Tampa Takes On Citywide Revitalization
<B>Tampa Takes On Citywide Revitalization</B>
By Robert Selwitz
Miami isn't the only Florida city undergoing major changes: Tampa also is expanding its lodging and transportation options to meet its ever-growing business travel demands.
Marriott this year will begin construction on a $500,000, 34-slip marina addition to the 717-room, $110 million Tampa Marriott Waterside, which opened last April. The downtown hotel is on the waterfront of the Garrison Channel, adjacent to the Tampa Convention Center, and the slip will allow guests to arrive at the hotel by boat and take chartered fishing, canoe and kayak trips and water taxis from its back door.
Other work in progress includes $1.6 million in public area renovations to the 500-room Doubletree Tampa Airport and the debut of an 86-room Hampton Inn near the Citrus Park Town Center. And another Residence Inn is expected to debut toward the end of 2001. The 160-suite facility will be within the Westshore business district's Cornerstone Plaza.
Along with the revitalization of Ybor City, which is making the city's oldest sector an increasingly popular entertainment option, Tampa also is relaunching a "back to the future" transportation option--an electric streetcar line, reminiscent of the system that used to crisscross the city, that will travel 25 miles per hour along a 2.3 mile track. When it debuts later this year, it will connect Ybor City with the modern downtown. En route there will be stops at the Channel District, Tampa Convention Center, the 20,000-seat Ice Palace Arena and Garrison Seaport Center. But that's hardly the final goal of the $20 million public transit revitalization project. The City promises the line, which will feature air conditioning, cherry and oak seats and brass railings, also eventually will operate a second loop that will extend service throughout Tampa's downtown core.
Other transportation upgrades are happening at Tampa International Airport, which recently commenced a five-year, $400 million expansion. Efforts will include reconstruction of Airside E, and renovation and expansion of Airsides C and D. Already completed was the demolition of Airside B to make room for a 2,100-spot remote economy parking lot.