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Will Tampa's Skyline Look Like Manhattan?

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By JANIS D. FROELICH, The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 5, 2007

DOWNTOWN - When people think of downtown, they picture a small radius of high-rises. But this will change in the next 20 years, predicts Terry Cullen, who has been working on an update of the city's growth plan for four years.

Cullen, leader of the Cities Planning Team at the Hillsborough Planning Commission, envisions an expanded downtown, much like Manhattan, he told the Tampa Downtown Partnership's breakfast meeting last week at Maestro's at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center.

The growth plan will be presented in public meetings in the spring before heading to the city council for approval. After Cullen's presentation, Councilwoman Linda Saul-Sena told the partnership audience of about 70, 'You are big-picture folks. We need to think about the amenities that will make us competitive.'

Cullen said such amenities are scattered among neighborhoods, which will have to work together to accommodate the long-term growth projections.

Amy Maguire, project manager for Reality Check Tampa Bay, who opened the breakfast program, said the population of the seven-county Tampa Bay region will double in 50 years. That will mean 3 million more people and 2 million more jobs.

Cullen views major amenities such as the University of South Florida as vital to the area's economy. Other key pluses are MacDill Air Force Base and the Port of Tampa. He also lists cultural heritage and climate.

He said the plan's goal is to make the subject of growth exciting and inspiring.

Newcomers will be the key, Cullen said, because jobs will need to be filled as baby boomers retire. Tampa has more than 400,000 workers and will add 132,000 within 20 years.

Reality Check Tampa Bay will hold a countywide workshop on growth from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Oct. 24 at Crowne Plaza Sabal Park, 10221 Princess Palm Ave. For information, go to www.myonebay.com or call Katie Nohe at (813) 872-2814.

Reporter Janis D. Froelich can be reached at (813) 835-2104 or jfroelich@tampatrib.com.

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