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Central Park clears first hurdle

The Housing Authority pledges homes for all current leaseholders.

By MICHAEL A. MOHAMMED
Published October 27, 2006

TAMPA - The City Council voted unanimously Thursday night for preliminary zoning approval for a 28-acre Central Park Village development.

The vote marks a victory for the Tampa Housing Authority, which has worked for three years to redevelop the complex.

The project will replace 484 low-income housing units in a complex where 69 percent of residents are below the poverty line, 47 percent of the housing is seriously deteriorated, and the crime rate is double the city average, said Tampa Housing Authority director Jerome Ryans.

In their place, the authority and Bank of America plan to construct 800 rental units in five seven- to nine-story buildings, and 1,236 for-sale condos in four eight- to 28-story buildings.

Of the new rental units, 667, or 84 percent, will be "affordable," or available to households that make 60 percent or less of Tampa's average income.

Some local activists were concerned about whether the authority was prepared to relocate the complex's current residents, whether there would be sufficient space for them in the new complex, and whether minority firms would be hired for the construction.

"We've been talking about this for five years," Ryan responded. "Everyone on lease in Central Park will have a place to live."

Project planners hope to hire at least 20 percent minority contractors for the project and to secure jobs in the new complex's retail space for at least 30 percent of low-income residents.

"We're very encouraged by the unanimous support from City Council," said Housing Authority spokeswoman Beth Leytham. "Clearly, they share our belief that this is going to have a tremendous positive impact on the entire community."

Michael A. Mohammed can be reached at mmohammed@sptimes.com or (813) 226-3404.

[Last modified October 27, 2006, 00:34:44]