Developer downsizes 55-story condo tower in downtown Tampa
By Ashley Gurbal Kritzer
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Published: Jan 10, 2023

The developer of luxury condominium tower One Tampa has reduced the scale of the project in an effort to avoid regulatory delays.

South Florida-based Kolter Urban says One Tampa will be 42 stories instead of 55. The number of units has been reduced by nearly 30% from 311 to 225. A sales gallery will open Wednesday in downtown Tampa; units, which range from 1,100 to 4,000 square feet, are priced from the $800,000s.

Brian Van Slyke, Kolter Urban regional president, told the Tampa Bay Business Journal on Tuesday that the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority indicated to the developer that it would contest a height waiver for the tower.

That looming threat — on top of delays from a legal battle with the city of Tampa over the tower — drove the decision to downsize the tower. (As part of a settlement with the city, the building’s northern facade will be a recreation of the building that stood there previously.)

“We have a reputation of starting our projects quickly,” Van Slyke said, “so having a smaller unit count and a more conservative parking ratio — it enabled us to get out of the ground faster.”

A spokesman for the aviation authority said the issue may have been part of a land-use review completed in May 2022 at the request of the city.

"Based on prior application experience, the authority’s opinion highlighted a potential problem in that the necessity of a crane tall enough to build the structure would exceed FAA airspace limitations that impact all airports in the region," the spokesman wrote in an email Tuesday.

Kolter’s other projects in the Tampa Bay area include One St. Petersburg, which is 41 stories, as well as Saltaire and Art House in St. Pete. In Tampa, it is the developer of Hyde Park House, which wrapped up construction in late 2022. One Tampa is its first foray into downtown Tampa.

Kolter paid $11.64 million in late 2021 to assemble the One Tampa site, which consists of 520 N. Tampa St., which is home to First Watch; the Dohring Building at 514 N. Tampa St.; a small alley next door to the Dohring Building; and the vacant lot at 507 N. Ashley Drive. Construction fencing was erected on the Ashley Drive lot within the last week; First Watch, Van Slyke said, closed that location in late December.

Demolition will begin in February, Van Slyke said.

“We think downtown’s come of age, and the lifestyle is there to support it,” he said, “and there’s lots of entertainment and dining options and lots of employment options, so we think it’s the time for a project like this.”

The building is meant to appeal to a diverse demographic, Van Slyke said, from empty nesters to professionals who work downtown. And while the tower has downsized, the individual unit plans are largely unchanged from the first iteration of the tower.

“The floor plans are similar; we maintained all of our amenity offerings,” he said.

The amenities include a pool and spa, a fitness center with cardio and strength training equipment, yoga and cycling studios, a pet park with a pet wash station, a catering kitchen, a game room with a swing sports game simulator, a movie theater, a private dining room, three fully furnished guest suites and a work from home lounge.