Tampa Planning To Combine City Services In One Building In East Tampa

TAMPA, FL — The city of Tampa will host a virtual community meeting Monday at 6:30 p.m. to get input into the new City Center at Hanna Avenue.

The city of Tampa is transforming the property at 2515 E. Hanna Ave. into a City Center.

Attendees will have the first opportunity to view renderings of the City Center at Hanna Avenue and hear what's next in the design-build process.

The city plans to begin construction in January on a state-of-the-art government services facility.

The 161,000-square-foot building will serve as a gathering space for neighborhood residents, while housing several city departments and divisions with more than 500 employees.

The city also plans to establish a Culinary Arts and Workforce Development Programs at the center and provide employment opportunities to connect Tampa's youth to possible careers.

City departments and divisions located within the building:

• Architectural Review & Historic Preservation
• Arts & Cultural Affairs
• Business Tax
• Code Enforcement
• Community Engagement & Partnerships
• Construction Services
• Development Coordination
• Equal Business Opportunity
• Facilities Management & Fleet Maintenance
• Housing & Community Development
• Planning Department
• Purchasing Department
• Real Estate Division
• Technology & Innovation
• Water Department - Plan Review Division
• Workforce Development

This investment is intended to provide a central location for city operations and bring city government into an underserved neighborhood, helping to accelerate revitalization.

At a city council meeting in March, Carol Gordon, president of the Seminole Heights East Neighborhood Association, said the neighborhood is excited about the project.

“We love the idea that the city of Tampa has looked at our area and that they feel it is a good place to be,” she said. “We’ve worked hard for the last few years to be recognized as a neighborhood association and be recognized as a part of Tampa because we have been ignored for many years, especially for anything positive coming to into our neighborhood.”

Residents wishing to attend the virtual meeting can register at Tampa.gov/City-Center.

See related story: City Council Proceeds With Plans For City Center In East Tampa