Tampa people....Sparkman Wharf

[fsUTampa]

Anyone keeping up with this change in Channelside?

I get there needed to be something done with the location. And I like the idea of having it more open towards the water, but...

...have these developers learned nothing from the history of the site? So far the vendors that have been announced are all high-end dining-type establishments. Does Tampa really need another location like that? We already have Armature Works and Hyde Park. What's the only thing that has worked long-term in that area? (hint: Hooters).

A "biergarten" (screw that...beer garden) that has already proudly announced it'll refuse to sell beers like Bud Light, etc? What's the main clientele that will/have been in that area? (hint: hockey fans that aren't interested in drinking $9 craft beers).

I see this becoming a monumental long-term failure. It'll be a "new" thing that will draw lots of people for about 6 months or so. And after the fad wears off, people aren't going to want to go there and drop $400 on a night out (much less think about bringing their family in that area).

But hey, it'll give my property value a nice little artificial bump right in the time frame that I'm looking to sell, so thank you for that!

 

[Imtotallynottribe]

I saw they were pushing out Hooters which you correctly point out was the only thing really busy in the area. But what about Splitsville? That seemed to hang on for a long time as well and frankly I enjoyed the four or five times I visited it over the decade. Hopefully that will still be there.

 

[Imtotallynottribe]

Nevermind I found a story on Splitsville, looks like they’re renovating it so it will be part of the plan.

 

[SeaPA]

I'm glad Splitsville is staying; I've been there a number of times & always enjoyed it very much. Nice atmosphere, and the food is actually quite good.

 

[noleit]

I highly recommend Cena restaurant on E Kennedy Blvd. Best Italian I've had in Tampa.

 

[Imtotallynottribe]

I'm glad Splitsville is staying; I've been there a number of times & always enjoyed it very much. Nice atmosphere, and the food is actually quite good.

Yep, surprisingly the sushi is about as good as any you can get in Florida (since we’re not allowed to have fresh local seafood and instead it has to be frozen or cooked). I really liked their crab Rangoon roll.

 

[QuaZ2002]

I think it’s going to do very well like everything else on the Riverwalk has. I don’t love the plans for it but I’d be shocked if it doesn’t do very well. Keep in mind there are about to be two more hotels, the med school and another couple other high rises all being built in the next year or so.

 

[Bill From Tampa]

Sandy Freidman must be proud.

 

[fsUTampa]

I think it’s going to do very well like everything else on the Riverwalk has. I don’t love the plans for it but I’d be shocked if it doesn’t do very well. Keep in mind there are about to be two more hotels, the med school and another couple other high rises all being built in the next year or so.

Right, a med school...which mainly will have poor med students and patients (I don't see the Dr's living downtown).

Other high rises...while the ones currently in the area are half-full at best. But you know, if we build another 61-unit "luxury" condo set that goes for $1mill+ per unit, they will come...yeah, doesn't work that way.

I really don't get this fast race to make Tampa almost Miami-like.

 

[RunRonnieRun]

Right, a med school...which mainly will have poor med students and patients (I don't see the Dr's living downtown).

Other high rises...while the ones currently in the area are half-full at best. But you know, if we build another 61-unit "luxury" condo set that goes for $1mill+ per unit, they will come...yeah, doesn't work that way.

I really don't get this fast race to make Tampa almost Miami-like.

We get it. You hate progress.

 

[TC Nole OX]

Right, a med school...which mainly will have poor med students and patients (I don't see the Dr's living downtown).

Other high rises...while the ones currently in the area are half-full at best. But you know, if we build another 61-unit "luxury" condo set that goes for $1mill+ per unit, they will come...yeah, doesn't work that way.

I really don't get this fast race to make Tampa almost Miami-like.

Bullhorn Bob and many of the city leaders are more interested in serving potential, sophisticated, residents than lifting a finger to do anything for the current residents and neighborhoods. The exception being the high dollar sections of downtown and S Tampa.

The mayor wants to fill the area west of the river along Boulevard with high rise condos as well. He spent 35 million on a park on the west side of the river that we can't afford.

Meanwhile most of the city is ignored. The roads are a mess both in lack of repair and in almost complete lawlessness of drivers. Code and police are invisible. Developers can pretty much do as they please but that is a statewide problem, not just here.

Flooding took a special tax assessment for them to finally clean out the drainage lines. Now the city, along with the county, want another penny for choo-choo to bring people downtown. Don't get me started on that baseball stadium they'd like to build.

They'd probably give most of the city back to the county if they didn't need our money to fund their lavish dreams for downtown.

 

[fsUTampa]

We get it. You hate progress.

I get you're being snarky, so it's probably unnecessary to respond to this, but I don't hate progress (hell, I even started my OP about agreeing to do something with the Channelside area and opening it up to the water). I just severely disagree with what these developers are doing in this particular area. They're catering to a very small percentage of patrons that will eventually not keep this going, and will (in the long run) turn Tampa into a disaster. I love this city. I don't want to see it go this route where it prices out everyone but the top 0.1% (whom will move on rather quickly like locusts to the next "cool" place in no time at all).

 

[QuaZ2002]

Right, a med school...which mainly will have poor med students and patients (I don't see the Dr's living downtown).

Other high rises...while the ones currently in the area are half-full at best. But you know, if we build another 61-unit "luxury" condo set that goes for $1mill+ per unit, they will come...yeah, doesn't work that way.

I really don't get this fast race to make Tampa almost Miami-like.

I live in Skypoint and my property value has gone up by about 20% in 4 years so there is demand. I’m not sure why you assume the majority of people who go to hockey games demand Bud Lights. If you don’t see what Vinik is doing in that area and appreciate it I don’t know what to tell you.

 

[fsUTampa]

I live in Skypoint and my property value has gone up by about 20% in 4 years so there is demand. I’m not sure why you assume the majority of people who go to hockey games demand Bud Lights. If you don’t see what Vinik is doing in that area and appreciate it I don’t know what to tell you.

I live on Harbour Island in a condo. My property value has doubled since Vinik's initial announcement in 2014. I'm happy with that.

That still doesn't take away the point I'm making about the Channelside site. I'm not sure how you're not seeing what I'm saying, given the history of the location.

 

[OrlandNole]

Developers aren't stupid. They've done their analysis, which suggests that there is a market for those types of establishments. Is it good for the long term health and character of the area? That's another question.