Construction Advances at Three Major Development Sites in Downtown Tampa
Downtown Tampa is experiencing one of the most significant development waves in its modern history. The skyline is currently dotted with a high concentration of cranes for high-rise projects, an intensity of construction not seen since the late-2000s cycle. Among the most prominent projects reshaping the urban core are One Tampa, Pendry Residences Tampa, and a future tower planned by Stock Development. Together, the announced developments are expected to add roughly 425 condominium units and 220 hotel rooms to downtown, not including details from Stock Development’s still-unreleased project. These three towers occupy closely aligned sites along North Ashley Drive near the Hillsborough River. Pendry Residences Tampa is rising at 111 South Ashley Drive, while One Tampa is under construction at 507 North Ashley Drive. Just north of both sites, Stock Development controls 601 North Ashley Drive, where demolition is currently underway following the company’s $40 million acquisition of the property. The site was previously owned by TLR Group, which had proposed a roughly 540 FT tower that went through several design iterations before ultimately being shelved. As Tampa’s skyline continues to evolve, new photos highlight the rapid progress of several major projects now reshaping the downtown core. One Tampa According to photos taken by Floridian Development, One Tampa has reached its 24th floor, with the structure rising at a pace of roughly one new floor per week. The pace has accelerated since the project’s foundation and the large parking podium, spanning approximately 10 floors, were completed. Window installation is now underway on the lower residential floors, while exterior treatments for the podium will be installed at a later stage of construction. One Tampa’s podium will feature a distinctive mesh screening incorporating artistic patterns designed to provide both visual interest and ventilation for the parking levels. The podium will also incorporate a reconstructed historic facade as part of an agreement with the City of Tampa. The original structure at 520 North Tampa Street was built in the 1920s and later demolished to make way for the tower. As part of the development agreement, Kolter Urban committed to reconstructing an interpretive version of the building’s facade along N Tampa St and E Twiggs St. Work on that reconstruction is currently underway. The portion of the podium where the historic facade will appear is currently covered with a concrete backing, which will later be clad with brick detailing and window elements designed to replicate the appearance of the original building. One Tampa is set to include 225 residential units, along with 464 parking spaces and 5,000 SF of ground-floor retail. The tower will ultimately rise 44 stories, reaching a height of about 494 FT. The project is being developed by Kolter Urban, Adache Group Architects is serving as the architect, and Moss Construction is the general contractor. Pendry Residences Tampa Pendry Residences Tampa has recently begun vertical construction on its first residential floors following completion of the tower’s 11-story podium and two amenity levels on floors 12 and 13. Crews are now working on the 14th and 15th floors, marking the start of the residential portion of the building. Similar to One Tampa, construction has accelerated after an extensive foundation phase, which included some of the deepest piles installed in Florida, and the completion of a podium spanning the full length of the site. With that work finished, the tower is now rising at a pace of roughly one floor per week. Pendry Residences Tampa is taking shape as a prominent tower along the Hillsborough River, with a footprint that will make it the widest skyscraper in the city. The waterfront hotel portion of the podium, anchored by the Pendry brand and planned to include 220 hotel rooms, is currently being enclosed in glass. Meanwhile, the garage section of the podium is slated to be finished with vertical metal louvers. This design reflects a modification by the developer: earlier plans incorporated greenery between the louvers, but the revised design removes that element in favor of a simpler black-and-white finish. Pendry Residences Tampa will introduce 200 luxury condos, 220 hotel rooms, and approximately 5,000 SF of retail space to the heart of Tampa. The 38-story, 444-FT-tall development will also feature a podium with 656 parking spaces. Arquitectonica is serving as the project’s architect, while Two Roads Development is the developer and Coastal Construction Group is acting as the site’s general contractor. 601 North Ashley While full development plans have not yet been announced for 601 North Ashley Drive, Stock Development is continuing demolition work on the existing structure occupying the site. The property was previously home to the 12-story GTE Tower. The office building has origins dating back to the 1920s but was later heavily modified, including the addition of a stucco exterior that concealed much of the original brick facade. The building most recently housed a branch of GTE Financial, which has since vacated the premises. Demolition crews are now stripping away the building’s modern exterior, leaving behind a gray structural shell where sections of the original brick occasionally emerge beneath the removed cladding. Windows are also being removed throughout the structure. Much of the facade along the west, south, and north sides has already been cleared, while the eastern elevation remains partially covered by scaffolding as work continues. According to permitting records, demolition is being carried out by D.H. Griffin Wrecking Company and includes the removal of the existing structure, basement, and foundation. Reporting from roughly two months ago indicated that Stock Development may consider utilizing development plans previously submitted by the TLR Group under its former ownership of the site. Those earlier plans called for a 540 FT tower containing approximately 600 residential units, along with 68,000 SF of office space and 12,000 SF of retail. The proposal also included a large parking podium featuring circular cutouts and capacity for up to 985 vehicles.
Massive 4,032-Unit HueHub Workforce Housing Development Moves Toward Construction
Plans are advancing for what could become the largest housing development proposed under Florida’s Live Local Act. The project, known as HueHub, is moving forward as demolition begins on the aging buildings currently occupying the site. Clearing the existing structures marks a key step toward making way for the planned $880 million mixed-use development, which aims to significantly expand the area’s housing supply with an entirely workforce-focused residential community. The development is being led by Pablo Castro through his firm HollandPark EcoreResidences LLC. Once completed, the project is expected to include 4,032 residential units spread across seven 35-story towers, along with retail space, medical offices, and extensive residential amenities. Designed by Arquitectonica, HueHub will encompass roughly 2 million SF of residential space, with a groundbreaking targeted later this year. View this post on Instagram A post shared by The HueHub Living Spaces (@thehuehubliving) The project site, located at 8400 NW 25th Avenue, was acquired by Castro in 2023 for $29.3 million. The roughly 12-acre property currently contains 141 apartments built between 1950 and 1960. According to the development team, demolition is expected to take two to three months, after which the site will be prepared for vertical construction. If financing and permitting timelines hold, the project could begin construction later this year, marking a major step forward for one of the most ambitious housing initiatives currently planned in Miami-Dade. Proposed in early 2024, the HueHub marked a shift in projects under Florida’s Live Local Act, demonstrating the law’s potential for large-scale developments rather than the smaller projects initially associated with it. This development is an early adopter of the act, which has been amended several times since its passage in 2023. Under the Live Local, municipalities must administratively approve (no public hearing required) qualifying multifamily or mixed-use residential developments on land zoned for commercial, industrial, or mixed-use purposes. If at least 40% of the units are designated as workforce housing affordable to households earning up to 120% of the area median income (AMI) for a minimum of 30 years, developers are granted significant regulatory preemptions. These include the ability to build at the highest residential density allowed anywhere in the jurisdiction and at the maximum building height permitted within one mile of the site, along with other incentives such as tax exemptions and certain parking reductions. The Plans According to final plans submitted to the county earlier this year, the development’s 4,032 residential units will consist of studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom layouts. Studio apartments will begin at approximately $1,302 per month and measure around 300 SF. One-bedroom units, averaging about 420 SF, are expected to start at roughly $1,598 per month, while two-bedroom residences of about 640 SF will start near $1,903 per month. These rent limits put the entire development well within workforce housing income limits. Housing will primarily be geared toward essential workers, with 3,000 units reserved for police officers, firefighters, county employees, hospitality workers, teachers, healthcare professionals, and other critical members of the workforce. Future residents will have access to a wide range of amenities designed to support both work and recreation. Planned features include podcasting studios, co-working spaces, coffee bars, outdoor lounges, social gathering areas, a juice bar, pool and sundeck, pickleball court, dog park, fitness center, art gallery, and additional shared spaces throughout the development. The project will feature 36,220 SF of ground-floor retail, including storefronts along NW 27th Ave and on-site amenities such as a juice bar and coffee bar. Two floors of medical office space, each spanning 5,740 SF, will bring the total retail and office space to roughly 47,700 SF. Medical space may be expanded if there’s increased demand. In addition to commercial uses, the project will include a police station and two community centers. The design also emphasizes pedestrian-friendly streetscapes, with widened sidewalks and added greenery surrounding the entire site. To support these uses, the project will include 5,037 parking spaces and 322 bicycle spaces. Design and Cost-Cutting Measures The seven towers will each rise 320 FT, with an additional elevator overrun of roughly 30 FT, bringing the total height of each tower to around 350 FT: well above any existing structures in the surrounding area. The Arquitectonica-led design incorporates metal balconies, floor-to-ceiling windows, and colorful murals adorning each building, drawing inspiration from graffiti art. The towers will not feature podium bases; instead, parking will be accommodated within on-site garages, a significant cost-cutting measure. The buildings will also utilize tunnel-form construction, a cost-efficient method that employs reusable steel molds to rapidly cast concrete walls and slabs. This approach allows for faster construction timelines but often results in repetitive floorplates, contributing to the towers’ monotonous design. Each unit will also include prefabricated modular kitchens and bathrooms to further streamline construction. Hallways between units will be naturally ventilated rather than air-conditioned, an approach commonly used in parts of Europe that the development plans to adopt. Many of these decisions prioritize cost efficiency over architectural variation. Construction and Future Plans Once demolition on the property concludes, a formal groundbreaking is expected to follow within the coming months. Construction of the initial seven towers is planned to begin simultaneously rather than in phases, as staging the buildings piece-by-piece would slow overall delivery and potentially increase construction costs. However, the seven towers will not mark the full extent of HueHub. Plans also call for four additional high-rise buildings in a later phase. Three are expected to rise to 35 floors, matching the height of the initial towers, while a fourth will rise to a shorter height. The expansion phase will also include a school designed to accommodate up to 1,000 students, centered around a courtyard playground. In addition, a shelter is planned for the southern portion of the site.