Meet Christopher Bowen. Where you see a dead mall, he sees Tampa’s future

[bulloni]

Meet Christopher Bowen. Where you see a dead mall, he sees Tampa’s future

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He’s head strategist for turning the old University Mall near USF into an innovation district that’s part of the neighborhood.

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So for the Fowler corridor, and that includes RITHM, we’re somewhere in the 10- to 15-year mark where the innovation corridor is fully embedded from I-275 to USF.

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It’ll look a lot like some of the better planned city neighborhoods - downtown St. Petersburg, parts of downtown Tampa, Hyde Park.

In that 18 blocks you’ll see some giant research projects interspersed with this urban neighborhood that’s very walkable with all the restaurants and shops and apartments and offices.

 

I like the ambition but turning the entire area between 275 and USF into a walkable nice neighborhood within 10-15 years just seems impossible. If he pulls it off though the amount of applicants to USF will go through the roof. Always thought everything about the tampa area was awesome, being next to busch gardens is awesome, the usf campus is awesome, but that area between campus and 275 was a black eye that could turn a lot of people off to the area.

[Brad]

Very interesting, thanks for posting the link.  I had to pull up Google maps to make sure of the area....been a while for me.

Yeah, a handful.  But we'll see.

[Paisa el Toro]

Lots of layers of government have to collaborate to make this work--FDOT, Tampa, Hillsborough County, Temple Terrace. It can be done as long as the political will and funding is there.

[bulloni]

Redevelopment plans are underway for Fowler Avenue

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Redevelopment plans are underway for Fowler Avenue, and you can be part of planning the future look of the area.

 

[Brad]

Sure hope some good comes from it!

[Triple B]

On 6/14/2022 at 8:21 AM, bulloni said:

Meet Christopher Bowen. Where you see a dead mall, he sees Tampa’s future

---

He’s head strategist for turning the old University Mall near USF into an innovation district that’s part of the neighborhood.

 

I like the ambition but turning the entire area between 275 and USF into a walkable nice neighborhood within 10-15 years just seems impossible. If he pulls it off though the amount of applicants to USF will go through the roof. Always thought everything about the tampa area was awesome, being next to busch gardens is awesome, the usf campus is awesome, but that area between campus and 275 was a black eye that could turn a lot of people off to the area.

It's amazing what they're doing moving west off Fowler from BBD but the key is how far north and south they're going to try and do this ........ "seems impossible" pretty much nails it but will be interesting watching this go forward.

[Rocky Style]

Oh yeah live work play.  We have that here.  Drinks in mason jars with elderflower and expensive cupcakes.

[bulloni]

This apartment building just broke ground in March on the Northwest corner of Nebraska/Busch across the street from New World Brewery. While not much it is just 3 miles from campus in an area traditionally looked at as sketchy so this helps more than another used car lot.

[bulloni]

Further North Nebraska on the old Grand Prix site the foundation is already being prepared for this apartment complex. This is just 2.5 miles from campus and should help the areas curb appeal, granted the Grand Prix is one thing I'm sad to see go from suitcase city

[bulloni]

New 61 unit apartment building just finished. Scheduled to open next month. Just off the interstate on Fletcher 1.5 miles from Campus