New Garage Means Fewer Parking Woes Near Tampa Port, Channelside

Whether you're taking a cruise to the Yucatan or attending one of the many public events held at the Tampa Port, scratch worrying about parking off your list of things to do to prepare.

Parking near the port got a whole lot easier this summer with the addition of another 730 parking spaces to the Channelside district in the form of a five-story garage that features a first-floor clearance of 18 feet for transport trucks and three above-ground levels for passenger parking.

"The new parking garage at Channelside, with its modern look and utilitarian first floor clearance is a much-needed and appropriate addition to downtown," says Tampa Port Authority Director Richard Wainio. "Large trucks will benefit from the 18-foot clearance, ensuring a smoother process of servicing cruise ships, and customers will enjoy access to more parking spaces, especially during special events and other peak times."

In addition to providing greater clearance for trucks carrying supplies to and from cruise ships docked at the port, the new garage offers additional parking for visitors to the shops and restaurants at Channelside Bay Plaza, the Florida Aquarium and the St. Pete Times Forum.

The garage, which spans a city block, is located right across the street from the Port of Tampa, with entrances off 12th Street and Channelside Drive.

The structure itself has already garnered awards from both the Tampa and Orlando chapters of the American Institute of Architects. HKS Architects and Kraft Construction designed and built the multicolored building to fit in the flavor the district, with its exterior lettering spelling out "Channelside" in uppercase letter and its reflective-tile surface.

Tampa's Channelside district features art deco-style buildings that house apartments and condos such as the Place at Channelside and the Slade, entertainment, dining and shopping. An electric streetcar runs from Ybor City through the district daily. The line connects to downtown trolley lines at the Dick Greco Plaza.

Writer: Missy Kavanaugh
Source: Richard Waino, Tampa Port Authority