Downtown Tampa builds a strong foundation for growth, study finds

Tue Sep 01 2020

Tampa is a city with an emerging downtown poised to capitalize on a strong economy, a growing housing market, and property values low enough to attract new investments, according to a new study by the International Downtown Association (IDA).

JW Marriott Water Street Tampa

JW Marriott Water Street Tampa designed by NBWW

Kathy Steele

Tampa is a city with an emerging downtown poised to capitalize on a strong economy, a growing housing market, and property values low enough to attract new investments, according to a new study by the International Downtown Association (IDA).

The association is an advocate for “vibrant and livable urban centers.”

Its annual report — The Value of U.S. Downtown and Center Cities — compiles data on downtowns in 33 cities. Each city is defined as an established, growing, and emerging urban center based on residents and jobs; population density; assessed property values; and residential growth rates from 2000 to 2017.

With an emerging downtown, Tampa compares favorably to other cities of similar size including Toledo, OH and Oklahoma City, OK.

The study singles out the Tampa Riverwalk, Water Street Tampa, and the Heights as “significant new assets that can help reverse the jobs decline that began in 2002 and strengthen retail growth.”

On Thursday (Aug. 27), the Tampa Downtown Partnership hosted a “Digital Downtown Debriefing” with David Dixon who presented the study’s results. Dixon is an urban planner and vice president of Stantec, a design company that helped with master planning for Strategic Property Partners’ $3 billion Water Street Tampa development.

Nichols Brosch Wurst Wolfe & Associates (NBWW) are the architects for several of the current and new hotel projects in the development area.

JW Marriott Water Street Tampa

JW Marriott Water Street Tampa designed by NBWW

Tampa Marriott Waterside

Tampa Marriott Waterside designed by NBWW

Read on >>>> Source: 83degrees Downtown Tampa builds a strong foundation for growth, study finds