Two Proposals Received For Land Across From Hunter's Green

By Matt Wiley

Just two months after the Hillsborough Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) sent out a Request for Proposals (RFP) to developers interested in building a long-planned cultural center and dog park on land across Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. from Hunter’s Green in New Tampa, two companies have submitted ideas for the development of the property. 

The county owns a more-than-80-acre parcel of land across from the BBD entrance to Hunter’s Green that was used for a large retention pond needed for the  widening of BBD. Now that the widening project is complete in that segment of BBD, the BOCC is looking at a private-public partnership (P3) to make use of the 13.4 developable acres on the site. A public meeting was held at the New Tampa Regional Library (10001 Cross Creek Blvd.) in May, and the RFP went out in August. Most recently, a second public meeting was held at the library on September 9 to present the proposals to the public.

And, while both proposals address the county’s “requirements,” each takes a different approach.

New Tampa Community Center & Theater

The proposal from Tampa-based Shagbark Properties took a focus on the cultural center aspect of the county’s proposal.

“We proposed a site plan that accommodated what the county asked for,” said Shagbark president Michael Leeds. “And, we worked with the New Tampa Players to try to accommodate their needs for a community theater, as well.”

The Shagbark design features a 5,000-sq.-ft. community center building that includes an expandable “black box” theater (large performance room with black walls), as well as a 3.3-acre dog park alongside a small lake with nature trails. The community center would be expandable to 30,000 sq. ft. The design features parking for up to 250 vehicles.

“We also carved out about 4.5 acres for commercial outparcels (along BBD),” Leeds explained. “The outparcels would provide room for three free-standing buildings, like a bank or restaurant.”

The Shagbark design also shows conceptual signage that looks similar to the Hunter’s Green entrance.

The Village At Hunter’s Lake

A joint plan from Harrison Bennett Properties, LLC, and Regency Centers also is being considered.

“Our proposal is for a mixed-use ‘village center,’” said David Freeman, president of Harrison Bennett Properties. Freeman explained that his company’s proposal includes the required cultural center and dog park, as well as a “town center” that also would include the possibility for some residential units in the form of condos, townhomes or boutique apartments on the site. “We’re excited about having an opportunity to create a sense of place for New Tampa,” he said. “In essence, a small downtown for New Tampa.” 

Freeman added that the development would include residential units in order to provide a “true live-work-play environment,” where residents can participate in social, cultural and community activities within a very short walk of their homes.   

“All of the successful town centers that we’ve looked at around the country have some sort of residential component, so we think this is a very important element of the project,” Freeman said.

Included in the retail portion of the town center would be a “green grocer,” similar to a Fresh Market, Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods, as well as other shops and restaurants. Freeman explained that the development would not allow a gas station or fast food establishment.

“We’re doing our best to make this development an asset for the New Tampa community,” Freeman said. “We don’t want to make just another strip center. We want to make something that feels like it was here from the beginning.” 

Many speakers at the meeting were concerned about traffic increases, especially with the possibility of additional residential units, while others voiced disdain about more commercial development along BBD.

Hunter’s Green resident Jeff Lucas said that he thought the development seemed like a beneficial idea at the meeting. “To only develop 13 acres of the 80 provides a great opportunity for the community,” Lucas said. “It’s inevitable that the property is going to be developed.”

New Tampa Players theatre troupe president Doug Wall said that the group isn’t concerned with the commercial development coming in, but that additional residential development could make traffic more complicated at the intersection.

Barbara Spalding, of Cross Creek, said that she’d love to see a walkable community in New Tampa, but also voiced concern over increased traffic in the area. 

For more information about the proposals, please visit HillsboroughCounty.org and search “Hunter’s Green Property Discussion.”