CRA forwards East Tampa redevelopment plan update to planning commission, citing community engagement

The CRA board voted to advance the updated East Tampa Community Redevelopment Plan (CRP) to the planning commission and ultimately to City Council for adoption. The plan, prepared with University of South Florida faculty and students, reviews accomplishments since 2004, analyzes current conditions, and proposes policy language and strategic actions aimed at revitalizing neighborhoods, expanding affordable housing, modernizing infrastructure and supporting local economic opportunities.

Professor Trent Green and members of the USF project team summarized the process and findings, noting a robust community engagement program that included workshops, surveys, stakeholder interviews and outreach. The team said the CRP was structured around community priorities identified during engagement: safety and crime reduction, economic development, public spaces and affordable housing. The CRP update is written to comply with Florida Statute 163 and sets an actionable plan that presenters said should allow implementation within the remaining CRA lifespan (plan sunsets in 2034).

Board member Alan Clendenin praised the work as capturing community common sense and said he planned to move the report forward. "When it's that time, I would like to move the report," Clendenin said. Board members asked procedural clarifications about next steps; staff explained the plan will go to the planning commission and then return to the CRA board and City Council for final action.

Next steps: staff will file the CRP for planning commission review; the board will consider the planning commission’s recommendation when the plan returns for CRA and City Council action.