeless and connect them with services, and to prevent homelessness.

2 hours ago - Shelterforce Magazine

Lancaster Boulevard with tree-lined median and wide sidewalks in Lancaster, California.

The Vast Potential of the Right-of-Way

One writer argues that the space between two building faces is the most important element of the built environment.

2 hours ago - Streetsblog USA

Sign in front of building for seior services center in St. Petersburg, Fl.

Florida Seniors Face Rising Homelessness Risk

High housing costs are pushing more seniors, many of them on a fixed income, into homelessness.

5 hours ago - WESH

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

Associate/Senior Planner

Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development

Senior Planner

Heyer Gruel & Associates PA