In 1997, the Tampa Police Department relocated its headquarters from the corner of Tampa and Henderson Streets to Franklin Street in downtown. Left behind was the antiquated headquarters building and a large empty parking lot. These properties, together with on-going general decline in the area, were contributing to the spread of urban blight.
To help spur quality redevelopment, the City of Tampa created the Old Tampa Police Department Site Community Redevelopment Area ("CRA") and adopted a long-term CRA plan in 1999. The plan envisions the complete master-planned transformation of the area from a place known for vacant land and poor aesthetics to a premiere waterfront community. The construction of the Stetson University Law School on the grounds of the former police headquarters site was one of the first major milestones of the area's renaissance.
Today, the City of Tampa continues to work closely with private, public and community-based partners to bring the vision to fruition.