Out with the old, in with the new

On the eve of the July Fourth holiday weekend, when many in the Tampa Bay area were gearing up for the festivities to follow, the city was in the midst of a celebration unlike any other in its history.

Among a burst of fireworks and the bellowing sounds of a wrecking crane demolishing the dilapidated former Regions Bank building, Mayor Joe Affronti, city council members and the Vlass Temple Terrace LLC development team broke ground July 2 for the city's 29-acre, $160 million downtown redevelopment project.

More than a decade in the works, many say it's a dream come true in the effort to eliminate the blight caused be two aging shopping centers in the heart of the city's business core.

The multi-phase town center at the southeast corner of 56th Street and Bullard Parkway will consist of shops, restaurants, offices, housing and civic and cultural buildings.

Billed as the largest municipal-improvement project in the city's history, it will feature the principles of New Urbanism design, a concept meant to end suburban sprawl by creating a place where people can work, live and play.

The project, Affronti said, is similar to what the city's forefather's had in mind when they created Temple Terrace's master plan in 1922.

"Here we are 88 years later finally making it happen," he said.

Councilman Ken Halloway was among a group who came together in 2001 to discuss what might be done to spruce up an area that had become an eyesore to many.

"I'm so ecstatic I'm almost tongue tied," said Halloway, who recalled going door to door early on asking for residents' support of the project.

"This is an exciting day," said Councilman Ron Govin, as he took a quick inventory of the crowd of nearly 300 people who'd gathered to mark the event.

City Manager Kim Leinbach kicked off the celebration by reading a letter of congratulations from U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson and recognizing a long list of dignitaries on hand for the festivities.

Some of the officials in attendance included former U.S. Rep. Mike Bilirakis; state Sen. Victor Crist; Hillsborough County Commission Chairman Ken Hagan; Tampa City Councilman Joe Caetano; former Tampa City Councilwoman members Linda Saul-Sena; Florida College President Buddy Payne; and several Hillsborough County school district board members.

Leinbach also gave praise to the project's master developer, whom he described as a "great partner" in the project.

"This is fantastic," said Mike Vlass, the principal of the Vlass Group, speaking on behalf of himself and team members Michael Lant of M.J. Lant Developments Inc. and Mark Sneed, president of MTS Advisors. He also lauded the team's retail development partner, Inland Diversified Real Estate Trust Inc.

"Never have I been in a city where we've had such a great turnout and I've never seen a city with this much commitment," Vlass said.

"The city wanted a place and it's going to be a beautiful place. I assure you we are not going to let you down," he said.