Bay area developers have big plans for Midtown Tampa. They want to transform the area into a walkable destination retail zone.
But first they have to get rid of the current building there.
- Building demolition to pave way for Midtown Tampa development
- $500 million project to connect Westshore and downtown
- Development to include restaurants, shopping, hotels
Demolition on a current 5-story building at Dale Mabry Highway and Himes Ave. was set for Sunday to clear the way for development to move forward. That was pushed back to Monday afternoon after multiple tries to topple the structure, stripped down to its girders, failed.
The $500 million project is the city’s first mixed use project and will connect Westshore and downtown Tampa. The development will include restaurants, shopping, hotels, and residential living spaces.
The goal is to create a destination within the city.
“This has been almost 20 years plus coming. And the improvements they’re investing in along Dale Mabry and Himes for accessibility to where there’s not going to be traffic issues, and it’s just going to be a real easy place to come in and out of and enjoy this for everyone. It’s going to be really exciting,” said Fred Hames, Executive VP at Barr and Barr.
The demolition is the first of about nine structures that will be knocked down to make way for the new development. They’ll start building in 2019 and the project is expected to be complete by 2021.
