Groundbreaking ceremonies commenced this week for the city of Tampa's future architectural zenith, a 42-story luxury condominium named One Tampa. Expected to pierce the city's skyline at 510 feet, the residential tower at the corner of North Ashley Street and Twiggs Street will become the tallest of its kind in Tampa upon completion. Tampa Mayor Jane Castor heralded the project, stating, "This is the future of our city," during the event as reported by Tampa Bay Times.
Located across from Curtis Hixon Park, One Tampa will not only alter the aesthetic of downtown Tampa, but, as per the project's regional president, Brian Van Slyke, it is set to rejuvenate what was, until now an area populated by underutilized lots and buildings. "This was an underused parking lot and some underused buildings, so it's really going to fill in a gap in the city skyline," Van Slyke told WTSP. Demarcating a transformation, the building is just one among multiple projects slated to redefine Tampa's downtown.
Amidst rising concerns over affordable housing shortages in Tampa, Mayor Castor asserted the importance of such developments, even those at the higher end of the market. "We need housing at every step so that we can free up housing in the medium and affordable areas as well," Castor remarked at the unveiling, according to an interview with WTSP. This statement was bolstered by the projected 26,000 affordable housing units required by the city to meet the surging demands.
The luxury residences, starting at $1 million per unit, promise an array of plush facilities including golf and Formula One racing simulators, a significant draw for potential buyers over half the units have allegedly found buyers already. "It's just such an exciting time for our city because we're creating entire neighborhoods, entire communities where individuals can live, work and play right in that location and not have to worry about transportation," highlighted Mayor Castor during the ground-breaking ceremony, as reported by FOX 13. The transaction for these units will not only generate a robust tax base for the city but also create a plethora of job opportunities during and after construction, Van Slyke emphasized.
Construction of One Tampa is expected to reach completion around the midpoint of 2027, as Van Slyke estimated in conversations with WTSP. With this timeline, the tower is poised to cement its place in the ever-evolving skyline of Tampa, symbolizing both the city’s growth and the broader trends of urban development in major metropolitan areas.
