One of Downtown Tampa’s most distinctive residential developments is on the way: The Gaspar. Led by developer Berts Real Estate in partnership with consultant Flamingo Homes, the 23-story tower is planned for one of the city’s most size-constrained lots. Located at 1307 N. Jefferson Street, the 0.33-acre site will feature 188 residential units, along with commercial space, office space, and one of the most innovative parking systems on Florida’s West Coast. The project, scheduled for administrative review by Tampa’s Design District Review, may signal the start of a broader trend toward compact developments as developers seek new land opportunities in the city, a shift already visible in South Florida.
According to plans released yesterday, the 188-unit building will offer a mix of studio, one-, two-, three-, and four-bedroom residences. Studios and one-bedrooms will make up the majority of units, followed by two-bedrooms. Studio layouts will range from approximately 400 to 600 SF, while the largest residence will be a 4,885 SF penthouse. Despite the limited footprint of the site, residents will have access to a full suite of amenities, including a pool, gym, lounge, and amenity deck.
One of the most notable features of the development is its podium, which will include the residential lobby, 2,424 SF of commercial space, 5,327 SF of office space, and a structured mechanical parking system. The system will provide 88 automated parking stall spaces, three accessible spaces, and 72 bicycle parking spaces, equivalent to 18 additional parking spots under Tampa code, bringing the total parking supply to 109. By utilizing automation, the podium design is more efficient and compact, while also reducing risks typically associated with conventional garages, such as ‘tight ramps, dark stairwells, and vehicle theft or damage’
Designed by MGBA Architecture, the tower will rise 23 floors to a height of 281 FT, presenting a tall, slender structure in gray and white. Its facade incorporates fiber cement panels, frosted glass, perforated screening, and other modern design elements. According to the architect, ‘The tower’s massing is artfully broken into distinct volumes unified by a sculptural black steel feature that performs multiple roles: it offers solar shading, structural expression, and vertical coherence. This multipurpose architectural gesture ties together disparate programmatic elements and introduces a kinetic, tactile identity to the building.’
Due to the lot’s constraints, the development team is requesting several variances. One relates to parking: while zoning regulations require 114 spaces, the project is proposing the equivalent of 109. Because the City of Tampa’s code encourages reduced parking ratios and development near transit, the team is confident this variance aligns with the city’s goals. Among other requested variances is a concern for street wall transparency. Although traditional regulations require parking to be concealed, the design instead showcases the mechanical parking behind glass curtain walls at the podium level, creating an intentional visual for pedestrians.
According to Anchor Real Estate, the project’s head of sales, prices start at $399,000. While the current sales status is unclear, reservations were reported to be strong when they opened on September 12th of last year.