Ybor City rebricked: more than 140,000 historic pavers laid on 7th Avenue

Dennis Fernandez, Historic Preservation Manager, told the commission the city is continuing a multi‑phase project to restore the original brick paving along 7th Avenue in the Ybor City Historic District. "There was a project, about 18 months ago that did the 1st sections ... between 15th And 17th Streets," Fernandez said, and staff recently completed the second phase between 17th and 19th streets.

Fernandez said the work is funded through community redevelopment area (CRA) funds and that "over a 140,000 bricks have been laid thus far" for the project. He described the effort as phased because suitable brick inventory is limited, and said intersections must be engineered separately to meet modern stormwater and ADA requirements.

The manager said the restored red brick improves the district's character and provides natural traffic calming while staff coordinates with multiple departments on stormwater, ADA compliance and pedestrian safety. Fernandez said prior phases finished on schedule and on budget.

Commission members responded positively during a brief discussion, with one commissioner describing the finished spans as making "such a difference" on a recent walking tour. There were no formal votes connected only to this project; commissioners later voted to receive and file the day's presentations.

The commission did not set new dates for the next construction phase at the meeting; staff said additional engineering at intersections and coordination with other city departments remain before the next segment of work proceeds.