A Publication of the Ybor City Development Corporation YborCityOnline.com 1

The Ybor City Development Corporation (YCDC) invites the community to engage in the effort to plan for Ybor City’s future. YCDC partnered with the Hillsborough County-City Planning Commission to update the Ybor City Vision Plans from 2005 and 2010. Via a competitive process, Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. (VHB), a professional design, planning and engineering firm located in downtown Tampa, was selected to lead the community visioning process that will result in a five year action plan. Areas of focus will include: market analysis, urban planning, transportation, and infrastructure.

VHB will be present at YCDC Committees and the board meeting in March. The meeting calendar is available on page four.

Inside

Ybor Launches Vision 2020

Business/Community Incentives ............ 2Lights, Camera, Ybor ................................. 2Ybor Hotel .................................................... 2Outback Bowl .............................................. 3‘Off the Rail’ Streetcar Success ................ 3New Ridesharing Locations ..................... 3Upcoming Events ....................................... 3New Homeless Liaison .............................. 4Meeting Calendar ....................................... 4

Planning meeting for upcoming community visioning sessions. Back left to back right: Neale Stralow (VHB), Bill Bowers (VHB), Jay Collins (Planning Commission), Courtney Orr (YCDC), Corine Linebrink-Wain (YCDC).

Spring 2019

Ybor legend

2 A Publication of the Ybor City Development Corporation

Business and Resident IncentivesDo you reside, own a business or are interested in moving or opening a second business location in Ybor City’s National Historic Landmark District CRA 1 or CRA 2? Please review the available grants and incentives below that aid in new development, redevelopment and restoration.

Community Infrastructure Needs Grant Program: This grant program offers funding for essential commercial or residential right-of-way infrastructure, including material.

The Façade Improvement Grant Program: Commercial property owners in the Historic District are incentivized to improve the appearance of their buildings.

Community Amenity Reimbursement Grant Program: Reimbursement of up to $10,000 paid for certain City of Tampa fees related to construction or renovation of facilities.

Historic Preservation Grant: Homesteaded properties and buildings that are at least 75-years-old are eligible for grants up to $15,000.

View the program applications at yborcityonline.com/business/incentives-and-resources/#grants as well as view the CRA 1 and CRA 2 boundaries.

Ybor City is known for its positive energy and a unique blend of cultures. It has been both featured and used as a setting on the big screen a number of times. The Columbia Restaurant is showcased in the Mob Classic Goodfellas. The setting of Ben Affleck’s 2016 film Live by Night emulates Ybor City’s Latin Quarter. Throughout the film, viewers are able to recognize the wrought iron balconies, brick buildings, and five-globe street lamps that are staples to Ybor’s aesthetics. A Public Service Announcement commercial produced by the Ad Council starring

John Cena titled Love Has No Labels used Ybor City as a backdrop.

Due to the area’s attractiveness, Gasparilla International Film Festival (GIFF), one of Tampa Bay’s largest independent film festivals, selected Ybor City for its cinematic celebration. The event is a part of Gasparilla Arts Month. GIFF is a six-day event for filmmakers to showcase their films to large audiences including film distributors. The festival features films of all types/genres, such as, documentaries, shorts, music videos, and family-friendly films. This year GIFF will take place from March 19 through March 24.

Lights, Camera, Ybor!

The various companies working on the 178-room boutique hotel construction underway on the 1400 block of 7th Avenue recently hosted a topping off cere-mony. The hotel is anticipated to be completed by the first quarter of 2020 with high-end amenities to include, among others, a pool and signature restaurant.

Topping Off Party for New

Ybor Hotel

YborCityOnline.com 3

Fans Ring in 2019 at the Outback Bowl Parade

Off the Rail Streetcar Success

Designated Ridesharing LocationsThrough a partnership with Uber and Lyft, the district now has designated pick-up/drop-off locations on three streets south of 7th Avenue. Rideshare signs are installed at 15th, 18th and 19th Streets. Two spaces are available at each location. The blue and white signs point to the new spaces. These efforts will help alleviate congestion and provide a safer means to enter or exit rideshare vehicles.

UpcomingEvents • Rough Riders St. Patrick’s

Day Parade – March 16 TampaRoughriders.org

• Gasparilla International Food Festival – March 17 CityFestivals.org

• Gasparilla International Film Festival – March 19-24 GasparillaFilmFestival.com

• Homeruns and History, Ybor Museum Society at Centennial Park – March 23 TampaBaseballMuseum.org

• Tampa Pride Parade & Diversity Festival – March 30 TampaPride.org

• Cuban Sandwich Festival at Centennial Park – March 31 TheCubanSandwichFestival.com

• Festa Italiana – April 6-8 FestaItalianaTampa.com

• Founder’s Day Custom Car Show – April 14 YborNow.com

• Lion’s Eye Institute’s Race for Sight – April 19 LionsEyeInstitute.org

The 2019 Outback Bowl Parade was the ultimate pep rally and New Year’s Eve celebration for Iowa Hawkeyes and Mississippi State Bulldogs fans. During the

event, numerous festive floats, 15 high school bands, two college bands from the competing teams and Tampa’s pirate Krewes made their way down 7th Avenue from 20th Street to 14th Street. Exhibiting high energy and loyal enthusiasm, fans lined the street cheering and rattling cowbells for the Bulldogs. Beyond the football field, the event provided both teams an opportunity to escape cold weather, collect colorful beads while also experiencing a taste of Tampa culture. A long-standing tradition, the Outback Bowl has contributed $148-million to universities and generated an estimated $1-billion in economic impact for the Tampa Bay area. The Hawkeyes defeated the Bulldogs claiming their third Outback Bowl victory.

Renovations to the Buchman Building located at 1910 East

7th Avenue and the TransferWise

Building located at 2000 East 11th Avenue are now complete. Both historic structures rehabilitation was partially funded through the Ybor CRA 1 Façade Improvement Grant Program. Historic preservation helps keep the district unique and visually appealing. Protection of the historic building fabric also draws curiosity and respect for the district’s rich cultural heritage. YCDC continues to safeguard the historical significance and appearance of Ybor City’s one-of-a-kind community.

Preserving Our Historic Buildings

The TECO Line Streetcar connects Historic Ybor to Tampa’s urban core and has captured the support of residents and visitors alike. Since the Florida Department of Transportation awarded a grant to HART to cover fares and offer extended service hours, ridership on the streetcar is up 300%. Ybor residents travel downtown for weekly events and visit sites like Sparkman Wharf, Tampa’s newest outdoor waterfront space. In addition, it provides downtown workers a chance to enjoy a quick lunchtime getaway in Ybor. The Streetcar’s projected expansion is only a tiny slice of what Tampa and Hillsborough County will be able to accomplish due to voters’ approval of the 1 percent sales tax for transportation improvements. According to Florida Politics, it is estimated to raise approximately $300 million a year for 30 years.

4 A Publication of the Ybor City Development Corporation YborCityOnline.com

Ybor City Development Corporation 2015 East 7th Avenue, Tampa, FL 33605

(813) 274-7936 • TampaGov.net/ycdc • YborCityOnline.com

A Division of the City of Tampa - Department of Economic and Urban Development Bob McDonaugh, Administrator of Economic Opportunity

YCDC Staff: Courtney Orr, Manager • Brenda Thrower • Corine Linebrink

Mayor Bob BuckhornCommunity Redevelopment Area (CRA) BoardGuido Maniscalco – Chairman Yvonne Yolie CapinHarry Cohen – Vice-chairman Luis VieraMike Suarez Frank ReddickCharlie Miranda

Meeting Location: Tampa City Council Chambers, City Hall, 315 E. Kennedy Blvd.Time: 9:00 a.m. Date: Second Thursday of the month

YCDC Board of DirectorsChairman Grant Mehlich .............Professional OfficeVice-chairman Gene Siudut .......At-largeTreasurer Liz Welch .......................At-largeSecretary Joe Citro.........................At-largeChris Wojtowicz ..............................Historic Ybor City Neighborhood Civic Assoc.Steve Rosenstock ...........................At-largeCathy Bartolotti ..............................Ybor City RoundtableChip Williams ...................................BarDennis Meyers ................................Property OwnerJose Cayon ........................................East Ybor Historic Neighborhood Civic Assoc.Michelle Cardamone ....................Hotel, Bed & BreakfastShari Middleton ..............................Finance and BankingRey Bulnes ........................................Ybor City Chamber of CommerceMichael Murphy .............................Ybor Merchants AssociationJeremy Kloter ...................................Multi-family ResidentialCasey Gonzmart Jr. ........................RestaurantJohn Thompson ..............................Barrio Latino CommissionStephen Barbas ..............................Ybor City Museum SocietyRoberto Torres................................RetailJustice Gennari................................GaYbor District CoalitionGinger Clark .....................................Hillsborough Community College Ybor CampusRich Simmons .................................At-largeJoe Capitano, Sr ..............................Emeritus MemberFran Costantino ..............................Emeritus Member

Meeting Location: YCDC Office, 2015 E. 7th Avenue, Ybor CityTime: 4:00 p.m.Date: Fourth Tuesday of the month except December

Tampa Police Officer Stephanie Haley is one of two Tampa Police Department (TPD) homeless liaison officers for the city. Former homeless liaison, Officer Randi Whitney, accepted a position on a specialized TPD task force.

MARCH

• Culture, Arts, and Special Events Committee March 19 | 3:30 p.m.

• Public Safety and Transportation Committee March 21 | 3:30 p.m.

• YCDC Board March 26 | 4:00 p.m.

APRIL

• YCDC Board April 23 | 4:00 p.m.

New Citywide Homeless Liaison

Meeting Calendar