West Tampa’s skyline just picked up a new landmark, as an 11‑story tower at Rome Yards hit a major construction milestone Friday with crews hoisting the final structural beam into place. The building, called the Gallery at Rome Yards, is the first phase of an 18‑acre redevelopment that will bring 234 apartments targeted to affordable and workforce households. City officials, Related Urban representatives and construction crews gathered at the former municipal maintenance yard between Rome Avenue and the Hillsborough River to mark the moment, a clear sign that the broader Rome Yards vision for new housing, retail and public amenities is shifting from planning documents to concrete and steel.
Progress Update At Rome Yards
As reported by FOX 13 Tampa Bay, city leaders, developers and builders used the topping‑out ceremony to confirm that the final structural beam is now in place on the 11‑story structure. Developer Alberto Milo spotlighted the project’s live‑work concept, explaining, “So you'll literally live on one side and have your business on the other side.” FOX 13 notes that the tower will hold 234 units and serves as the first visible piece of the larger Rome Yards redevelopment taking shape around it.
What The First Phase Will Deliver
According to the City of Tampa, the Gallery at Rome Yards will include 234 residences divided by income level: 58 units reserved for households earning at or below 20% of Area Median Income (AMI), 126 units for those at or below 80% AMI and 50 workforce units for households earning up to 140% AMI. The city also notes that the first phase will feature five live‑work units and a 3,800‑square‑foot workforce training center, to be operated by the West Tampa Community Development Corporation in partnership with the developer.
Part Of A Larger Master Plan
Developer materials from Related Group present the Gallery at Rome Yards as the opening move in a master plan that is expected to deliver roughly 954 mixed‑income homes, more than 33,000 square feet of commercial space and public features that include new green space and an amphitheater. The project description also highlights sustainable design elements along with ground‑floor retail, co‑working space and structured parking as key components of the development.
Local Commitments And Community Benefits
Project documents and local coverage state that the development is tied to a Community Benefits Agreement that commits to local hiring and equity goals for contractors, as well as workforce programs for nearby residents. The Business Observer has reported on the agreement’s hiring and supplier thresholds and quoted Mayor Jane Castor framing Rome Yards as part of her administration’s broader goal of reaching 10,000 affordable homes. According to the mayor’s comments, that target is already approaching 8,300 units completed so far.
Timeline And Next Steps
Completion estimates for the first phase do not perfectly line up, and officials are leaving some room for construction reality to catch up. The developer’s property page lists a December 2026 finish for the Gallery at Rome Yards, while the City of Tampa and local reporting point to a July 2027 completion, meaning actual move‑in and leasing windows will depend on how the remaining work and permitting play out. Officials say leasing and application dates are not yet available, and that crews will stay busy over the coming months as this first tower progresses and additional Rome Yards phases move forward.
