MOSI Redevelopment Advances: $2B Mixed-Use Vision Nears Reality

Hillsborough County commissioners approved updated plans for the Museum of Science and Innovation site during a briefing last week. The $2 billion project spans 67 acres of county-owned land. It will bring apartments, hotels, stores, offices, a sports complex, and entertainment spots.

Board chair Ken Hagan called the new concept a huge step up from what came before. "I was extremely critical of the previous conceptual site plans because, in my opinion, they were not transformative and actually quite elementary," said Hagan, according to the Tampa Beacon. "This is extremely impressive."

The property sits across Fowler Avenue from the University of South Florida. Assistant County Administrator Ron Barton shared progress updates and warned that rezoning might drag on for 18 months. The mixed-use nature complicates things.

The Tampa Planning Commission approved the plan amendment and land-use application earlier this month. Environmental studies must wrap up first. So must a traffic analysis. Then construction can start.

The sports complex and hotel will kick off phase one, Hagan explained. MOSI stays put. An entertainment corridor will stretch from the existing planetarium to a film studio and black box theater.

Planners want a privately built ice rink in one corner of the site. If that falls through, more apartments and stores would take its place, said commissioner Chris Boles.

The master developer team includes Coulter and Alliant Partners working as AKP Renaissance. The Patel Group pulled out after getting involved in other USF projects to dodge conflicts of interest.

Barton said more investment partners will come aboard once rezoning and approvals advance. "As we begin to dismiss those, other folks are going to get off the sideline and be courted and be added," he said.

Several commissioners demanded faster action. Boles said he wants the same speed shown during Tampa Bay Rays stadium talks. Hagan made it clear the county controls the pace. "I want to stress that we're driving this bus," he said.

A public hearing with the City of Tampa happens in April. Barton plans to file for rezoning in May or June, with another public hearing in June. He expects the project to be "out the chute" by November.