Tampa leaders break ground on affordable housing development

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — The groundbreaking ceremony for phase one of an affordable housing and workforce community in Tampa is at 2 p.m. on Tuesday.

We’ve seen the redevelopment underway at North Rome Avenue in the West River community, and now it’s time to start redeveloping further down the road in Old West Tampa.

This new affordable housing community will be called “The Gallery at Rome Yards.”

Hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars will be poured into the community transformation in the area just south of Columbus Drive between Rome Avenue and the Hillsborough River.

“This is a City of Tampa utility laydown yard and it’s just been very underutilized for many years,” said Project Developer Peter Van Warner.

He said their master plan includes transforming 18 acres into a community to house over 1,000 people and families within the next six to seven years.

“Especially given the affordable housing crisis, there’s such a great demand right now,” Van Warner said. “This is the perfect piece of property to address that issue and we’re happy to be a part of the solution.”

Project developers, the Tampa Housing Authority, and Mayor Jane Castor are all expected to join in on the groundbreaking for phase one of the project, which will bring 234 apartment units.

“Granite countertops, stainless steel appliances … when you walk into these units, people really are astonished,” said the developer.

Eighty percent of the units will be reserved for people at or below 80% of the area median income, and the rest will be workforce housing.

Similar to the Canopy at West River, there will be several perks to living at Rome Yards.

“We’re also going to provide a workforce training center, a small business success center, a wide variety of amenities, and really an area where people can work live and play.”

Phase one is expected to be complete by the end of 2026.

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