New Entertainment District to Break Ground on Water Street in 2027
Strategic Property Partners has unveiled plans for a new entertainment district in downtown Tampa that will include a 3,500-seat live music and performance venue, a 250-room hotel, about 100,000 square feet of dining, retail and entertainment space, and 1,000 parking spaces. The developer plans to partner with Vinik Sports Group to manage the proposed district, which will be built on a vacant site along Channelside Drive, across from Benchmark International Arena, between Morgan and Jefferson streets.
Tampa Bay School Districts Hit Record Graduation Rates
High school graduation rates reached record highs across local school districts during the 2024–25 school year. Hillsborough County Public Schools, the nation’s seventh-largest district, posted a graduation rate of 90.9%. Pinellas County Schools followed at 93.4%, while Pasco County Schools led the region at 96.9%, marking the highest rate each district has recorded. Tampa Bay Technical High School topped Hillsborough County’s 69 high schools with a 99.1% graduation rate.
Another Tampa Local Earns Grammy Nomination
Singer-songwriter Destin Conrad, a 25-year-old R&B musician who already has two albums to his name, has been nominated for a 2026 Grammy Award for best progressive R&B album for his debut album, “Love on Digital.”
Plans Advance for 21-Story Luxury Apartment Tower in St. Petersburg
A $134 million, 21-story luxury apartment tower called The Pelican has been approved for downtown St. Petersburg. The 370-unit project will replace seven buildings in the Downtown St. Petersburg National Register Historic District on a 1.3-acre site along Fifth Avenue North. The development will include 3,819 square feet of ground-floor commercial space and a 485-space parking garage, with a double-height lobby and residential and retail uses lining the lower levels.
05. Three Planned Developments Near Armature Works
Three new development plans near Armature Works in downtown Tampa have been filed. A seven-story mixed-use building at Palm Avenue and North Boulevard would feature 363 apartments, 75,000+ square feet of commercial space, and 647 parking spots. A 25-story residential tower with 265 apartments and 8,000+ square feet of retail is planned west of the Sprouts parking garage, while a six-story, 155-room hotel is proposed east of Sprouts along Tampa Street near the YMCA Central City Development.
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