EAST TAMPA - Land purchases could soon give the city a chance to redevelop a large swath of real estate along North 22nd Street, north of the infamous and now-demolished Gene's Bar.

In a separate deal, two parcels across from Gene's, at Mallory Avenue and 22nd, could spur redevelopment at the former bar.

The hope for that site "is to do something around the transit bus line at 21st Avenue," said East Tampa redevelopment manager Ed Johnson. The two vacant parcels at 2926 and 2928 N. 22nd St. will cost about $70,000.

The city bought the bar more than a year ago in response to neighbors' complaints about fights and drug dealing in the area.

The larger purchase, at about $419,000, is of seven parcels across from Belmont Heights Estates along 22nd, and on Holmes and Link streets and 24th Avenue.

Money for both deals is from local property taxes budgeted for land acquisition within a 7-square-mile redevelopment area bordered by Hillsborough Avenue, interstates 275 and 4, and the city limits.

The city council approved the purchases recently.

No timetable is set, but Johnson said the city will seek developers' proposals, possibly by the end of the year for the bar site and next year for the larger acreage near Belmont Heights.

The land opposite Belmont Heights will give the city nearly 3 acres to pair with a 5 1/2 -acre retention pond that runs along 26th Avenue and abuts a portion of the Italian Club Cemetery.

A mix of retail and residential will be sought, Johnson said. The retention pond, which the city has owned since the mid-1970s, could be added enticement to a developer.

"There's a possibility a developer can come in and re-engineer the pond into a facility that could add to the amenities," he said. "I think it's imperative that it be included."

Residents at town hall and monthly meetings of the East Tampa Community Revitalization Partnership have made it clear that 22nd is high on their list of redevelopment priorities. They also want redesigns of 34th Street and 29th and Lake avenues.

The partnership is a volunteer group that advises the city on community redevelopment.

In 2000, the College Hill and Ponce de Leon public housing complexes on 22nd were closed to make way for the modern Belmont Heights Estates, a mix of subsidized rental and market-rate units.

Many hoped it would spur development on the other side of 22nd, said Carrol Josephs-Marshall, chairwoman of the partnership's land-use committee.

That never happened, but Josephs-Marshall said, "If we can do any development on that other side, it would be tremendous."

A streetscape redesign for 22nd is in the works with construction expected to begin in about 15 months. The project's cost is $8 million to $10 million.

The makeover, with paving and landscaping, will be along 22nd from 23rd Avenue to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, essentially complementing the city's plan for mixed-use development.

Reporter Kathy Steele can be reached at (813) 259-7652 or ksteele@tampatrib.com.