The City of Tampa has kicked off a crucial redevelopment study focusing on three neighborhoods that have been left behind by decades of growth elsewhere in the city. This community revitalization effort represents a fresh approach to development—one that prioritizes residents’ needs over market pressures alone.
A New Approach to Urban Development
Abbye Feeley with the City of Tampa is spearheading this initiative with a clear mission: to give communities more control over their own transformation. Instead of letting market forces dictate how neighborhoods change, the city wants to update its planning standards and ensure sustainable development that actually serves residents.
“A lot of times redevelopment is being driven by the market rather than by our design standards and by bringing the code forward from the late 1980s till now, we want to update that,” Feeley explained.
Three Neighborhoods, Three Opportunities
The study zeroes in on strategic locations where empty lots and abandoned storefronts tell the story of economic disinvestment. Researchers are examining areas at Cypress Street and MacDill Avenue, 15th Avenue and Lake Drive near Ragan Park, and Florida Avenue and Bird Street in Sulphur Springs—a neighborhood that’s caught the attention of frustrated city council members.
City Councilman Guido Maniscalo didn’t mince words about the situation: “I mean, I say East Tampa is the time that land forgot, but I would say Sulphur Springs is right there with it.”
The Money Problem Nobody Wants to Talk About
When it comes to neighborhood transformation, City Councilman Luis Viera cuts straight to the heart of the matter. While studies and plans are important, financial investment remains the biggest hurdle to meaningful economic revitalization in these communities.
“What Sulphur Springs needs in the end in my opinion is money,” Viera said bluntly.
Living in a Food Desert
Walk through Sulphur Springs today, and you’ll understand why residents call it a food desert. The community infrastructure consists mainly of corner stores that stock chips and soda but lack fresh produce, meat, or other staples families need for healthy living.
“You have the little corner stores that don’t necessarily offer fresh food and vegetables, fresh meat and those things,” said Jacqueline Coffie-Leeks, who knows the area intimately.
A Family’s Four-Generation Story
Coffie-Leeks brings a historical perspective that planners often miss. As a fourth-generation resident, she’s witnessed how racial segregation shaped her neighborhood’s development. Her family’s story reflects the broader experience of African American families who were confined to just five streets in what’s now known as Spring Hill.
“You have the bigger Sulphur Springs, which is 33604, but then you have Spring Hill, which is where the African Americans historically where my parents were born, where they were only allowed to live. They had five streets,” Coffie-Leeks said.
Hope Despite the Challenges
Despite the obstacles, community leaders like Coffie-Leeks refuse to give up on their neighborhood. They’re actively working to transform Sulphur Springs into a business hub that creates real opportunities for residents, especially young people who deserve better than what previous generations had access to.
“We’re under-resourced but we’re richly blessed,” Coffie-Leeks reflected.
What the Community Really Needs
Residents have clear ideas about what successful equitable development looks like. It’s not just about bringing in any businesses—it’s about attracting the right kind of stores and services that meet community needs while creating youth opportunities for the next generation.
“We need to see stores, not just liquor stores, but stores that offer what the community needs. We need to see things that will allow our youth to have opportunities,” Coffie-Leeks emphasized.
Fighting for a Seat at the Table
The participatory planning process gives residents hope that this time will be different. Community members like Coffie-Leeks are determined to ensure authentic community input shapes whatever comes next, even if they have to fight for their place in the conversation.
“We’ll have a seat at the table. We’ll make our seat even if I have to make my own chair,” she declared.
Getting Involved
The City of Tampa will host its second Sulphur Springs Neighborhood Action Plan Workshop on August 19th at Sulphur Springs K-8 Community School from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Residents interested in community engagement can also connect with local organizers through the Sulphur Springs Neighborhood Organization and Preservation at https://ssnop.org.
Stay updated on Tampa’s development initiatives by visiting the City of Tampa’s official website or following @CityofTampa on Twitter and City of Tampa on Facebook.
The success of Tampa’s redevelopment study won’t be measured in glossy renderings or planning documents—it’ll be measured in whether families like the Coffie-Leeks finally get the grocery stores, job opportunities, and investment their neighborhoods have been waiting decades to see. The question remains: will this be the initiative that finally delivers, or just another promise that sounds good on paper?
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