The SoHo Business Alliance is taking the City of Tampa to court in an effort to obtain records tied to the South Howard Flood Relief Project. The alliance alleges the city has violated Florida’s Public Records Act by delaying production of records and charging excessive fees for documents connected to the project.
The Project and Its Controversy
The South Howard Flood Relief Project is a major stormwater initiative designed to address chronic flooding in Parkland Estates, Palma Ceia Pines, and surrounding South Tampa neighborhoods. The current proposal would install a massive box culvert beneath South Howard Avenue, creating a stormwater system that city engineers say could move roughly 20 million gallons of water per hour.
However, some South Howard business owners argue that the project’s construction could have a devastating impact on the local economy. The project would require significant construction along one of South Tampa’s busiest commercial corridors, potentially involving extended lane reductions, road closures, and years of disruption to the entertainment district.
Retired Tampa Administrator for Infrastructure and Mobility Jean Duncan said that if the project had been in place during Hurricane Helene and Milton, the city would have seen about a 70-percent reduction in flooding. However, the alliance points to the project’s rising cost, which has increased from roughly $65 million to nearly $100 million over time.
The Lawsuit
The lawsuit, filed by SoHo Business Alliance LLC in Hillsborough County Circuit Court, accuses the city of withholding key project records, including geotechnical survey data, alternative analyses, hydraulic models, contractor documents, and internal communications. The alliance argues that these records are necessary for the public to fully evaluate the project before the Tampa City Council casts a final vote and commits nearly $100 million to build it.
The city has not yet filed its formal response to the complaint and says it will not comment on pending litigation. The lawsuit seeks an expedited court hearing and asks a judge to order the city to release responsive public records before the Tampa City Council takes final action on the project.
Original reporting: Tampa Bay Florida News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
