City Center Consolidates City Departments In East Tampa

TAMPA, FL —With the snip of a ribbon at an official dedication ceremony planned for January, a number of Tampa's governmental services will be shifted from downtown Tampa, where they've been based for more than 100 years, to a 13-acre site at 2555 E. Hanna Ave. in East Tampa.

Championed by Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, the new $108 million City Center at Hanna Avenue (about twice the price than originally estimated) replaced an abandoned warehouse building that had become an eyesore, creating a more centrally located government services facility to provide services for East Tampa's underserved population and spur economic revitalization in the area, said Tampa Mayor Jane Castor.

The city offered a preview of what's to come on Wednesday. Castor was joined at the opening of the City Center at Hanna Avenue by Brian Yarborough of DPR Construction, in charge of constructing the new facility, and East Tampa native Stephen Bridges, a construction project manager who said he never dreamed he would one day work in the same area where he grew up.

The 161,000-square-foot will be home to six city departments including arts and cultural affairs, code enforcement, community engagement, fleet management and maintenance, workforce development, and housing and community development, consolidating departments previously located in rented spaces around the city.

The departments have begun relocating to the new center and should be settled in their new offices By December.

Castor said the city center will also serve as a community meeting place and gathering spot for East Tampa residents as well as a workforce training center, providing culinary arts classes, mechanical training and other career paths for young adults.

Additionally, Castor said it was one of the city's first projects constructed under Tampa's new Equal Business Opportunity, Black Business Enterprise and Small Local Business Enterprise initiatives adopted to provide more city contracts to minority- and women-owned businesses.

The general contractor, DPR Construction, built the new city center using 15 percent small local businesses and 20 percent Black-owned businesses.

"City Center at Hanna Avenue is a key example of how we're transforming Tampa's tomorrow in a smart, resilient and responsible way," said Castor. "From the location to nearly every detail that went into its construction and design, this building reflects our commitment to providing the best service to our residents and businesses."

Working with East Tampa residents who helped plan the new City Center at Hanna Avenue, the facility provides improved access to government services, ample parking space, access to public transportation and added green space.

The city provides other advantages to the East Tampa neighborhood, said Castor.

When residents expressed concern about adding traffic from the 500-plus city employees to already congested roads, the city conducted a transportation study to assess the volume on local roadways, resulting in additional funding dedicated for road improvements, sidewalks and bike lanes.

"Many of the design elements were influenced by feedback we received from neighbors as a part of their involvement in the planning process," Castor said, noting that residents can expect new sidewalks, streetlights, access for eBikes and seated scooters, electric vehicle charging stations and other sustainability features.

Ultimately, she said, homeowners in adjacent neighborhoods will see an increase in their property values and the project will help current businesses in the area grow while accelerating the development new businesses and affordable housing projects.

Related:

• City Council Proceeds With Plans For City Center In East Tampa
• Tampa To Host Virtual Meeting To Discuss New City Center

Among those who worked with the county on the development, architecture and amenities of the new city center was Carol Gordon, president of the Seminole Heights East Neighborhood Association.

“We love the idea that the city of Tampa has looked at our area and that they feel it is a good place to be,” she said. “We’ve worked hard for the last few years to be recognized as a neighborhood association and be recognized as a part of Tampa because we have been ignored for many years, especially for anything positive coming to into our neighborhood.”

In addition to providing career training for East Tampa's young people, Gordon said the area was desperately in need of green space, and urged the city to purchase an adjacent site to develop into a nature park with a bike and walking path.

“We have very limited green space in our community,” she said. “This would enhance our neighborhood and keep it green for the city of Tampa's Tree City USA designation.”

At the request of residents, the building also contains a community room for neighborhood groups and other organizations to meet, features spaces for classes and workshops and a cafe to serve both city employees and the community.

The community room will be available for reservations to neighborhood groups and other organizations beginning in early 2024.