CRA Agenda for 7/23/2026-- beware of SAUCINESS because there is some ridiculousness in the AGENDA!

July 18, 2026

  1. Update on Downtown CRA from MaryBeth Williams the current CAC Chair
  2. CRA monthly directors report
  3. DOMO Cass Square Housing funding agreement with Downtown CRA.  They want $5.4 million from the downtown CRA.  They are building 360 units.  They originally said they would do 40 units, 34 are studio the remaining 2 bedroom  $130k per unit from the CRA.  Only 2 at 80%  SMH…the CRA staff negotiated 16 STUDIO at 80%AMI, and 14 more at 120-140 with 4-2bedroom.   That is $180k per unit.  Still mostly studios.  I got a good CHUCKLE out of the Developer Cash Flow chart.  They will lose $49million?  Ba ha ha ha  Their AMI chart is also incorrect.  This is absolutely an embarrassing presentation.  Wrong numbers, telling the CRA board they are losing 10xs what they are receiving from them in support and still only providing 80% AMI and above.  SMH…  How about this idea for the developer.  Provide the discounted housing yourself for your EMPLOYEES that will be cleaning the building, cooking and serving in your restaurants, doing the landscaping.  Write off it off instead of presenting this JOKE to the CRA board.  The developer is proposing they would LOSE $49MILLION over of the course of the commitment to “affordable housing”  Give me a break.
  4. Upgrades to Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park.  I could be wrong, but for these types of projects aren’t CRAs expected to build upon City funding? How much is the COT funding towards this $5.5 million project.  What slum and blight are they addressing with this project?  I am looking at the definitions of both for reference--- A slum is a heavily populated urban area characterized by substandard housing, poverty, and severe deprivation of basic necessities.   Blight-- In city planning, urban blight describes the physical, economic, and social deterioration of an area. It includes characteristics like: Systemic property vacancy; Dilapidated, unsafe, or abandoned buildings; Neglected infrastructure leading to environmental or safety hazards.  WHY do other areas of the city suffer but they get an upgraded event venue with the tax dollars that should be in the general fund?
  5. Heritage Heights request for $5million from the East Tampa CRA.  This is for 79 units at $64k each for 40-60% AMI.  This is why I found item #3 LAUGHABLE.  If that money was in the general fund, we could find more projects that are reasonably priced to build MORE housing for the folks who need it the most.  NOT MARKET RATE units.  If my friends in East Tampa like it, I love it.  If they don’t, then what would make them happier about the project?
  6. West Tampa CRA purchasing 1947 W. Main St.  They purchased the property across the street years ago and haven’t gotten anything done with it.  How long will it take to get started on this property.  $700k for a 100 x 98 lot.
  7. Tampa Union Station update- interesting comments about paint removal and such, is there lead based paint involved in the project, I didn’t see any mention of it the updates?
  8. Updated language for the Community Benefits Agreement for the CRA board.  (Continued to September 10th)
  9. Home construction cost breakdown presentation.  Continued from June 11th but there is nothing in ON BASE.  I would think that we’d have multiple experts in the COT and outside contractors who work with the COT who could spout these numbers off the top of their heads?  At least ones that we give land to build these units on every couple of weeks on the TCC agendas?
  10. One piece of ADA playground equipment for Curtis Hixson Park…only one?  Is it really $140k for one swing?  The paperwork doesn’t say the actual cost.  I think the COT could put another one in there as well.  Again, aren’t CRA expectations that they build on what the COT has done or is doing?
  11. East Tampa Master Corridor Redevelopment Project--- every part of the COT should have a master plan.
  12. FY26 only Central Park and Ybor II aren’t upside down.  The goal for the FY27 budget is to break even.  What happened to that last year?
  13. Amendment to the agreement for legal services for the CRA from $200 to $250k.