Along with the Amelie Arena and the proposed University of South Florida medical school/heart institute, Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik wants the headquarters for a Fortune 500 company to be a centerpiece of his $1 billion dollar redevelopment of downtown Tampa.
Jamal Thalji of the Tampa Bay Times reports that even though he doesn't have a tenant yet, Vinik's already designing a building for them.
That building is to rise at the corner of Channelside Drive and N Morgan Street, across from the arena. It's expected to be 400,000 to 500,000 square feet and taller than the 12-story USF building, which would be built on a much wider base. The new corporate headquarters would also have its own parking garage. Vinik is planning to build 3 million square feet of living, work and entertaining space. About 1.1 million of that would be office space. Although much of it will be built on spec, the corporate headquarters won't take shape until that tenant is signed.
A representative of Vinik's real estate entity, Strategic Property Partners, shared that plan at a conference in Tampa Thursday. Managing Director of Development Bob Abberger also said renovation should start on another Vinik property, the Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel and Marina, by the end of the summer.
University of South Florida officials are scheduled to present their plans for a downtown location for the Morsani College of Medicine and the USF Health Heart Institute to the Florida Board of Governors Thursday, February 19th. USF is seeking $57 million in state funding over the next three fiscal years.
