On February 18, 2020, representatives from the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council (TBRPC) presented a 3D model to City Council as part of a visioning exercise that they had been working on for the previous six months.  The presentation included a SWOT analysis as well as a "Rapid Redesign" model of the Gateway District which included a new site plan and incorporated green space and water features.

On July 13, 2020, TBRPC submitted a proposal which entailed two distinct but related studies for the Downtown Gateway area which will be divided into phases.  The Scope of Services for Phase I included the rapid redesign of the parking structure with tasks including an inventory and analysis as well as conceptual planning and design. Phase II included the rapid redesign of the Gateway District and contains a broader conceptual site plan, 3D renderings and a 3D SketchUp model for the entire planning area, as well as the City’s proposed redevelopment sites (i.e. the Main Street corridor, a new urban park, and several waterfront parcels). 

There were no fees associated with Phase I or Phase II as TBRPC was recently awarded funding under the CARES Act to provide technical assistance to its member agencies to help the region’s communities recover from the economic impacts of COVID-19. 

As the Parking Garage was already on a tight time schedule, the TBRPC withdrew the Phase I proposal.  On July 28, the CRA Board approved the revised proposal for the downtown gateway area. The revised proposal would be for a SWOT analysis and stakeholder meetings. TBRPC would make a presentation after the work had been done which includes an economic forecast. The work in the revised proposal would begin in August and finish in November.  The TBRPC later revised their Scope to better align with the Arnett/Muldrow US Hwy19 and Downtown Master Plans project and anticipated completion in January or February of 2021.  

On October 13, 2020, The TBRPC held a public workshop in the Palm Room of the Recreation and Aquatics Center to reveal the results of their Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis as well as gain public feedback on their early design ideas for the Rivergate/Palm District.

Tonight's presentation will show the results of months of analysis and work with a 3D rendering and animation of the potential redevelopment of the Palm District of Main Street and the block known as Rivergate.  This plan has been closely aligned with the US Hwy 19 and Downtown Master Plans.  The plan integrates resiliency features, clean energy and best practices for redevelopment.