East Tampa Is Getting Revitalized; Residents Urged To Take Part

TAMPA, FL — The city of Tampa and the East Tampa Community Redevelopment Area stakeholders will launch the Strategic Action Master Plan for the East Tampa Community Redevelopment Area.

The first community meeting will take place on Dec. 3 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. via zoom. Those interested in participating may preregister via the website.

The first in-person event will be an outdoor meet-and-greet on Dec. 5 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Ragan Park, 1200 E. Lake Ave. Residents will have a chance to ask questions of city staff and fill out a paper survey.

The purpose of this action plan is to identify the needs of both residents and businesses in East Tampa and create a plan of action and investment that enhances the quality of life and builds a strong sense of community within each neighborhood including Belmont Heights, College Hill and Jackson Heights.

The area is bounded by Hillsborough Avenue to the north, 15th Street to the west, Interstate 4 to the south and 40th Street to the east.

The East Tampa Community Redevelopment Area was incorporated into the city of Tampa in three separate annexations from 1911 to 1953.

Noteworthy sites in the district include the historically important African American school, the St. Benedict the Moor School. The Sisters of St. Joseph of St. Augustine started St. Benedict the Moore School in 1903. St. Benedict’s students were mostly Black and Cuban children of workers in the cigar industry in Ybor City and West Tampa.

In an era governed by racial segregation, educating black children was prohibited by a 1913 Florida legislature that forbade individuals of one race teaching another. Defiantly, the SSJ challenged this law and continued to teach. The 1913 law was eventually declared unconstitutional on May 20, 1916. The school was transferred to the Allegany Franciscans in 1944, and it continued to serve the community until it was permanently closed in 1952 due to severe fire damage. The site is marked by a granite ribbon featuring a poem by Tampa Poet Laureate James E. Tokley Sr.

East Tampa is also home to the 10,000-square foot community center at Cyrus Greene Park where a public art mural by Gary Moore pays tribute to the early days of the Negro Baseball League in Tampa as well as the Belmont Heights Little League which has gone to the Little Leage World Series three times.

East Court is a gathering place at the corner of North 22nd Street and East 31st Avenue, which consists of a major mural and bench area with tile inlay. The mural consists of seven panels depicting community, family, education, fitness and sports, faith and law. The work by artist Charles E. Humes Jr. also features geometric and symmetric designs influenced by ancient African Adinkra symbols and Ashanti motifs.

As part of this launch, a new website is available at WeAreEastTampa.com where residents and business owners can complete a community input survey to share their feedback on their top priorities for the future of East Tampa.

“We could not be more excited about this important step forward in lifting our East Tampa community to new heights, continuing our collaborative efforts to Transform Tampa’s Tomorrow,” said Mayor Jane Castor. “Investing in our neighborhoods through strategic projects is a top priority for Tampa’s residents and our administration. This master plan, developed in partnership with neighborhood residents, will do just that. The feedback we get from our community will serve as the blueprint for a brighter future that imagines a more vibrant and active East Tampa, shining a light on the historic neighborhood while focusing on its future possibility.”

“I'm proud to announce the official update of the East Tampa CRA's Strategic Action Plan,” said Tampa City Councilman and CRA Chairman Orlando Gudes. “This much-needed update will replace the original plan, which was created in 2009. I am calling on all residents who reside within 7 1/2 miles of the East Tampa CRA and those who own property in the area to come forward and let your desires be heard. For far too long East Tampa has been shaped by what others think it should be. This is the opportunity for the residents and property owners to have a say in what happens in East Tampa.”

Residents can follow the progress of the planning effort at the WeAreEastTampa.com website.