Tampa downtown growth outpaces most Florida cities
By Staff Report
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Published: Aug 26, 2014

Tampa has the second fastest-growing downtown among large cities in Florida according to a new report.

The study called the Florida Retail Report released Monday found that Tampa's city center population grew at a rate of 14.5 percent between 2000 and 2012, the Orlando Sentinel said. Only Orlando's downtown grew faster at a rate of 34.2 percent. Miami was third at 14.2 percent followed by Jacksonville at 13.7 percent.

The report released at the International Council of Shopping Centers Florida conference in Orlando was authored by the CBRE Group, a Los Angeles-based commercial real estate services and investment firm.

The report included several other kernels of information including the fact that in the 12 months ending in June, retail sales rose 8 percent to $6.1 billion across the state, the Sentinel said. The report found that retail sales are being propelled significantly by increased tourism to the state.