Kader is the manager at Pizza Kitchen, a new business off North Florida Avenue. He explained the owner saw the location’s potential.
“He saw how everything’s kind of moving this way, especially with the new developments over by the transit station,” said Kader. “He thought this would be a good location, and so far, thank god, so good.”
Their business is just steps away from a big redevelopment effort on the north end of downtown near North Tampa Street.
“This is just one project that’s going to be a catalyst for redevelopment across this entire north end of downtown,” said Tampa City Council member Alan Clendenin.
Officials said four properties owned by the City and the Community Redevelopment Agency are part of an RFP that includes the old Army-Navy Surplus Market, totaling about four acres.
The goal is to use the land for mixed-use development, including affordable housing.