Over the years, there have been lots of plans and big ideas for the Channel District and Tampa's Waterfront. Jeff Vinik and his partners recently announced they will be investing more than $1 Billion to complete plans started decades ago when planners visioned the placement of the Arena and Convention Center on the Downtown Waterfront. This area has been boosted by a Community Redevelopment Plan for the Channel District was completed by the City of Tampa Department for Urban Development and the Planning Commission in 2004.

Flash back - A look at Channel District redevelopment in our HTV production of Beyond Today: Episode 41 from January 2000.

At a press conference on December 17, Jeff Vinik revealed the vision for a legacy he wants to leave the next generation with plans for nearly 3 million square feet of new commercial development including an entertainment center, retail, residential, hotel, USF Medical College, a corporate headquarters, and much more. Public transit and walkability will be a huge part of the new Tampa waterfront development.

More importantly, the development team wants this to be America's first crowdsourced community. To participate, visit their website, Tampa Waterfront 20/20. View plans and check out others' visions, Vote for those you like. Submit your own vision in 90 characters or less. You can even include a photo. Stay engaged throughout this exciting crowdsourced planning of our beautiful waterfront.

Flash forward - Fly through of Jeff Vinik's Tampa Waterfront Vision

'Tis the season for giving and sharing. And for more than a decade, it has become a tradition for Planning Commission staff to fulfill wish lists for people who call Tampa's Whispering Oaks Assisted Living facility home. And then, often joined by family members, we stroll through the hallways caroling. Residents and staff get into the spirit, singing and dancing with us along the way.

"Planning Commission staff love this. The patients and residents love this. It feels so good to give back and bring joy to many who have so little," said Greg Colangelo, who coordinates this annual event. "This year, the nursing staff came out to thank us after the caroling, saying that we touched so many people deeply. This is a tradition, we definitely plan to continue."

The Innovative MPO,

 

"We are proud of being recognized for the Planning Commission's close collaboration with the MPO, linking land use plans with transportation investments to better meet our growing region's needs," said Melissa Zornitta, who has been tapped to become the next Executive Director of the Planning Commission following Ray Chiaramonte's retirement at the end of January 2015.

 

$152,900	Median value of owner-occupied homes
36.5	Median age
26,000	Number of School District employees
87.4%	High school graduate or higher

Check out all of the latest  Facts & Figures, including population, employment, education, housing and more.

1500+ facebook fans
6700+ twitter followers
37,000+ web visitors
127 board and committee meetings
286 community plan participants
23 eNewsletters
5,861 active email subscribers
52 Imagine 2040 community meetings
2,400+ Imagine 2040 : part 2 interactive survey participants
3 Florida's Largest Home Show interactive displays

Learn more in our year end report to be posted online later in January.

Issue 20 | December 2014

As the holiday season is upon us, we wish you and yours a season filled with beautiful memories, prosperity and, most of all, safe travels and good health.

Our offices will be closed in observance of County Holidays in 2015 as follows:

• Jan 1 - New Year's Day
• Jan 19 - MLK Day
• May 5 - Memorial Day
• July 4 - Independence Day
• Sept 7 - Labor Day
• Nov 11 - Veteran's Day
• Nov 26-27 - Thanksgiving
• Dec 24-25 - Christmas