TAMPA - City officials cheered last week when Gov. Charlie Crist approved $2 million for the Riverwalk project.

But that euphoria is gone now that the Trump Tower condominium project, which promised to contribute up to $700,000 to build a prominent Riverwalk segment, is on hold while Donald Trump battles the developer in court.

'If they do not build, then we've got a key connection that is not being made,' said Lee Hoffman, the city's Riverwalk manager. 'It's a significant piece.'

With the fate of the condominium project uncertain, the city must contemplate building the segment on its own.

A city ordinance requires developers who are building along the Riverwalk's 2.3-mile stretch - from the Channel District to Tampa Heights - to pay for segments at their properties.

For example, the Heights project developers are contributing $4 million to the project. Developers for Venu, a condo project in the planning stages for Kennedy Boulevard and Ashley Drive, promised to build an $800,000 piece.

SimDag LLC, the Trump Tower developer, was to build a 450-foot piece to connect the southern edge of the Brorein Street Bridge to nearby MacDill Park.

Mayor Pam Iorio said the city has a couple of options if Trump Tower does not get built. Tampa can build a regular sidewalk connecting the southern and northern ends of the Riverwalk and if a developer for the site comes through later, that developer can build its own Riverwalk segment.

'Not a very appealing option,' Iorio said.

Or the city can design and build the segment across the Hillsborough River and then ask a developer to contribute retroactively.

The Riverwalk project is expected to cost about $40 million, with $16 million coming from public sources and the remaining $24 million from private donations. To date, the city has secured about $7.6 million on the public side and about $7.4 million on the private side. Five of the 21 sections of the Riverwalk have been completed, representing about six-tenths of a mile.

Iorio touts the Riverwalk as an economic development engine and a place for future downtown dwellers to eat, exercise, and attend concerts and other events.

Last month, the city broke ground on the Platt Street Bridge segment, which will connect the Tampa Convention Center with USF Park. It will cost about $2.6 million, with much of the money coming from the Florida Department of Transportation.

The segment next to the new Tampa Bay History Center is up next, probably in September.

Trump sued SimDag LLC, the developer who had plans to build a 52-story condominium at the southern edge of Ashley Drive, throwing the long-troubled project into further jeopardy. Trump argues that he is owed money for the rights to use his name on the project. The developers are yet to break ground on the building.

SimDag's troubles also could affect the Tampa Museum of Art's new building. SimDag made a three-part pledge to the museum in 2005. The company made its first payment. The company was to make a second payment when the condo was topped off, and a final payment was to coincide with the grand opening.

An art museum official said Wednesday that the museum wasn't counting on the money. He wouldn't disclose how much the company had pledged but said it was less than $1 million.

Reporter Shannon Behnken contributed to this story. Reporter Ellen Gedalius can be reached at edgedalius@tampatrib .com or (813) 259-7679.