The Tampa Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) voted 5-2 to delay a vote on funding for the proposed Tampa Bay Rays stadium until August 20. City Council Chair Alan Clendenin initially submitted a memo requesting to delay the vote until July 23, citing ongoing negotiations between the Rays organization, the county, and the city.
Stadium Funding Breakdown
The proposed $2.3 billion ballpark project includes a 31,000-seat stadium and a 130-acre mixed-use development near Hillsborough College’s Dale Mabry campus. The county is expected to contribute about $796 million, while the city of Tampa would contribute around $180 million. The Rays would contribute approximately $1.27 billion.
The city’s portion of the funding would come from the Drew Park CRA and the Community Investment Tax. However, some residents in the Drew Park neighborhood have expressed concerns that the massive project could price them out of their homes.
Community Concerns
Drew Park Community Advisory Committee (CAC) Chair Maritza Astorquiza spoke during public comment at Thursday’s Tampa CRA meeting, urging the CRA to protect the interests of the community. Meanwhile, supporters of the proposed project point to the economic impact and the nearly 12,000 jobs it will reportedly bring to the area.
Rays CEO Ken Babby addressed residents’ concerns at a Drew Park community meeting, stating that the organization is committed to building something the community can be proud of. Following Thursday’s decision to delay the vote, the Rays released a statement saying they are working alongside the county and city on definitive documents and look forward to bringing those forward soon.
Original reporting: Tampa Bay Florida News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
