After nearly three years of working through Tampa’s Barrio Latino Commission, the development team behind ‘4th Avenue Apartments’ is advancing with a revised proposal for their five-story residential project in Ybor City, with eventual construction in the near future.
The development, spearheaded by James Hettinger, LLC and Clendenon Properties, LLC, features an updated design by GROH Architecture with significant adjustments to the building’s height and layout. While original plans approved in March 2024 included a 56-FT facade along 4th Avenue, the revised version lowers that to only 44 FT. This visual setback introduces a private balcony for residences but also creates a visual improvement of the facade along 4th Avenue.
Because the setback removed a large portion of interior space, the building will be pushed further back on the site to preserve the original unit count of 93 apartments, maintain the total parking count, and retain the corner bodega. This shift allows for larger floor plates and the integration of a mechanical lift parking system. The update eliminates the need for off-site parking leases originally planned for in the old proposal, as 97 spaces will now be accommodated on-site. Additionally, the corner bodega will be slightly expanded from 803 to 883 SF.
While the overall unit count remains steady, the updated design adjusts the apartment mix slightly, increasing the number of studio and two-bedroom units while reducing one-bedroom units. The project also retains its commitment to high-quality materials, featuring red brick facades, metal railings, mosaic flooring, and Cuban tiles at the bodega entrance, elements encouraged in Ybor City.
Poised to occupy nearly half of the block between E 4th Avenue and N 17th Street, the new development will involve the demolition of the former Tamborello Bros. service station: a significant part of Ybor’s history that operated from 1946 to 2016. Although the building’s official name has yet to be finalized, renderings feature the word “Tamborello” displayed at the top, suggesting both a tribute to the site’s past and a possible name for the future residence.
The development has already been in a public hearing, with another taking place on July 31st at 10:30 AM. No construction permits, including foundation work or demolition, have been filed for the property at 1715 E 4th Ave.