Construction : Development News

A new blueprint for downtown Tampa development for the next 20 years is in the works.

The City of Tampa will soon begin contract negotiations on a $1.43 million master plan and primary transit corridor plan targeting present and future development for Tampa's urban core. One of the plan's focuses will be guiding future growth.

“There has never been a comprehensive study of the downtown area that's looked at connectivity between major projects, design guidelines, amenities, funding strategies, zoning and land use and growth strategies,” says Bob McDonaugh, the city's economic and urban development director, who will be spearheading the project. “The plan will take a holistic approach to all of the various disciplines and future requirements, tying them together into one study.”

The study area for the Downtown Area Conceptual Master Plan is generally within two miles of the center of downtown Tampa. The study for the transit corridor master plan is generally an area along Nebraska Avenue from downtown Tampa to Hillsborough Avenue; then east along Hillsborough to 22nd Street, extending about one-third of a mile from each side. As the project gets underway, study boundaries will be more specifically defined.

“There has never been as much interest in living and working in Tampa as there is right now,” says McDonaugh. “It is important that we have a sustainable plan to guide us through this growth period and into our future.”

According to McDonaugh, it's the expectation of those involved that the Hillsborough River will become the center of the urban core -- instead of the western city boundary -- as the city continues to grow.

AECOM, a professional technical and management support services firm specializing in providing transportation, planning, environmental, energy, water and government services, was chosen by a panel to design both plans for the city. AECOM was one of 10 firms that responded to the city's request for qualifications.

"The panel was impressed by the breadth of experience that they demonstrated and the in-house expertise that they have in a variety of disciplines," says McDonaugh.

Funding for the $1.43 million project will come from a $1.18 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and $125,000 from the City of Tampa; an additional $125,000 will come as in-kind support.

City staff plans to bring a contract to the Tampa City Council for approval in January 2012. Slated to formally begin in February 2012, the project will be designed to provide opportunities for residents to get involved in the development process during the 18 to 24 months it will take to complete.

“Public outreach will be an important part of the process as the citizens of Tampa will be engaged throughout, their vision for our city becoming an ingredient of this plan. Public meetings will be a cornerstone of the process,” says McDonaugh. “This is a very exciting time in Tampa. I was a student at the University of Tampa in the early 1970s and have witnessed the growth and change in our downtown during the last 30 to 40 years. The changes in the last five have been the most dramatic that I've seen and I can't wait to see the next five.”

Writer: Alexis Quinn Chamberlain
Source: Bob McDonaugh, City of Tampa

New College of Florida in Sarasota has gone green.

Opening a new $11 million Academic Center just in time for 50 classes for the Fall semester, the college was recently awarded with gold Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification by the U.S. Green Building Council for the extensive number of environmentally friendly features the building offers.

New features include special CO2 room sensors that measure air quality and adjust the air-conditioning system accordingly, specially designed built-in tanks to collect storm water, toilets that flush using residual rainwater from the roof and air-conditioning condensate, pavers and reflective roofing materials and high-efficiency windows to promote natural lighting.

“Environmentally, the New College Academic Center uses fewer of our regions natural resources,” says Lynn Riechmann, spokesperson for the college. “The architectural features that garnered the building golf LEED certification certainly help minimize our carbon footprint as we continue to provide better facilities for students.”

Part of the New College Campus Master Plan that was approved in June 2008, the 3,500-square-foot Academic Center encompasses all that the plan envisioned: environmentally progressive campus development over the next 30 years, promoting a more seamless relationship between academic and residential life.

“The new center really enhances the educational experience for students,” says Riechmann. “About 20 percent of our alumni live and work in the Tampa Bay area, entering the regional workforce as doctors, lawyers, educators, leaders and other professionals.”

Writer: Alexis Quinn Chamberlain
Source: Lynn Riechmann, New College of Florida

A Tampa courthouse that's been closed for 13 years could soon reopen its doors -- this time, as a hotel.

Built in 1905 as a post office, the building became a customs house before transforming into the 106-year-old Classic Federal Courthouse it is today.

Located at 611 N. Florida Ave., the three-story courthouse features towering windows and enormous columns, as well as marble, stone and oak throughout -- assets Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn thinks would transform perfectly into a boutique hotel with approximately 120 rooms.

“For too long, Florida developers have torn down old buildings to put new ones up,” says Buckhorn. “The federal courthouse is a historical and cultural landmark and it's important to not only preserve it, but to also utilize it in a way that people can enjoy it. It represents our history and will anchor downtown's future. It adds to the unique flavor of Tampa.”

Now city-owned, the courthouse was added to the National Register of Historical Places in 1974, but closed in 1998 shortly after the Sam M. Gibbons U.S. Courthouse opened two blocks north at 801 N. Florida Ave. A study done in 2008 by the Tampa chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) estimated a full renovation including solutions to asbestos and water damage would cost approximately $18 million.

“The renovation and reopening of the hotel will benefit practically everyone: Developers will have the opportunity to create a unique hotel that will hopefully draw in a lot of business, construction workers will be hired for the project, staff will be hired to run the hotel, surrounding businesses will benefit from increased traffic and citizens will benefit from the additional dollars on the tax roll,” says Buckhorn. “Our urban core is long overdue for activity and this hotel would activate a piece of our downtown that has been vacant for too long.”

The City of Tampa recently released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the long-term lease and redevelopment of the courthouse. Specifically targeting development as a hotel, proposals in response to the RFP will be accepted until December 8th at 4 p.m.

To obtain a copy of the RFP package or to learn more about the Classic Federal Courthouse, visit the City of Tampa official website.

Writer: Alexis Quinn Chamberlain
Source: Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn

Winter Haven's historic downtown Forum Center is transforming into The Hoffman Building thanks to an investor's infusion of cash and appreciation for the past.

Recently acquired by the 6/10 Corporation, the 57-year-old building housed Florida's historic Hoffman's Department store in the late 1930s.

With renovations currently underway, including interior and exterior improvements such as a new paint, carpet, landscaping and the addition of a common conference room, the work planned on the new and improved 8,800-square-foot Hoffman Building is slated for completion by Fall of 2011.

“The presence of the Hoffman Building have been contributing to the Winter Haven area by bringing new professional businesses into downtown,” says Angela Harwell, broker for the 6/10 Corporation. “We are pleased with the response to our improvements with regard to leasing activity.”

Purchased in June for $363,800, the Hoffman Building's first-floor executive suites have already been leased. Only second-floor offices remain vacant. The building's location at 39 Third St. in historic downtown Winter Haven is expected to be a significant contributor to neighborhood retail businesses and restaurants.

Writer: Alexis Quinn Chamberlain
Source: Angela Harwell, 6/10 Corporation

As the City of St. Petersburg progresses on an international design competition to replace the Pier, a jury of five panelists has winnowed the finalists from 23 teams to the final three.

After advertising the international design competition, the City received applications from 23 international teams with interest in competing for the opportunity to design the new $50 million Pier project. On June 29, the team narrowed the list to nine, ultimately choosing the final three design teams: Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), Michael Maltzan Architecture and West 8 with Allied Works Architecture.

Among those chosen, Michael Maltzan Architecture, a Los Angeles-based architecture firm, decided to team up with St. Pete 's own Wannemacher Jensen Architects (WJ Architects), establishing a local presence for the high-profile competition.

“Michael Maltzan Architecture has received international acclaim and prominence that will ensure an iconic design with international appeal and innovation,” says Jason Jensen of WJ Architects. “We have strong roots in the area, contributing to local, wishes and constraints while ensuring that the residents of St. Pete have a voice in our team's design. Together, we will provide an international design tailored to fit the St. Peterburg area's environment and lifestyle.”

Having worked on more than 200 projects for the City of St. Pete, including award-winning designs such as the North Shore Pool, Roberts Recreation Center and Walter Fuller Park, WJ Architects projects include Tropicana Field improvements and the interior design of the Progress Energy headquarters.

“We believe that we have a very collaborative team who is sensitive to local needs by taking the time to listen and getting to know the community and local environment,” says Jensen. “The objective is to work with the community to arrive at a solution that is embraced. Only then do we begin designing a place rich with experiences, a place that will truly make memories.”

Jensen says the design submitted for the competition by Michael Maltzan, himself and partner Lisa Wannemacher is in its beginning stages and will be a basis for additional community outreach. The team will continue to refine the design before submitting to the jury on November 29. Presentations will be made by all three teams on December 15-16 before the jury submits its final recommendation to the City Council in January for approval on February 2, 2012.

For their efforts, each team will receive an honorarium of $50,000 while $5.6 million of the competition's budget will go toward the demolition of the existing Pier.

Writer: Alexis Quinn Chamberlain
Source: Jason Jensen, Wannemacher Jensen Architects

The newest addition to the University of South Florida's (USF) growing athletic program, the Pam and Les Muma Basketball Center, is receiving national recognition for its innovative design.

The $11 million training facility for the university's men's and women's basketball teams was designed by the R.R. Simmons Design/Build Team. Providing a practical and sustainable build, the state-of-the-art facility features practice courts, game study rooms, lounges, locker rooms and coach offices.

Featuring a design method called "tilt-up concrete'' -- a method of construction in which individual wall panels that make up the facility are cast on site and then erected into place -- the Tilt-Up Concrete Association recently took note of the design team's innovative approach.

“This is a very green approach since transportation costs for the project are greatly reduced,” says R.R. Simmons CEO Randy Simmons. “The primary panels of the Muma Center are insulated and are about 13 inches thick -- the heaviest panel we erected on the project weighed more than 200,000 pounds.”

Situated next to the Sun Dome, the design team was presented with the challenge of wedging the 51,000-square-foot building into a uniquely shaped piece of land. R.R. Simmons faced these challenges creatively, delivering a smart facility that's already considered by sports experts to be one of the top five training centers for basketball.

“The facility will help USF recruit the nation's top student athletes,” says Simmons. “With that growth, further visibility in the university will occur, only strengthening the value of educational promise at USF.”

For more information on the Pam and Les Muma Basketball Center, visit USF's official website.

Writer: Alexis Quinn Chamberlain
Source: Randy Simmons, R.R. Simmons Design/Build Team

HART has begun work on the first full renovation to its Operations Facility.

Located at 4305 E. 21st Ave. in Tampa, the HART headquarters will undergo a $4.6 million renovation project, adding approximately 10,000 square feet to the current 17,000-square-foot building.

“As time has gone on, we've always done things to accommodate to the growing needs of HART, but we've never really done a full renovation of the building,” says Project Manager Bob Atack. “It's time to update the building: It's undersized and definitely not the most inviting place to work.”

With the building being more than 40 years old and HART occupying it for the last 30 years, operations have grown in size to a point that temporary facilities, such as trailers, are now required on-site.

Apart from more space, the renovations will make green updates to the building in the form of windows for natural lighting and solar power, as well as new plumbing, LED lighting, water conserving fixtures and a recycling system. HART will also expand dispatch and operations offices and add a 3,000-square-foot conference room for training and public use.

“Basically, we're creating a building that accommodates our needs, is flexible in design, is energy efficient and is completely updated,” says Atack. “The renovations, as a whole, will benefit a lot of people -- the HART employees that have to work there, the public that comes to visit and the operators that have to report to it.”

Currently, the 24-hour operations facility dispatches more than 300 bus and van drivers every day with buses rolling out at 4 a.m. and returning at 1 a.m. on weekdays. One of the fully federally funded project's goals is to make residents aware of home base operations, bringing HART, its employees and its services to the forefront of Hillsborough County.

Construction on the project is expected to see completion by the summer of 2012. Upon completion, HART will apply for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, saving approximately 30 percent in utilities annually. The Operations Facility is closed to the public until further notice.

Writer: Alexis Quinn Chamberlain
Source: Bob Atack, HART

Hillsborough Community College's (HCC) SouthShore campus in Ruskin is planning to expand.

With the recent purchase of a 20-acre site adjacent to the campus at 551 24th St. N.E., HCC SouthShore is expecting to add a second building by 2015 and a third by 2020.

“Our campus has grown more than anyone had anticipated,” says Dr. Allen Witt, president of the SouthShore campus. “The college realized with its recent growth and potential future growth, we need more land.”

Previously used for farming purposes, HCC purchased the land on September 8th for approximately $1.3 million from Centex Homes. Centex had originally intended to use the acreage for a new planned community. When that didn't happen following the downturn in the Florida housing market, the SouthShore campus entered negotiations.

“Land adjacent to a campus is very precious,” says Dr. Witt. HCC was able to "acquire a space that will give us enough room to expand for many decades to come, meeting the needs of this growing area.”

The HCC SouthShore campus is operating currently at almost four times the original anticipated capacity. Scheduling classes on weekends, bringing in numerous portable units and using every inch of available space has allowed the campus to exceed projections for the year 2020; nearly 6,000 students enrolled in courses at SouthShore for the 2010-2011 academic year.

“Enrollment has exploded and is only going up,” says Dr. Witt. “This is really the first time there's been higher education south of the Alafia River (in Hillsborough County) and there's a huge unmet need for higher education in this part of the county. This land will allow us to meet that need, as well as the needs of future generations of students to come.”

There are no definite plans as to what the expansion will entail, but the campus' 5-year Master Plan aims to direct future growth and SouthShore is seeking state funding to help with the costs.

Writer: Alexis Quinn Chamberlain
Source: Dr. Allen Witt, HCC SouthShore

By a unanimous vote, the Pasco County Board of County Commissioners approved a $10 million incentive package in an attempt to get Raymond James Financial to move to the Wesley Chapel area.

With construction on the first two of the new Raymond James Financial towers in Wiregrass Ranch to begin as early as next year, the county offered the company millions in tax breaks and road word in hopes that the project will bring approximately 750 jobs to Pasco County.

“Raymond James has signed a purchase agreement for the property,” says Steve Hollister, Raymond James corporate communications PR manager. “A final due diligence period of up to nine months will allow the firm to examine geotechnical, environmental and other aspects of the property to ensure compatibility with the project.”

Should the examination result in a decision to move forward, the company will begin work on the site, located at State Road 56 and Mansfield Boulevard in Wiregrass, in hopes to get the first tower completed as early as 2013; the second tower won't see completion until 2020.

According to an analysis by the Pasco Economic Development Council, Raymond James Financial's move to the county is expected to generate $135 million in taxable sales, add $40 million to county property tax and $9 million in other taxes. In addition, Pasco agreed to invest nearly $4.5 million to improve road conditions around the site.

“We will have more information as the process proceeds,” says Hollister.

Writer: Alexis Quinn Chamberlain
Source: Steve Hollister, Raymond James Corporate Communications

Saint Leo University aims to do one thing: Expand your mind while expanding its campus.

As the university continues to make substantial investments to its main campus in Pasco County at 33701 State Road 52, two new apartment-style residence halls and an underground parking garage will be added.

“The university continues to grow and meet the ever-changing needs of our students,” says Ken Posner, V.P. of Student Services at Saint Leo.

As one of the largest Catholic universities in the United States, Saint Leo's total enrollment exceeded 15,500 for the 2010-2011 academic school year. Keeping up with its high volume of students, the university will spend approximately $19 million on the two new residence halls.

University administrators broke ground on the apartment-style residential living spaces in April with completion slated for August 2012. Upon completion, the two new halls will be able to accommodate 300 students, totaling enough living space for about 1,600 students at the lakeside campus.

“These new residence halls will enable students to collaborate with others in living-learning environments that complement their academic pursuits while relaxing and socializing in elaborately designed common spaces,” says Posner. “The addition of our two new residence halls and of a conveniently located parking garage demonstrates our commitment to learning by providing state-of-the-art facilities for student and community engagement.”

Calling on Lunz Prebor Fowler Architects of Lakeland and Creative Contractors Inc. of Clearwater for both of the construction projects, the addition of the new 550-space parking garage will cost Saint Leo approximately $10.5 million; an intramural field constructed on its roof with expected completion within the next year.

“The institution has been strategic in designing a campus learning environment that works,” says Posner.

For more information on Saint Leo University's current construction, visit the official website. To view a live feed of the on-site construction of the new residence halls, click here.

Writer: Alexis Quinn Chamberlain
Source: Ken Posner, Saint Leo University

Southwest Florida's leading air conditioning and major appliance sales and service provider, Home-Tech, is expanding its presence in Florida.

Celebrating its 30th year in business, the Ft. Myers-based company recently announced that has begun construction on a new 10,400-square-foot service office, showroom and technical training center in Manatee County; Home-Tech originally established its presence in the Sarasota-Manatee area in 1992 with an office located in Venice.

“We're extremely excited about our expansion and look forward to providing our service to the local Manatee County community,” says President and Founder Steve Marino. “I'm glad to see this project moving forward and that it's doing exactly what we want it do: Hiring local people and having a facility for us to expand our operations in the area.”

The $1.3 million project will duplicate Home-Tech's current office in the Ft. Myers-Collier area at 6400 Techster Blvd., made up of a state-of-the-art training facility, a 3,000-square-foot non-traditional showroom featuring working appliances, as well as a warehouse and employee offices.

“We're particularly proud of the new training facility because, as far as we know, we will be the only service industry company in Southwest Florida to have an apprenticeship program,” says Marino. “It's going to bring a lot more jobs to the area and it'll draw new apprentices, which we're really looking forward to.”

With the dried-in shell of the building expected to be complete by the end of September, Home-Tech has already hired six new employees and has up to seven positions currently available, ranging from entry-level to sales positions to experienced technicians.

“With so many young people currently trying to find a job and a career, hiring and training people is something we're really excited about,” says Marino. “This is a good career and the service industry is very interesting -- you never know what's going to happen from day to day and it pays quite well. I only see the demand in home service getting bigger.”

Home-Tech is working with World Designs Inc. as architect on the project, Allison Engineering as land developer and Manasota Commercial Construction as general contractor. Steve Heinz, community development and service agreement sales director, will lead the sales effort for the new facility, which is expected to see completion by the first quarter of 2012.

Writer: Alexis Quinn Chamberlain
Source: Steve Marino, Home-Tech

The Bradenton Riverwalk -- a project that has been in the works since the early 2000s -- has finally come into fruition with a groundbreaking ceremony on September 19th.

Residents, city officials and local businesses gathered at Rossi Park at 301 3rd Ave. W. to celebrate the start of the $6.2 million enhancement project.

A 1.5-mile stretch of the riverfront at the park faces renovations with the addition of a nationally recognized skatepark, canoe and kayak launches, sand volley ball courts, butterfly gardens, interactive art, a water park and splash park and even an outdoor amphitheater.

“There's an enormous amount of possibilities along the riverfront,” says David Gustafson, executive director of the Bradenton Downtown Development Authority. “We plan to have several competitions and may even have the ability to host future X Games at this location.”

A blues festival has already been planned for the new outdoor theater area for December 2012. Upon completion, the Riverwalk and its events are expected to have a significant economic impact on Bradenton and the Tampa Bay region.

“The economic impact will be huge and, really, it's just an asset that has never been utilized and will strongly affect downtown Manatee County, as well as the rest of the Tampa Bay region all the way from Sarasota to St. Pete,” says Gustafson. “We've seen the success of riverwalks in other parts of the country such as Jacksonville, Tampa and Tennessee and see a lot of promise in this project.”

Recognizing the importance of sports and culture within a community, the Bradenton City Council and the Downtown Development Authority Board decided to make the investment due to recent studies, focusing on the addition of a another important cultural asset to the community; $1.2 million of the budget will come from tax increment financing (TIF) while an investment has been made into a $5 million bond that the city will pay off over the next 20 years. The project is expected to be complete by September 2012.

Writer: Alexis Quinn Chamberlain
Source: David Gustafson, Bradenton Downtown Development Authority

Saint Leo University recently celebrated the opening of its new business school.

Construction on the $12 million Donald R. Tapia School of Business, a 47,921-square-foot building on the university's main campus in Saint Leo in Pasco County, began in July of 2010. The first new academic building Saint Leo has built in more than 50 years, the new facility was completed in August in time for the 2011-12 school year.

“The Donald R. Tapia School of Business is a visible demonstration to the total Saint Leo community of our commitment to excellence and our commitment to our students. It was built to be a truly state-of-the-art building,” says Michael Nastanski, dean of the School of Business. “In these economic times, when schools have been really holding back because they have to, we didn't do that. We decided to really make an investment that would best benefit our students and they see that. They're really proud, excited and motivated.”

The school features a mix of learning spaces including technology-rich classrooms, seminar rooms, computer labs and an executive lecture hall, and office spaces for faculty and administration. It also has a broadcast and recording studio for video and audio production, and is equipped with SMART Board Technology. Seventy-inch high definition LCD multitouch, multiuser display monitors connected to the Internet, student laptops and cameras -- think giant iPads -- are located in every classroom.

“You're not going to find a better facility anywhere else in the world right now. Walking into one of our classrooms, you're going to get an environment that's just as good as any corporate environment. You're going to get to use tools that are available at any corporation and apply them,” says Nastanski. “This is an opportunity for Tampa Bay students and their parents to have an educational experience that's second to none.”

Funds for the facility were donated by more than 200 private donors, including Donald R. Tapia, an entrepreneur and Saint Leo alumnus who gave $4 million, the largest single gift in university history.

For more information on Saint Leo and the Donald R. Tapia School of Business, visit the School of Business website.

Writer: Alexis Quinn Chamberlain
Source: Michael Nastanski, Donald R. Tapia School of Business

A dilapidated St. Petersburg apartment complex with a troubled past is being sold and facing renovations.

Citrus Grove Apartments at 731 15th St. S. is a seven-building, 84-unit complex in the Campbell Park neighborhood, located directly across the street from John Hopkins Middle School at 701 16th St. S.

Owned by nonprofit Bethel Community Baptist Church, the Section 8 complex has a long history of crime, drugs and gangs. It was home to those involved in the 2009 drive-by slaying of 8-year-old Paris Whitehead-Hamilton and 16-year-old Nicholas Lindsey who was charged with murdering Police Officer David S. Crawford in February. After those events, St. Pete community leaders and City Council Member Karl Nurse put pressure on the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to encourage Bethel Community to sell.

“Cirtus Grove Apartments is really the linchpin to improving the Campbell Park neighborhood,” says Nurse. “John Hopkins Middle School has complained for years now about the drug dealing and such across the street, so the ability to clean up any crime-related issues will allow us to bring the area back.”

According to Nurse, Chicago-based Trinity Partners signed the contract on September 9, and is expected to close by the end of the year. A $1.5 million rehabilitation project is set to begin in 2012 and should last about nine months. The goal is to rehab Citrus Grove unit kitchens, bathrooms, air conditioning, windows, water heaters and floors; the expected cost is about $20,000 per unit.

“I just really want to make sure that we get this area its much-needed renovation and that we put in management that are used to working on projects that need to be turned around,” says Nurse.

For more information on Citrus Grove Apartments, visit the Pinellas County Subsidized Rental Housing website.

Writer: Alexis Quinn Chamberlain
Source: Karl Nurse, St. Petersburg City Council

Construction on the University of South Florida's (USF) Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation (CAMLS) is on track, significantly increasing USF's presence in downtown Tampa.

The 90,000-square-foot project designed by the Beck Group will be the first USF-owned building in downtown Tampa, joining space the university leases at the Port of Tampa in the Channelside neighborhood.

CAMLS will provide a state-of-the-art training and research facility closer to Tampa General Hospital and MacDill Air Base, allowing USF to work with health care professionals while looking at new systems of delivering health care that will improve patient safety, reduce medical errors and improve patient outcomes.

“CAMLS will provide USF with an urban campus space as well as an extremely efficient building for all different types of medical education and training,” says Dr. Deborah Sutherland, VP of USF Health Continuing Professional Development and CEO of USF Health Professions Conferencing Corporation (HPCC).

Built on a 1.2-acre site at 211 S. Florida Ave., the five core components of the three-story CAMLS building will consist of its Surgical and Interventional Training Center (SITC), Education Center (EC), Virtual Patient Care Center (VPCC), Tampa Bay Research and Innovation Center (TBRIC) and 30,000 square feet of general education and office space.

“This building really puts everything under one roof. We will have the ability to work with the life-long learning needs of health care professionals, the military and our hospital partners to provide adequate training and education,” says Sutherland. “Students will benefit by being in a state-of-the-art facility as they are taught the latest and most complex medical procedures while learning alongside clinicians.”

With completion slated for Feb. 2, 2012, the CAMLS project is currently on budget. Funds for the $38 million project were provided by Build America Bonds and HPCC, a not-for-profit corporation run by Sutherland; the budget includes everything from construction to medical equipment to furniture.

“The downtown community has been very welcoming of this project,” says Sutherland. “From an economic development perspective, I think it's really going to bring some much-needed revitalization to the downtown area.”

Writer: Alexis Quinn Chamberlain
Source: Dr. Deborah Sutherland, University of South Florida