Have you looked at a map and seen how much waterfrontage Tampa has ? It is a lot.
But have you tried to find a place on the water to enjoy a meal or drinks and enjoy the view ? There aren't very many.
Mayor Iorio is aggressively putting together her plans to provide a usable riverfront walkway that will connect all of downtown. Over 2 miles of meandering walks, trails, bridges, and docks will allow for a continuous riverside stroll from Channelside to north of the I-275 bridge. Visions of cafes, historical displays, large event/concert venues, informative nature stands, and lots more are being discussed. This is no pie in the sky. Already lots of the required property and walks are in place or under construction. The design team - from an internationally acclaimed company - EDAW - is very impressive. A third presentation will come in the next few months that will lay out specifics of the plan - including anticipated costs.
If you have ever been to San Antonio, Baltimore, or most any major city on a waterway, you have probably strolled their Riverwalk equivalent. While we have some issues with the Mayor on various items, this project and this design team look like they will positively change the face of downtown Tampa forever.
Several players in this project must be noted: Mayor Iorio has shown the vision, EDAW has provided great information with a beyond the call of duty attitude about seeking public input, and Riverwalk Development Manager Lee Hoffrman has the personality and attitude that is ready to overcome any obstacle. A "Friends of Riverwalk" group provides us with our only concern for this project. This group will provide the business/real estate/ developer input to the project. Chaired by Dan Mahurin, this is a most vital part of making the project happen - it is what the public has to give up that concerns us in this venture.
If you have any concern about Tampa's future, you should be keeping your eyes on the Riverwalk plan. Goal for completion of the two mile Riverwalk is not far away - early 2009, in time for Super Bowl. You can get complete Riverwalk details here.
3 comments:
But where do you park to use it?
The RiverWalk designs don't appear to take into consideration something which should be a major consideration to any construction in Tampa proper. STORM SURGE. Duh!
Remember, if a storm comes up the bay, we are talking about 20 feet of water--if the tide is right, the water will not rise gently. It will be like the flooding of NOLA. It will have momentum and happen quite quickly. (Depending upon the speed of the storm.)
Perhaps they should shelve the whole thing until we get hammered, and let FEMA pay for it. The CIT is already been spent and visions of grandeur threaten to mortgage it for the next 30 years.
OOPS! I should have checked the site before I opened My Big Keyboard. I saw the newpaper article with the floating sidewalks and such.
Sorry.
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