Stadium News, New Restaurants, and Pirates This Weekend

While the rest of the country dug out from a monster winter storm, Tampa Bay spent the week in the low 80s getting ready for our own invasion. This Saturday, January 31st, the Jose Gasparilla sails into the Convention Center basin at 11:30 AM before 300,000 people line Bayshore Boulevard for the city's biggest party of the year. Here's what went down before the pirates take over.

Rays Pick Their Spot: HCC Dale Mabry Campus

The Tampa Bay Rays finally have a preferred location. Hillsborough Community College trustees approved a memorandum of understanding on January 20th to begin negotiations for a new stadium at the 113-acre Dale Mabry campus. The deal includes a 99-year ground lease with a target opening for the 2029 season. The location sits right between Tampa International Airport and Raymond James Stadium, and the project will include mixed-use development around the ballpark. This is far from over but they have a non-binding agreement. It will be interesting to follow the development of this and what happens in the Gas Plant District in St Pete where the Trop is now.

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ONE Tampa Hits Level 17

The future tallest residential building in Tampa is making steady progress. ONE Tampa's 42-story tower reached Level 17 with concrete pours wrapped up this month. When it's done, the luxury tower will house 225 residences and by last November had already created over 920 jobs (425 direct, 495 indirect). I plan on going by this one and grabbing some photos and videos, so I will be sure to share those with you.

Water Street's Next Phase: A 10-Story Parking Garage

Strategic Property Partners filed plans for a new mixed-use garage at Water Street Tampa that's set to wrap by late 2027. The 10-story building at the northwest corner of Water Street and East Cumberland Avenue will pack in 675 parking spaces, 38,000 square feet of ground-floor retail, and a signature rooftop area designed by Gensler. It's a practical pivot that addresses immediate parking and retail demand while keeping future office development on the table. Some of the renderings are on TampaTomorrow’s instagram. This is a very unique and cool look coming into the Water St area, especially for a parking garage.

AQUA at Westshore Ready for Move-Ins

Spring is the target for the 77-unit luxury waterfront residences at Westshore Yacht Club, which were just announced as move-in ready. The boutique tower comes with a deepwater marina featuring 175 slips that can handle vessels up to 130 feet, plus a rooftop pool and access to the exclusive Bay Club. We did some media for a home inside the Westshore Yacht club a few months ago, may take a trip back out there and check out the progress now at Aqua. Such a great location.

Westshore Yacht Club Marina Adds More Slips

Five years after its 2020 acquisition, Westshore Yacht Club Marina is pushing forward with expansion plans. The marina currently has 147 wet slips and is adding floating docks to accommodate more vessels between 40 and over 100 feet. More to come on this one for sure.

New Restaurants Coming to St. Pete and Tampa

The food scene is heating up with several openings on the horizon. Spitz, a wine bar and restaurant from the Bandit Co. team, opens in February on Central Avenue in St. Pete. Treehouse BBQ is finally getting its first brick-and-mortar in Northeast St. Pete this month after building a following. Seminole Heights will see Con Amor taqueria arrive early this year. Looking further out, Carnivore Club, a 28-seat chef's counter from Tastes Pretty Good Concepts, is slated for July. Let me know if you would like more from the food scene in Tampa. I love food but I was trying to keep this relevant to growth and development, but if you ever want food content, you just let me know and I will happily cover it.

Central Park St. Pete Food Hall Taking Shape

Central Avenue is getting a major food destination. The Central Park St. Pete food hall is on track to open in 2026 with ten different concepts under one roof. The lineup includes Kojo (contemporary Asian), Bar Hana (tropical-themed), burger and pizza spots, and a deli. I can’t wait for this one to open. I hope it is similar to how The Hall on Franklin was.

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