Downtown Tampa
Encyclopedia

Image:Tampa_Skyline.jpg|thumb|right|350px|Downtown Tampa looking from the Hillsborough River
Hillsborough River (Florida)
The Hillsborough River is a river located in the state of Florida in the USA. It arises in the Green Swamp near the juncture of Hillsborough, Pasco and Polk counties, and flows through Pasco and Hillsborough Counties to an outlet in the city of Tampa on Tampa Bay. The name Hillsborough River first...



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Wachovia Center (Tampa)
Wells Fargo Center is a 311ft high rise in Tampa, Florida. It was completed in 1985 and has 22 floors. It was originally known as First Union Plaza until the bank merger in 1993. It is the 13th tallest building in Tampa....


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100 North Tampa
100 North Tampa, formerly known as the Regions Building and the AmSouth Building, is a skyscraper in Tampa, Florida, USA. Rising to a height of and 42 floors in Downtown Tampa, the structure currently stands as the tallest building in Tampa and the ninth-tallest building in Florida. 100 North...


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One Tampa City Center
One Tampa City Center is a skyscraper in Tampa, Florida. It was the tallest building in the state for 3 years and the tallest building in the city until the completion of the Bank of America tower in 1986. At 39 stories tall. It is currently the third tallest structure in the city.-External links:*...


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Bank of America Tower (Tampa)
The Bank of America Plaza is a 42-story skyscraper located in Downtown Tampa and was completed in 1986. At , it surpassed One Tampa City Center as the tallest building in Tampa, until completion of 100 North Tampa in 1992. The structure was originally known as Barnett Plaza...


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Park Tower (Tampa, Florida)
Park Tower is a skyscraper located in downtown Tampa, Florida. It is the second-oldest high-rise building in the current Tampa skyline. When the building was finished in November 1973, it was the tallest in Tampa, and the third-tallest in all of Florida, at 460 feet...


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SkyPoint
SkyPoint is a 361 ft high rise in Tampa, Florida. It was constructed from 2005 to 2007 and has 32 floors. The Preston Partnership, LLC along with Echelon Engineering, LLC designed the building, which is the 9th tallest building in Tampa. It has 381 units spread across 25 levels sitting atop...


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Rivergate Tower
The Rivergate Tower is a 454ft tall skyscraper in Tampa, Florida and is the sixth tallest building in Tampa, currently leased by Sykes Enterprises. Because of its cylindrical shape, it is often referred to as the Beer Can Building by local residents. It was constructed from 1986 to 1988 and has 32...


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Downtown Tampa is the central business district
Central business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...

 of Tampa
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....

, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...

 and the chief financial district of the Tampa Bay Area
Tampa Bay Area
The Tampa Bay Area is the region of west central Florida adjacent to Tampa Bay. Definitions of the region vary. It is often considered equivalent to the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater Metropolitan Statistical Area defined by the United States Census Bureau. The Census Bureau currently...

. It is second only to Westshore
Westshore, Tampa
Westshore is the principal business district of Tampa, Florida, with more than of commercial office space, 4,000 businesses with nearly 100,000 employees, 32 hotels, two major shopping malls and more than 200 restaurants and bars. Westshore Boulevard is the district's main thoroughfare...

 regarding employment in the area. Companies with a major presence downtown include Bank of America
Bank of America
Bank of America Corporation, an American multinational banking and financial services corporation, is the second largest bank holding company in the United States by assets, and the fourth largest bank in the U.S. by market capitalization. The bank is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina...

, Suntrust and Verizon. The Tampa Convention Center
Tampa Convention Center
The Tampa Convention Center is a mid-sized convention center located in Downtown Tampa, Florida. Its location has both waterfront views and views of the skyline. In 2006, a 20-story Embassy Suites hotel opened next door, with a skybridge connecting it to the convention center. Harbour Island is...

 is located on the river.

Description

Downtown Tampa is bounded by the Hillsborough River
Hillsborough River (Florida)
The Hillsborough River is a river located in the state of Florida in the USA. It arises in the Green Swamp near the juncture of Hillsborough, Pasco and Polk counties, and flows through Pasco and Hillsborough Counties to an outlet in the city of Tampa on Tampa Bay. The name Hillsborough River first...

 to the west, Channelside to the east, Interstate 275
Interstate 275 (Florida)
Interstate 275 in Florida serves the Tampa Bay metropolitan area, measuring 60.696 miles in length. The southern terminus is I-75 near Palmetto, just five miles east of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, a toll bridge crossing Tampa Bay. The highway passes through St...

 to the north, Davis Islands and Harbour Island
Harbour Island (Tampa), Florida
Harbour Island is an island neighborhood within the city limits of Tampa, Florida and the sub-district within Downtown Tampa. The ZIP Code serving the area is 33602.-Geography:...

 to the south. The total area for the area is 521 acres (2.1 km²). Historical Fort Brooke
Fort Brooke
Fort Brooke was a historical military post situated on the east bank of the Hillsborough River in present-day Tampa, Florida. The Tampa Convention Center currently stands at the site.-Fort Brooke as a military outpost:...

 was located at the southern end of downtown Tampa, near the mouth of the Hillsborough River
Hillsborough River (Florida)
The Hillsborough River is a river located in the state of Florida in the USA. It arises in the Green Swamp near the juncture of Hillsborough, Pasco and Polk counties, and flows through Pasco and Hillsborough Counties to an outlet in the city of Tampa on Tampa Bay. The name Hillsborough River first...

. The TECO Streetcar
TECO Line Streetcar System
The TECO Line Streetcar System is a streetcar line in Tampa, Florida, run by the Hillsborough Area Regional Transportation Authority and managed by Tampa Historic Streetcar, Inc.. It connects Downtown and Channelside to the historic Ybor City district. There is also an "In-Town" trolley-replica bus...

 takes passengers from downtown to other core areas of Tampa.

Municipal services

  • Tampa City Hall
    Tampa City Hall
    The Tampa City Hall is a historic site in Tampa, Florida, United States. It is located at 315 East John F. Kennedy Boulevard. On October 1, 1974, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.-References and external links:* at * ** **...

  • Tampa Police Department
    Tampa Police Department
    The Tampa Police Department provides crime prevention and public safety services for the city of Tampa, Florida. The Tampa Police Department has over 1000 authorized sworn law enforcement personnel positions and more than 350 civilian and support staff personnel positions.Uniformed officers are...


Arts and culture

The downtown area contains such important cultural landmarks as the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, Tampa Theatre
Tampa Theatre
The Tampa Theatre and Office Building is a historic U.S. theater and city landmark in the Uptown District of downtown Tampa, Florida. On January 3, 1978, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places....

, Tampa Museum of Art
Tampa Museum of Art
The Tampa Museum of Art is located in Downtown Tampa, Florida. The museum exhibits 20th-century fine art, as well as Greek, Roman, and Etruscan antiquities. It opened in 1979 on the banks of Hillsborough River.- Museum History :...

, Jobsite Theater
Jobsite Theater
Jobsite Theater is an American professional theater company founded in 1998 located in Tampa, Florida, and is the resident theater company of the David A. Straz, Jr. Center for the Performing Arts . Co-founder David M. Jenkins serves as Producing Artistic Director.-History:Founded in 1998 by David M...

 and the Henry B. Plant Museum
Henry B. Plant Museum
The Henry B. Plant Museum is located in the south wing of Plant Hall on the University of Tampa’s campus, at 401 West Kennedy Boulevard. The museum focuses on the turn of the century Victorian lifestyle of the old Tampa Bay Hotel’s guests...

 on the University of Tampa
University of Tampa
The University of Tampa , is a private, co-educational university in Downtown Tampa, Florida, United States. It is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. In 2006, the University celebrated its 75th anniversary...

 campus. The UT
University of Tampa
The University of Tampa , is a private, co-educational university in Downtown Tampa, Florida, United States. It is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. In 2006, the University celebrated its 75th anniversary...

 campus itself has been recognized as a local "wonder" while the newly-completed Museum of Art deemed a work of art itself.http://www.tampabay.com/features/visualarts/article1068360.ece Zack Street in the northern half of downtown is in the works to become an art district, called "Avenue of the Arts."

Channel District

Although technically downtown, Channelside
Channel District, Tampa
Channelside is a residential and entertainment district just east of Downtown Tampa, Florida, USA. It is bordered by Ybor Channel on the east and Garrison Channel on the south...

 is often thought to be adjacent to the main CBD. This district is the location for many prominent downtown venues. The Tampa Convention Center
Tampa Convention Center
The Tampa Convention Center is a mid-sized convention center located in Downtown Tampa, Florida. Its location has both waterfront views and views of the skyline. In 2006, a 20-story Embassy Suites hotel opened next door, with a skybridge connecting it to the convention center. Harbour Island is...

, St. Pete Times Forum
St. Pete Times Forum
The St. Pete Times Forum is an arena in Tampa, Florida, that has been used for ice hockey, basketball, and arena football games, as well as concerts....

, and the Florida Aquarium
Florida Aquarium
The Florida Aquarium is a 501 not-for-profit organization, publicly operated institution located in Tampa, Florida, United States. It is a large scale, aquarium and is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. The facility is home to more than 20,000 aquatic plants and animals from...

 are located in the Channel District. Twin 30 story condos were completed in 2007, called the Towers of Channelside
Towers of Channelside
The Towers of Channelside are a residential complex in Tampa, Florida. The two Towers are 327ft tall and have 30 floors. They were constructed from 2005 to 2007 and are 11th tallest buildings in Tampa. Curts Gaines Hall Jones Architects designed the buildings, which have 125 units.-References:***...

. Many other residential mid and high-rises have been completed since. Many locals know the Channel District (often abbreviated to Channelside in local parlance) for its nightlife. The Channelside Bay Plaza, which has views of the downtown skyline, is located in the middle of the district. Entrepreuners have founded companies that operate NEVs
Neighborhood electric vehicle
A Neighborhood Electric Vehicle is a U.S. denomination for battery electric vehicles that are legally limited to roads with posted speed limits as high as depending on the particular laws of the state, usually are built to have a top speed of , and have a maximum loaded weight of 3,000 lbs...

 to shuttle clubgoers to/from Channelside and Tampa's other core districts: Hyde Park, SoHo, Downtown, and Ybor City.

Encore

The northern half of downtown is undergoing huge construction projects including retail, condos, and a large grocery store. The district, which will fill the gray zone between Downtown and Historic Ybor, will be called "Encore" and will be a "city within a city." http://www2.tbo.com/content/2010/mar/24/job-fair-one-downtowns-largest-projects/news-breaking/http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/realestate/construction-job-fair-in-tampa-draws-thousands-of-applicants/1082786 http://www.encoretampa.com/index.php A stimulus grant amounting $38 million was secured to help fund the project, the remaining to be derived from private funding. It is expected to create thousands of jobs for the area including at least 1,000 permanent ones. http://www.review.net/print/tampas-encore-project-awarded-38-million-grant/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36034368/ns/local_news-tampa_fl/http://southtampa2.tbo.com/content/2010/nov/24/010000/sprawling-encore-project-under-way/ The district is being created with its African-American heritage in mind, having being built over the site of the former Central Avenue Business District and later Central Park housing project.

Riverwalk

Mayor Pam Iorio
Pam Iorio
Pam Iorio is an American politician and author, who served as mayor of Tampa, Florida from 2003 to 2011.Her first book, Straightforward, is expected to be released in November 2011...

 has championed the building of a riverwalk downtown. This would act as a park to gather next to the river, as a breezeway
Breezeway
A breezeway is an architectural feature similar to a hallway that allows the passage of a breeze between structures to accommodate high winds, allow aeration, or provide aesthetic design variation. Often a breezeway is a simple roof connecting two structures ; sometimes it can be much more like a...

 for downtown, as well as provide aesthetic appeal. There is also potential for the riverwalk to act as a media park.
Most of the riverwalk is slated for completion around 2010; as of September 2009 it is 41% complete with 100% of it seeing some progress. http://www.tampagov.net/dept_riverwalk/files/River_Walk_Update.pdf The section of the riverwalk that was to adjoin the Trump Tower Tampa is currently being re-aligned to go behind the lot just off of the river. At its northernmost end it will snake into the Tampa Heights neighborhood. Channelside Bay Plaza is the other endpoint. Water taxi
Water taxi
A water taxi or water bus, also known as a commuter boat, is a watercraft used to provide public transport, usually but not always in an urban environment. Service may be scheduled with multiple stops, operating in a similar manner to a bus, or on demand to many locations, operating in a similar...

s are also being considered to service various stops along the riverwalk and the downtown area as well as further up the Hillsborough River. Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park had its ribbon cutting on January 25, 2010. http://www.tampabay.com/news/humaninterest/tampas-curtis-hixon-waterfront-park-opens-to-mostly-rave-reviews/1067820

See also

  • Bayshore Boulevard, street known for its long sidewalk and waterfront view. Runs due southwest from downtown to Hyde Park and SoHo.
  • Davis Islands
  • Harbour Island, adjacent to downtown and channelside south across the Garrison Channel.
  • Hyde Park, historic neighborhood southwest of downtown abutting Bayshore and Kennedy Blvd.
  • Tampa Heights, historic neighborhood just north of downtown, will be northern end of Riverwalk upon its completion around 2010.
  • Uptown District
    Uptown Tampa
    right|thumb|200px|The Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center located in the Uptown district.Uptown Tampa is a subdistrict located at the western end of Downtown Tampa. Notable attractions include the Tampa Theatre,the Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center and the John F...

    , northwestern area of downtown
  • Westshore
    Westshore, Tampa
    Westshore is the principal business district of Tampa, Florida, with more than of commercial office space, 4,000 businesses with nearly 100,000 employees, 32 hotels, two major shopping malls and more than 200 restaurants and bars. Westshore Boulevard is the district's main thoroughfare...

    , a business district located adjacent to Tampa International Airport
    Tampa International Airport
    Tampa International Airport is a major public airport located six nautical miles west of the central business district of Tampa, in Hillsborough County, Florida, United States. This airport is publicly owned by Hillsborough County Aviation Authority...

     and Rocky Point
    Rocky Point, Tampa, Florida
    Rocky Point is a small island in Tampa Bay within the city limits of Tampa, Florida. It is connected to mainland Tampa by the Courtney Campbell Causeway, which continues west across the bay to Clearwater. Tampa International Airport is located at the other end of the causeway about a mile east of...

    . This area actually eclipses downtown itself for most jobs in the region.
  • Ybor City, historic district adjacent to downtown from the northeast.

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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