Encore Tampa: A Lesson for Urban Jacksonville

[Keith-N-Jax]

I been there many times for Sleep conferences,that whole area near the river front where the aquariums is very nice. Very nice hotels and the street car service. I just dont understand why we cant get it together.

[DemocraticNole]

Has City of Tampa used eminent domain at all for Encore?

I am not sure if they have used it for Encore, but historically the city shies away from using eminent domain. They attempt to attract private investors to front the bill. The St. Pete Times Forum on the river is a prime example of that philosophy.

no...because the site was a former public houing complex (torn down in 2007).

as to the SP Times Forum, which private investors built the arena?

I didn't say the arena was all a private financing project. The Forum had a public/private partnership to build the arena: http://hockey.ballparks.com/NHL/TampaBayLightning/index.htm. I said that historically the city has shied away from using eminent domain for these kinds of projects.

[fieldafm]

Btw, Channelside is anchored by Splitsville Luxury Lanes & Dinner Lounge and Channelside Cinemas & IMAX.  Either type of entertainment anchor would be a huge boost for a struggling retail center like the Landing.

Splitsville did look at the Jacksonville market two years ago.

[Ocklawaha]

...I would like to see a railfan try doing something similar in Jax!

Been done many times but the damn railfans keep getting mugged before they make it into the City core.

OCKLAWAHA

[Captain Zissou]

I been there many times for Sleep conferences,that whole area near the river front where the aquariums is very nice. Very nice hotels and the street car service. I just dont understand why we cant get it together.

What's a Sleep conference?  I think I could use a nap conference.

[Keith-N-Jax]

Sleep Medicine, people dealing with sleep disorders.Like sleep apnea its been held at the Tampa marriot the last three yrs will be in St. Pete this yr

[Captain Zissou]

^Ok.  So it was exactly what it sounded like.  Wasn't sure if sleep was an acronym...