Overview
- Tampa’s Community Redevelopment Agency set a special meeting for Aug. 27 to consider converting about $100 million tied to the Drew Park CRA into a new tax‑increment financing district for the Hillsborough College redevelopment.
- The City Council placed an Aug. 27 vote on the agenda but required the definitive deal documents to be released by 5 p.m. Friday so members can be briefed before voting.
- A tentative four‑vote majority on the council has emerged with Bill Carlson identified as a potential swing vote who wants Community Investment Tax dollars kept out of the city contribution and binding CRA follow‑through.
- Negotiators reworked Tampa’s $80 million contribution into $20 million annual payments over four years that the team would repay with interest and kept Hillsborough County as the largest public funder under the earlier $976 million cap.
- If the city and CRA act next week then Hillsborough County could vote later Aug. 27 or Aug. 28, after which separate land‑use approvals, CRA proceedings and a West Tampa impact study would be needed before construction can begin.