First, a little history:
In 2010, USF President Dr. Judy Genshaft presented a vision in her Fall Address to the USF System for the creation of a “university city” that would draw a diverse population of designers, creators, and innovators to the USF area. “We want a place where people from around Tampa Bay want to come and the lights never turn off.”In 2011, USF would join Moffitt Cancer, Florida Hospital and Busch Gardens to anchor the creation of a 501c6 that would be called the Tampa Innovation Alliance – the precursor to Tampa !p.
The doors to this Alliance would open in January of 2015 and quickly the organization would grow from 4 Anchors to over 230 members & 6 Anchors. In 2016 The University Mall would formally join the Alliance as an Anchor followed by the James Haley VA Hospital in 2018.
Very quickly our organization would host a series of Innovation Gatherings where world-renowned keynote speakers, like the Brookings Institute’s Bruce Katz and Richard Florida, author of The Creative Class, could mix with attendees / civic leaders / politicians / rabble rousers … to help shape our own version of an innovation district within a stone’s throw of our Anchors.
Enough History Let’s Turn Some Dirt:
The vision illuminated in 2010 by Dr. Genshaft is now becoming reality.
In 2017 Tampa !p – short for Tampa Innovation Partnership – would announce $1.5 billion in planned new developments within our emerging Innovation District:
83 Degrees Media attended IG18 and wrote a brilliant piece which we encourage you to read.
Reported 83 Degrees Media:
“At the gathering, !p Executive Director Mark Sharpe recapped progress in the area, including a $1 billion transformation of University Mall, expansions at area hospitals and the upcoming addition of Florida’s tallest launch coaster, Tigris, coming to Busch Gardens in 2019.
The mall is being transitioned into a multi-use facility to include not only retail but entertainment, hospitality, education, medical, office and residential.
Florida Hospital, which will adopt the name AdventHealth January 2, has a $256 million expansion in the works which is targeted for completion in summer 2021. Its new, six-story Surgical and Patient Care Tower is expected to bring 117 new clinical jobs initially and 587 jobs by year 5, hospital officials say.
James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital broke ground July 31 on its new $148.6 million Bed Tower project, a four-story building to add 96 medical-surgical single-patient rooms and 40 intensive care unit beds.
He also noted USF opened up three new residence halls at The Village this fall. It provides housing for 1,100 students at Endeavor, Horizon and Pinnacle residence halls.”
Potential Unleashed – The Uptowner:
We also announced plans to launch a $2.4 million dollar Circulator in collaboration with the Florida Department of Transportation District 7, Hillsborough County, and HART. This circulator- called “the Uptowner” – is the beginning of a process to bring people together with the institutions that anchor the University Area without the constraint of having to drive a car.
Our mission is to liberate our community from the constraints posed by limited parking, congested roads, and lengthy wait times at the valet station with a next-generation circulator that provides quick, safe, service throughout the University Area.
Celebrating Our Community – the University Area Community Impact Awards: