Tampa Approves $35 Million for Ybor Harbor Infrastructure Upgrades Ahead of Groundbreaking
Key financing has now been secured for infrastructure upgrades tied to Ybor Harbor, a massive mixed-use development planned to replace an aging shipyard in Tampa’s Channelside district. On May 14, the Tampa City Council unanimously approved $35 million in funding for the improvements, marking another major milestone for the long-anticipated waterfront project led by local developer Darryl Shaw. The project represents Shaw’s next large-scale redevelopment effort in the urban core. Just north of the site, Shaw is already leading construction on Gasworx, a similarly ambitious mixed-use development transforming former industrial land into a dense, walkable district. The approved funding will cover only a portion of the infrastructure work ultimately required at Ybor Harbor. Total infrastructure costs are currently expected to exceed $200 million. Shaw’s team initially requested $50 million from the CRA, though staff later recommended reducing that figure to $35 million, which ultimately became the amount approved by City Council. Funding will be distributed incrementally, with $7 million allocated annually between 2029 and 2033. The financing will come through the CRA, which is intended to address blight and support redevelopment within the surrounding district. Planned improvements include upgrades to sewer and water infrastructure, sidewalks, seawalls, and other public facilities needed to support the project’s large-scale buildout. According to Tampa Monitor, the infrastructure package also includes approximately 1,100 linear feet of new public waterfront access and roughly 2,500 feet of overall outdoor public space integrated throughout the site plan. Momentum around the project accelerated last summer after plans were unveiled for a new 15,000-seat soccer stadium anchored by Tampa Bay Sun FC, the metro’s professional women’s soccer team. In addition to hosting matches, the stadium is expected to function as an entertainment venue capable of accommodating concerts, festivals, sporting events, and other large gatherings. At full buildout, Ybor Harbor is planned to include approximately 800 hotel rooms, 150,000 square feet of street-level retail space, 500,000 square feet of office space, and 4,750 residential units. Plans also call for 10% of rental units to carry rent restrictions. According to Avi Friedman Shaw, vice president of development at Darryl Shaw’s firm, the current annual tax revenue generated by the 32-acre site totals roughly $400,000 today, though projections estimate that figure could eventually exceed $47 million annually once the development is fully built out. While finalized plans for individual blocks have not yet been submitted to the city, the broader master development is continuing to advance toward construction. Groundbreaking is currently targeted for next year.
300 Malaga Proposed in Coral Gables, Bringing 25 Luxury Residences
A new luxury multifamily development is headed to the Coral Gables Development Review Committee, as developers seek approvals for a four-story residential building known as 300 Malaga. Recently submitted by Roger Development Group and designed by Nichols Architects, the project is scheduled to appear before the committee on May 29, 2026. Planned for 300, 310, and 318 Malaga Avenue in Coral Gables, the development would replace three existing single-family homes assembled by the developer in late 2025 for roughly $2.4 million. Zoning documents tied to the proposal reveal that the entire block recently underwent a series of land-use and zoning modifications, with the Future Land Use designation updated to allow a range of residential zones, including Single-Family High Density, Multifamily Duplex Density, and Residential Multifamily Medium Density. The changes were made through a petition process backed by a majority of residents living on the block. Alongside the land-use amendments, the area also received updated height regulations and other zoning revisions intended to accommodate future redevelopment. The changes represent yet another single-family block in the southern portion of Coral Gables for potential redevelopment, as pressure for new housing continues pushing outward from the city’s increasingly constrained core. With large redevelopment sites becoming more difficult to find, smaller residential assemblages like this are beginning to emerge more frequently as viable multifamily investments. According to plans submitted to the city, 300 Malaga will contain 25 residential units consisting of one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and three-bedroom layouts. Units are expected to be notably large, with three-bedroom residences making up the majority of the project. Amenities will be on the rooftop level, where plans call for a pool, cabanas, bathrooms, barbecue areas, fitness space, and additional leisure-oriented amenities overlooking the surrounding neighborhood. Parking will be housed below grade, with 55 spaces planned within a basement garage. At street level, the project incorporates widened sidewalks, added landscaping, and a small residential lobby. According to submitted elevations, the building will rise 56 feet and contain four occupiable floors, plus a rooftop amenity level that gives the structure the appearance of a fifth story. Architecturally, the project leans heavily into the traditional design language favored by Coral Gables, featuring a highly articulated facade composed of precast stone finishes, smooth stucco, and cornice detailing. Describing the inspiration behind the project, Nichols Architects stated that 300 Malaga “pays tribute to the assemblage of rich Architectural styles in Coral Gables. The inspiration for our residential project is French style architecture and several historic French-themed villages around the city.” Approval of the project is widely expected given both its scale and architectural approach. While updated zoning on the block now permits buildings up to five stories, the proposal remains below the maximum allowable height.