Tampa, FL – The Hillsborough County City-County Planning Commission is proud to announce the winners of our 41st Annual Planning & Design Awards presented by TECO. This annual awards program aligns with the many national festivities held during October, the American Planning Association‘s National Community Planning Month. Established in 2006, #PlanningMonth highlights the important role of planners and good community planning. This celebration of excellence in planning and design was held on Wednesday, October 18, 2023 at the Shanna & Bryan Glazer Jewish Community Center, winner of the Jan Abell Award for Outstanding Contribution in Historic Preservation in 2017. |
A year to remember! |
The Planning Commission’s awards program was originally created to inspire and promote good practices that turn the challenges that come with growth into opportunities for the Cities of Tampa, Temple Terrace, Plant City, and unincorporated Hillsborough County. This year’s awards took this to a whole new level, recognizing inspirational people for plans, programs, projects, and developments from small with big impact uplifting our community; to those dedicated to preserving our natural assets or rich history; to transformative developments changing our skyline and elevating the City of Tampa and our entire region. Photographs of the event can be viewed in an album on the Planning Commission’s Facebook page. |
Thank you to our host & jury!Award winners were selected by a panel of distinguished judges from outside of Hillsborough County. Four Awards of Merit, five Awards of Excellence, and six Awards of Outstanding Contribution to the Community, including one Jan Abell Award, were presented by Brendan McLaughlin, our host since 2009. |
Awards of Outstanding Contribution to the Community |
GASWORX |
Planning, Redevelopment & Historic Categories |
Darryl ShawRobert KettlerGraham Tyrrell & KETTLER Tampa Team |
GASWORX is a 50-acre master plan located in the heart of Tampa – between historic Ybor City, Downtown, and the Channel District. The redevelopment is a joint venture project between Tampa developer Darryl Shaw and Washington, D.C.-based Kettler. By combining Mr. Shaw’s long-term vision for Ybor City’s renaissance and Kettler’s experience in large, transformative projects, GASWORX will add significant density, livable public spaces, and connectivity in an area of currently underutilized land-uses to create a true live/work/play urban neighborhood. Soon, 18 development sites with 5,000 residences, over 500,000 SF of office space, and more than 140,000 SF of retail. More importantly, it will connect the surrounding communities and knit the urban fabric with walkable streets, multi-use trails, parks and recreation areas, and a new streetcar stop. The approved master plan features an abundance of public amenities, wholesale infrastructure improvements, restoration of the historic street grid, significant affordable housing, and carefully curated commercial spaces to support local businesses and the arts community. Construction of the first phase commenced in October 2022 and will create 695 multifamily housing units, including 30 affordable, plus approximately 10,000 SF of retail space. A second phase will break ground in early 2024 and will include the conversion of a large brick warehouse into a market, restaurants, and office space, while south of the warehouse will be a new pedestrian street with space for outdoor dining, vendor stations, and entertainment. This phase will feature the replacement of a roundabout with a traditional street grid creating open space to be turned into a one-acre city park and a new streetcar stop on Channelside Drive. The judges described GASWORX as a wonderful, innovative master plan that will reconnect the tissue of the City’s modern urban core with Ybor’s historic past. On top of the extensive public engagement, they loved the design that maintained the historic character of the neighborhood, the mix of scales and income levels, and the bike, ped, and transit orientation of this new vibrant mixed-use development. |
Midtown Tampa |
Investment, Housing, Commercial & Entertainment Categories |
The Bromley Companies |
After winning a Planning & Design Award of Merit for their Master Plan in 2019, Midtown Tampa’s 23-acre mixed-use development is back. Located on the edge of the Westshore District bridging the way to Downtown, The Bromley Company’s vision of enriching the neighborhood to serve as a catalyst for the area has become a reality. Development involved seamlessly integrating the four major asset classes – office, retail, hotel and residential – into an authentic and natural design, creating – Midtown Commons and Midtown Lake. All the asset classes would face one of the two centers, providing intimate environments and some pretty cool community vibes. The project’s complexity was staggering – including 11 buildings, constructed simultaneously, with 4 general contractors and 750 workers on site, to be completed within a 24-month timetable, before the Superbowl in Tampa, which coincided with Midtown’s successful grand opening. The property includes 2,500 parking spaces, a 3-acre lake, created two point five miles of walking paths, a one-acre central Commons, five new project entrances, two new traffic light intersections, seven art pieces by global artists and a new internal road network coming together simultaneously to allow residents and visitors alike options to stay, play, dine, work, workout, shop or grab a drink without getting into a car from day one. Currently, residential is 95 percent leased and programming and community events define this vibrant, well-connected community. Further development underway includes investment in two additional towers for office and residential respectively. The judges wanted to head to Midtown for a great meal, some fun activities, and a little shopping. They loved the intention and detail brought into this transformational development. |
Tampa MOVES Citywide Mobility Plan |
Planning & Participation Categories |
City of Tampa Mobility Department |
Tampa MOVES is a groundbreaking initiative propelling Tampa towards a brighter, more connected, and sustainable future. The first Citywide Mobility Plan that will ultimately redesign Tampa’s streets, enhance walkability and biking infrastructure, and align resources for maximum impact, emerged from Mayor Jane Castor’s Transforming Tampa’s Tomorrow strategic initiative. What does MOVES stand for? The letters are extracted from the plan’s guiding principles: Mobility for All, Economic Opportunity, Vision for Strong Neighborhoods, Transportation Equity, and Safety. Through the mobility plan both near and long-term transportation priorities and projects have been identified through an equitable, data-driven process. The plan outlines the current needs, long-term vision, and policies and strategies to achieve the vision and will be used to direct the next thirty years of investment. More than making the City’s streets safer, it serves as the guiding framework for how and where the Tampa will grow, change and redevelop into the future. At its core, the MOVES plan is about enhancing the quality of life for Tampa’s residents. It strives to improve safety, particularly for vulnerable roadway users, and advocates for effective transit solutions. Additionally, the plan carefully considers land use and transportation system gaps within the City, promoting a sense of place in Tampa’s many diverse neighborhoods. Tampa MOVES builds on the Mobility Section of the Tampa Comprehensive Plan and technical standards will be updated next to reflect the context sensitive approach. #LiveGrowThrive2045 The plan was developed through extensive community engagement over two years that included Citywide Listen First Meetings, a Vision Zero Safety Survey, Focus Groups, walking audits, and town halls. The community feedback was used to understand existing mobility challenges, opportunities, and desires to shape the vision of transportation in Tampa. The Mobility Plan prioritizes investing in existing transportation assets, completing the multi-modal network by filling sidewalk gaps, connecting the bike network and increasing safe crossings, supporting effective transit, making streets safer for everyone, re-purposing streets for people, and managing congestion. Tampa MOVES paints a visionary picture for the City in 2050, where half of all commuters choose to walk, bike, or use transit. It envisions reduced transportation costs for households, fostering a safe and equitable transportation system that supports economic growth, enhances quality of life, and promotes a sustainable and resilient city. The judges were moved by this excellent multi-modal plan, praising how the community was immersed throughout the planning process in a variety of innovative ways in the production of this well-designed plan that is easily accessible on the City’s web site. |
Water Street Tampa |
Planning, Investment, Redevelopment & Environmental Categories |
Strategic Property PartnersElkus Manfredi ArchitectsReed Hilderbrand Landscape ArchitectureOf Place |
One of the largest and most innovative urban real estate developments in the country, Water Street Tampa has created an entirely new neighborhood that connects the city’s central business district with its waterfront. Strategic Property Partners engaged the world’s best talent in urban planning, architecture, and design to realize its vision for the 56-acre, nine million square foot development. Helping Tampa meet its long-term goal of creating a city that is more seamless and community oriented, Water Street Tampa established a place with an emphasis on the public realm. Evolving from a successful public-private partnership between developers, local government, and community leaders, SPP partnered with the City of Tampa and Hillsborough County to build the missing infrastructure required to support new downtown development, effectively bringing Water Street Tampa to fruition while also creating better connectivity for the city and priming it for successful future development. To date, the neighborhood has added over 600,000 SF of new commercial space, including the first new office tower in Tampa’s Downtown in 30 years and the City’s first five-star hotel; nearly 1,300 new residences; dozens of new restaurants and retailers; acres of new public space including parks, plazas and a redesigned street grid; and Sparkman Wharf, a waterfront park featuring a dining garden, event lawn, retail and office space. Connected by pedestrian-oriented streets and 13-acres of new public space, Water Street Tampa has introduced a dynamic, walkable, community-oriented lifestyle to Tampa’s urban core for the first time, changing the way residents and visitors experience the City’s downtown. It’s a destination that provides all the necessities of daily life in one beautiful, connected place complemented by verdant landscaping, public spaces, and new transportation options. In addition to its impressive scale, Water Street Tampa is notable for its design with wellness and connectivity in mind. It is the world’s first WELL Precertified Community as recognized by the International Well Building Institute, as well as the world’s first WiredScore SmartScore Precertified Neighborhood. With a focus on walkability, sustainability, technology, resiliency and innovation, Water Street Tampa is setting a global precedent for wellness-based design in the built environment. Recently recognized by ULI Americas Awards for Excellence as one of the top ten new developments in the western hemisphere, our jury could not have agreed more. Water Street Tampa’s impact on our city and our region is undeniable, creating jobs, generating revenue, weaving wellness into the fabric of the community, taking Tampa to the next level. The innovation and collaboration were off the charts redefining new approaches for this truly transformative development. |
Wimauma Downtown Revitalization Action Plan |
Planning Category |
Hillsborough County Community and Infrastructure Planning |
Wimauma was founded in 1902 along a railroad route and has experienced significant change over the years. Today, agriculture remains a main source of jobs and family-owned taquerias and small businesses line the main road through this diverse community. Experiencing a population boom, Wimauma is on pace to double its current 16,000 residents in the next 20 years. In 2007, Hillsborough County worked with residents and community partners to create a Wimauma Community Plan. The plan was developed embracing the priorities of safety, its traditional small-town character, clustered housing, preservation of native habitats, recreational opportunities, and developing commercial opportunities. In response to rapidly changing demographics, the Wimauma Community Plan went through an extensive update process with the residents and stakeholders a decade later. In 2020, the updated plan became a cornerstone vision codified within the Comprehensive Plan Livable Communities Element and reforms in the County’s Land Development Code. In 2022, the Action Plan was developed to implement the Community Plan to strategically lay out the foundational sequence of specific steps with timelines attainable to complete. The County retained Urban 3 to create a 3D visualization of land use economics for different land use scenarios that illustrated the market dynamics created by tax and land use policies. The County also engaged the University of South Florida and Florida Center for Community Design and Research for community engagement. The input from residents, stakeholder groups, and various governmental agencies was pivotal in developing an Action Plan that truly reflects the community’s desires and path to bright Wimauma’s future. Momentum sparked by the Action Plan has already inspired the County Commission to allocate more than $100 million in capital projects. FDOT is designing Complete Streets concepts for Wimauma’s main thoroughfare. And, Hillsborough County Public School District is already constructing new schools. A County Park with a community center and regional library is in the works. In September, the Wimauma Downtown Revitalization Action Plan was awarded at APA’s Florida Planning Conference. Our judges loved the strategic focus of this easy-to-read plan and praised the recognition of the need to revisit the plan often to ensure implementation continues. A testament to meaningful public involvement, the community was engaged throughout the process planning for both change and preservation. |
Outstanding Contribution & Jan Abell Award |
Historic 7th Avenue Iconic Illuminated Archways & Streetscape |
Historic & Lighting Categories |
City of TampaTampa Community Redevelopment Agency | Ybor CRATECOKCI Technologies |
Twenty-one new iconic lighted archways were installed along Ybor City’s historic 7th Avenue, named one of the greatest streets in America by the American Planning Association. The original archways were installed more than 30 years ago for the National Historic Landmark District’s centennial celebration had slowly deteriorated over time. The success of this project hinged on the strong partnerships forged between the Ybor City CRA and several regional partners, that worked together to fabricate environmentally sustainable lighted structures to span Ybor’s premier commercial corridor. More than just aesthetic enhancements, they incorporate soft LED lights equipped with daylight sensors, ensuring energy and cost efficiency by automatically illuminating at dusk and dimming at dawn. To withstand hurricane-force winds, wind-resistant iron poles were installed. Every innovation was approved by the Barrio Latino Commission in accordance with strict historic preservation guidelines. The cost of the project was approximately $2.4 million between the planning and conceptualization that commenced in November 2022 and was completed ahead of schedule in March 2023. This project could not have moved forward without the ultra-collaborative partnership among the Ybor City CRA, City Mobility, Tampa Electric, KCI Technologies, Sam Schwartz, and Tampa Bay Construction & Engineering. Through inter-industry teamwork, a design concept was developed that could be fabricated and installed within budget and historic guidelines. Because the project was so heavily supported by the community, its cost was prioritized and funded over multiple fiscal years, primarily through the Ybor City Community Redevelopment Area Tax Increment Finance funds and City of Tampa Mobility general funds. The judges lit up learning about this intricate collaboration that required precision and creativity while preserving the legacy of these glowing archways. They gave an Award of Outstanding Contribution to the Community in the Lighting Category, but also deemed it worthy of the Jan Abell Award for Outstanding Contribution in Historic Preservation… A testament to beautifully blending history and resiliency, innovation and collaboration heavy on community emphasis to preserve Ybor City’s historic legacy as we light our path to the future. |
Awards of Excellence |
Hillsborough County Mosquito Management ServicesMobile Education Lab |
Participation Category |
Hillsborough County Public WorksMosquito Management Services |
Communities in Hillsborough County are affected by high mosquito counts that are a nuisance and can ultimately decrease our economic and public health. Mosquitoes begin their lives in bodies of water, natural or man-made, and the best method to protect yourself from mosquito-borne diseases is by dumping or tightly covering containers of water. Hillsborough County Mosquito Management Services needed a way to educate citizens about this protection method. In 2019 a group of mosquito management staff paired up with the very creative County Communications department and came up with a mobile educational laboratory they called the Mosquito Ninja Dojo to educate citizens how to “fight” back against mosquitoes. This Dojo on wheels can be moved to different public education events, reaching citizens in all areas of Hillsborough County. It’s even wheelchair accessible. There are visual components for people of all ages, and videos with sound and closed captioning. People can learn about the different types of mosquitoes, where you find them, and how you can manage or control them. Kids love this immersive and engaging experience. Residents barely notice they’re learning about mosquito biology and mosquito management services provided by Hillsborough County, because they are having so much fun! The judges loved the mobile education lab concept to be innovative, compelling, and easily transferable. |
Mercy Oaks Apartments |
Housing Category |
Catholic Charities Diocese of St. PetersburgHillsborough County Affordable Housing Services |
Catholic Charities operates homeless shelters, pregnancy centers, and free medical clinics. They also provide adoption and immigration services, mental health counseling, and financial assistance. Another strategic focus for them is affordable housing, a critical need for more people than ever with skyrocketing prices for homeowners and renters alike. Mercy Oaks Apartments was created to enhance the surrounding community by converting a vacated motel lot into a beautiful, but affordable twenty-unit apartment building. Beyond aesthetically improving the community through its design, residents are uplifted with accommodations that enhance their dignity. While saving on rent, they are able to become contributing members of the community, start saving, and have money to buy goods and services they need. Mercy Oaks is located in one of the poorest areas in Tampa impacting those with the greatest needs for shelter and better access to needed medical resources and healthier food options. Proximity to public transportation, medical facilities, grocery stores and food pantries, pharmacies, and businesses, also reduces the need for more expensive private transportation. The Catholic Charities Diocese also integrated their resident/tenant sourcing with Mercy Oaks, so it can serve as a ‘path of least resistance’ destination for eligible clients of their Tampa Hope homeless shelter. Other resident services include case management, mental health counseling, and more. This partnership with Hillsborough County enhances the public initiative to reduce the critical need for affordable housing throughout the county. A targeted outreach campaign attracts low-income tenants to qualify for these quality apartments beneath fair market rent. The judges thought this special partnership was a match made in heaven. They found this important collaboration and integration of housing and vital services to serve as a pathway from homelessness towards independence and economic stability uplifting to the community. |