TAMPA - The city council agreed Thursday to endorse several high-profile downtown projects by approving about $3 million in contracts.
By unanimous vote, the council approved spending nearly $2 million for engineering services for a redesign of Curtis Hixon Park. The new park is expected to include a restaurant, boat docks and serve as a central gathering place for city residents.
The council also approved spending more than $1 million for construction management services for the park, for a new Tampa Museum of Art and for repairs at Kiley Gardens.
The board also moved ahead with a project for a new Children's Museum by approving a land-lease agreement between the city and the museum.
"This is really a milestone day for our city," said Mark Huey, the city's economic development administrator.
The Tampa Museum of Art is expected to break ground on a new building in February. The city has allocated about $17.5 million in Community Investment Tax money for the project, and the museum has raised more than $8 million from the private sector.
Children's Museum officials are privately raising the $25 million they need for a new building. A redesigned Curtis Hixon Park is expected to cost the city about $15 million.
All of the projects are scheduled for completion in 2009.
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