A Miami developer is poised to finally kick off downtown Tampa’s long-teased Riverwalk District with a 24-story mixed-use tower at South Parker Street and West Kennedy Boulevard. The high-rise is planned for the west bank of the Hillsborough River and would mark the first major vertical phase in a larger multi-building vision for the site.
According to the Tampa Bay Business Journal, Miami-based Related Group is moving ahead with the 24-story project as the opening act for its Riverwalk District plan, with retail at street level and residences stacked above. The outlet describes the tower as the catalyst for a new mixed-use neighborhood on the river’s west side.
Site, Past Purchase And Master Plan
Related spent roughly $55.5 million in 2022 for about six acres at South Parker and West Kennedy, a stretch the company has targeted for riverfront redevelopment for years, according to 83 Degrees Media. That reporting outlines a broader blueprint for the property that calls for multiple towers, riverfront-facing retail, boat slips and several million dollars in Riverwalk improvements.
How It Ties To The West Riverwalk Buildout
City leaders have promoted the west-bank Riverwalk as a crucial connector for downtown, and the West River BUILD project is already under construction. The City of Tampa reports that the expansion is backed by a $24 million federal BUILD grant and will add nearly two miles of new riverfront path along with roadway safety upgrades that could align with Related’s plans on the adjacent private land.
What To Watch Next
Permitting, design review and overall market conditions will dictate when the tower actually starts to rise, and the initial coverage stopped short of naming a firm construction start date. Neighbors and downtown businesses will be keeping an eye out for zoning applications, design submissions and clues about the developer’s retail lineup as the project moves from land assembly into the construction pipeline.
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