Related will redevelop Tampa public housing sites

The West River area of Tampa
The West River area of Tampa

A joint venture of The Related Group and The Urban Development Group will redevelop two public housing properties in the city’s West River area.

The Tampa Housing Authority selected the joint venture, Related Urban Group, to help it build more than 170,000 square feet of commercial space and 1,636 residential units in West River.

The development would rise on the sites of the North Boulevard Homes and Mary Bethune public housing properties in West River, covering nearly 200 acres of land in downtown Tampa west of the Hillsborough River.

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The Tampa Bay Business Journal also reported that “at least 820 rental units and 30 percent of the for-sale units will be affordable to families earning less than 80 percent and 120 percent of area median income, respectively,” according to a statement the housing authority issued.

According to the Business Journal, Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn said in a statement that “with a developer of the caliber of Related Urban on our team, I am very confident we can leverage these predominantly public land holdings and transform the West River area into a vibrant, walkable, transit-oriented and diverse community.”

Related Group has started construction of an apartment building on Tampa’s Harbour Island and soon will start to demolish the former Tampa Tribune offices to make way for a residential development. [Tampa Bay Business Journal] — Mike Seemuth