Ellison Development has submitted a request to the City of Tampa to rezone an assemblage of 6.2 acres along North Florida Avenue to make way for a 1.25 million square-foot mixed-use development. The development be anchored by a new Central City YMCA.

Ellison Development and the Tampa Metropolitan YMCA hope to develop the following on the property:

-         110,000 SF YMCA Facility, that will have a rooftop pool.

-         A 200-key luxury lifestyle hotel

-         447 multi-family units, with a minimum of 10% dedicated to affordable housing.

-         184,000 SF of office space

-         100,000 SF of retail space, with portions being dedicated to small & minority-owned businesses.

-         1.444 parking spaces

-         20,000 SF of greenspace

The new YMCA would be built across North Florida Avenue, from the current facility.  Ellison hopes to break ground on the new YMCA in summer 2024 with a completion for 2026. The existing Tampa Heights YMCA will not close until the new facility opens, and the entire development has a five-year completion timeline. The new YMCA facility would double the size of the existing one.

A skybridge will connect the new YMCA to the Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA’s corporate offices and parking, going over North Florida Avenue. Parcels located south of East Palm Avenue will have a 15-story office building, and a 23-story tower with hotel rooms and multifamily units, rising along North Florida Avenue south of East Oak Avenue.

The Standard Oil Building will be preserved, and the YMCA will provide a 10-foot easement along East Palm Avenue, giving way for a potential streetcar expansion. The rezoning request is expected to be heard before Tampa City Council by November. The project will mark Tampa-based Ellison Development’s hometown debut. Casey Ellison, principal, is also CEO of Ellison Construction which holds several Tampa developments in its portfolio including the Oxford Exchange, Hotel Haya, Stovall House, and Armature Works.