| Downtown Tampa | |
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| — Neighborhood — | |
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Downtown Tampa
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| Country | United States |
| State | Florida |
| County | Hillsborough |
| City | Tampa |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
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Downtown Tampa is the central business district of Tampa, Florida and the chief financial district of the Tampa Bay Area. It is second only to Westshore regarding employment in the area. Companies with a major presence downtown include Bank of America, Suntrust and Verizon. The Tampa Convention Center is located on the river.
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Downtown Tampa is bounded by the Hillsborough River to the west, Channelside to the east, Interstate 275 to the north, Davis Islands and Harbour Island to the south. The total area for the area is 521 acres (2.11 km2).[1] Historical Fort Brooke was located at the southern end of downtown Tampa, near the mouth of the Hillsborough River. The TECO Streetcar takes passengers from downtown to other core areas of Tampa.[2]
The downtown area contains such important cultural landmarks as the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, Tampa Theatre, Tampa Museum of Art, Jobsite Theater and the Henry B. Plant Museum on the University of Tampa campus. The UT campus itself has been recognized as a local "wonder" while the newly-completed Museum of Art deemed a work of art itself.[3][5] Zack Street in the northern half of downtown is in the works to become an art district, called "Avenue of the Arts."[4]
Although technically downtown, Channelside is often thought to be adjacent to the main CBD. This district is the location for many prominent downtown venues. The Tampa Convention Center, St. Pete Times Forum, and the Florida Aquarium are located in the Channel District. Twin 30 story condos were completed in 2007, called the Towers of Channelside. Many other residential mid and high-rises have been completed since.[5] Many locals know the Channel District (often abbreviated to Channelside in local parlance) for its nightlife. The Channelside Bay Plaza, which has views of the downtown skyline, is located in the middle of the district.[6] Entrepreuners have founded companies that operate NEVs to shuttle clubgoers to/from Channelside and Tampa's other core districts: Hyde Park, SoHo, Downtown, and Ybor City.[7][8]
The northern half of downtown is undergoing huge construction projects including retail, condos, and a large grocery store. The district, which will fill the gray zone between Downtown and Historic Ybor, will be called "Encore" and will be a "city within a city." [6][7] [8] A stimulus grant amounting $38 million was secured to help fund the project, the remaining to be derived from private funding. It is expected to create thousands of jobs for the area including at least 1,000 permanent ones. [9][10][11] The district is being created with its African-American heritage in mind, having being built over the site of the former Central Avenue Business District and later Central Park housing project.
Mayor Pam Iorio has championed the building of a riverwalk downtown. This would act as a park to gather next to the river, as a breezeway for downtown, as well as provide aesthetic appeal. There is also potential for the riverwalk to act as a media park.[9] Most of the riverwalk is slated for completion around 2010; as of September 2009 it is 41% complete with 100% of it seeing some progress. [12] The section of the riverwalk that was to adjoin the Trump Tower Tampa is currently being re-aligned to go behind the lot just off of the river. At its northernmost end it will snake into the Tampa Heights neighborhood. Channelside Bay Plaza is the other endpoint.[10][11] Water taxis are also being considered to service various stops along the riverwalk and the downtown area as well as further up the Hillsborough River.[12] Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park had its ribbon cutting on January 25, 2010. [13]
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