SOUTH TAMPA - A strip center featuring offices and retail stores could soon be coming to Dale Mabry Highway south of Gandy Boulevard.

Samter Homes plans the project on the west side of Dale Mabry, between Bay Avenue and Elmwood Terrace, on the former site of a rundown motel. The motel was razed to make way for 16 town houses, but company President Peter Bennett said the housing market dictated a change of plan.

"This definitely makes a lot of sense right now in this market," Bennett said.

He said the 11,000-square-foot building will have shops on the first floor and offices above. He hopes to attract coffee shops and restaurants.

"Since it's close to [MacDill Air Force Base], some of the retail or office could work well with the people going in and out of there," he said. "It's a great location for that."

Leigh Humes, executive director of the South Tampa Chamber of Commerce, said the area near the base needs new businesses to support housing projects.

"Any retail facelift along Dale Mabry would be more than welcomed by the community," Humes said.

Samter requires city council approval to rezone the property back to commercial. The company had received a rezoning to residential to build town houses.

Another Samter project, MacDill Landings, 5008 S. MacDill Ave., is nearing completion, Bennett said. Work on the first residential unit is expected to be completed by June. There are six lofts available on the 28-unit project.

"We're getting really close now," Bennett said. "We're really just buttoning it all up."

Michael H. Samuels can be reached at (813) 835-2109 or msamuels@tampatrib.com.