East Tampa’s Gator Building site could be transformed into a mixed-use community hub with food access, business support space and workforce housing under a proposal entering feasibility review.
The proposal would authorize a request for qualifications for a development feasibility consultant to evaluate what is being called the East Tampa Community Opportunity Center, a long-discussed redevelopment concept intended to expand economic opportunity, improve food access and create community gathering space in the district.
The current request would fund a feasibility and conceptual planning process estimated at up to $300,000 but would not authorize construction or select a development team.
Plans for the Opportunity Center include a community food co-op or market, commercial kitchen and food incubator, coworking space, entrepreneurship training, maker space, e-commerce support operations and digital media or technology studio space.
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CRA documents describe the project as an effort to address limited grocery access, limited support infrastructure for entrepreneurs and a lack of community gathering space in East Tampa.
Consultants would evaluate multiple redevelopment scenarios, including one focused solely on the Opportunity Center concept, another incorporating affordable or workforce housing and a third exploring expansion opportunities involving nearby parcels.
The East Tampa Community Advisory Committee unanimously recommended advancing the RFQ process during a March 3 meeting. The study is intended to determine the project’s long-term financial viability and development direction before the CRA considers funding for future design or construction.
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