Historic 7th Avenue in Tampa's Ybor City has been restored to its original brick after more than 50 years of asphalt coverage. The Tampa government press release highlights this project as a blend of historic preservation and urban functionality.
In a project that finished ahead of schedule, the Ybor City thoroughfare has been reborn from 15th and 17th streets, where once the clatter of heels and wheels over brick was commonplace; in this process, the City of Tampa adhered to its own custodial code, utilizing some 80,000 repurposed bricks that have been collected and cared for over time, speaking to the value placed on maintaining the city's historical touchstones. The Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) funded the project, allowing businesses to stay open, pedestrians to use the sidewalks, and signs to direct people through the road closures and new paths.
The reclaimed brick-lined streets in such landmark districts are known to imbue local areas with a distinctive charm that invites commerce and slows the hectic pace of modern traffic, enhancing the safety and appeal of the environment. The resonance of history coupled with practicality is anticipated to foster economic growth, with many eager business proprietors in Ybor City already petitioning for continued expansion of the brickwork.
The sense of accomplishment and civic pride in this project is palpable, with Ybor City earning its title as a "National Historic Landmark District" through the conscientious efforts of its stewards. CRA Chair Gwendolyn Henderson articulated the sentiment best: "Ybor City is a National Historic Landmark District, so we are thrilled to be returning Seventh Avenue to brick, as it's really in keeping with its authentic character,” noting, as well, the added benefit of its traffic calming prowess, "Not to mention it will also calm traffic, as it's very difficult to speed down a brick street," according to the same press release.
