Last week, the Tampa City Council approved $35 million for a project known as Ybor Harbor.
Ybor Harbor seeks to redevelop the dilapidated waterfront area between Ybor and Channelside.
The $35 million from the Community Redevelopment Agency will go towards underground utilities, roadway networks, and a marine seawall at the site.
All city council members voted in support.
Developer Darryl Shaw leads the effort.
During public comment, East Tampa resident and business owner Allison Hewitt praised the project while hoping the surrounding areas could benefit.
“We need to make sure, in surrounding areas, those small businesses, those residences, are prepared and have incentives to be able to stay and take advantage of this incredible growth,” Hewitt said.
City council member Alan Clendenin called the project “transformational.”
“I fully support this project, so I’m looking forward to my kids, my grandkids, and everybody else to be able to enjoy this area. Thank you.” Clendenin said.
Developers of the 32-acre development say they expect to spend around 200 million dollars in total infrastructure funding, and ten percent of housing built on the site will be affordable housing.
According to developers, the industrialized site, which historically served Tampa’s maritime industry, is currently highly environmentally contaminated.
Avi Freedman Shaw, with developer Casa Ybor, mentioned at the meeting that there are two active brownfields identified by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection that require cleanup.