TBAY Development Drop: West River, food hall, luxury tower

Here’s a look at the latest towers and businesses rising up in Tampa and St. Pete.

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A rendering of the Canopy at West River project.

Photo via Airbnb

Tampa Bay architects recently dished that development is slowing a bit. That might be objectively true — especially when you consider the absolute avalanche of new builds over the past five or so years — but there’s still plenty of projects springing up across our slice of the Gulf Coast.

We can prove it:

Ybor Harbor progresses

Construction started on the long-awaited Ybor Harbor project. Heavy machinery is onsite to set up the foundation of the new mixed-use development, according to Tampa Tomorrow. A reminder: Developer Darryl Shaw’s plans feature 800+ hotel rooms, 4,750 new residential units, and a public waterfront with boat docks and piers.

Sky Town update

The Skyway Marina District just keeps growing. Altis Cardinal recently filed plans to get started on Phase 3 of Sky Town, Tampa Bay Business Journal reports. What’s included? This installment of the St. Pete project includes 380 units, plus amenities, shopping, and a restaurant.

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A look at the finished Canopy at West River Phase Two project.

Rendering via

The Canopy at West River

Mayor Jane is dusting off her hard hat to toast the West Riverwalk’s latest project, The Canopy at West River’s opening today. The complex’s four towers boast a collective 384 new affordable homes in the Cigar City’s West River redevelopment.

Priced for locals earning between 22% and 80% of the area median income, the one-to-four bedroom units also boast access to community and game rooms, a business and fitness centers, EV charging stations, and one day soon, a future NFL Alumni Obstacle Course. The complex replaced the longtime North Boulevard Homes public Housing project, which was torn down in 2017 due to poor conditions.

And it’s far from the last opening you’ll see in the near future along the less populous side of the Hillsborough River. In case you missed it, the overall West Riverwalk Project recently scored $250,000 in additional federal funding, bringing its total commitment to more than $24 million, according to the City of Tampa.

A rendering of Central Park St. Pete. The five-story concept has tables out front with people eating, people walking by and cycling by, and a yellow brick wall lined with windows and a balcony.

Hi Hospitality Group is leading the project.

Rendering via Central Park St. Pete

Central Park St. Pete is finally open

Sunshine City residents no longer need to cross the Howard Frankland for that Armature Works-esque night out. The long-awaited Central Park St. Pete finally opens its doors this week — well, part of it, that is.

Palm Avenue Deli and Constellation Burger are the first of the five-story’s 14 concepts to make their debut. Next week, Strawberry Fields and Central Bar (with its self-serve beer wall) enter the villa. But there’s obviously plenty more to come.

USF’s Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation

What’s next for USF’s Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation? Leaders are in the “very early” stages of potentially redeveloping the 90,000-sqft facility in downtown Tampa, according to the Tampa Bay Business Journal.

Roche Bobois St. Pete Tower

You might’ve spotted these hot pink buildings while cruising through the Burg. Valor Real Estate Development drenched four vacant downtown buildings in shades of fuchsia to advertise the incoming Roche Bobois St. Pete Tower, according to the Tampa Bay Times. The buildings will be torn down to build a 29-story condo tower.

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