Two Storms, New Gateway into Ybor City
A New Block of Buildings Emerges in Historic Ybor City
As you cruise down 7th Avenue in Ybor City, you'll spot something fresh at the western edge — Casa Gomez and Casa Marti, two new developments designed by Chancey Architecture and Interior Design, an architecture and interior design firm with deep roots and history in the Historic District. These buildings bring a modern transformation to Ybor, while still celebrating its deep-rooted history. Perched on the rooftop of Casa Gomez, you’ll find yourself with sweeping views of the city. To the east lies José Martí Park — owned by the Cuban government since 1956 — and to the southwest, you’re greeted with a vision of Tampa's future, stretching across Gas Worx and downtown.
Walt Chancey, principal of Chancey Architecture, originally purchased the dirt lot from the city in 2006. “Our firm has a long history in Ybor City, 35 years. It’s where we opened our first Tampa office, so when the chance came to build on historic 7th Avenue, we took the chance,” Walt Chancey says.
Fast forward to 2015, when Darryl Shaw began executing his vision for a revitalized Ybor City. Shaw purchased the remaining lots around the Chancey office building, setting the stage for what would become Casa Gomez and Casa Marti.
Casa Gomez and Casa Marti are the latest in a series of transformative projects spearheaded by Shaw. Together, Chancey and Shaw focused on filling the gap between Ybor and downtown Tampa. These developments have turned previously vacant lots and aging industrial sites into a bustling hub of new homes, businesses, and retail spots. Positioned at Ybor’s western entrance, these projects merge historic charm with modern convenience, creating a bridge between the past and the future.
Casa Gomez, a 22,000-square-foot mixed-use office building, has already filled all its office spaces. Major tenants like New Wave Energy, ChappellRoberts, and NextPath Career Partners have moved in. The building will also feature a first-floor restaurant occupying 4,200 square feet, and a rooftop bar, measuring 4,200 square feet, both of which are sure to breathe new life into the district.
Right next door, Casa Marti adds a residential element with 127 units, ranging from studios to two-bedroom apartments. It also offers ground-floor retail spaces, including a coffee shop and a restaurant. The design of Casa Marti honors Ybor’s architectural roots with brick exteriors and wrought-iron balconies, while 8th Avenue’s historic brick road is being restored to further embrace the area's heritage.
“This project is a tribute to Ybor's rich history, ensuring that any new development seamlessly fits into the fabric of the district,” remarks Walt Chancey.
Why It Matters?
Now complete, Casa Gomez and Casa Marti serve as a new gateway to 7th Avenue, marking the beginning of a new chapter in Ybor’s storied timeline. Together, these developments represent the renaissance of a historic Tampa neighborhood, blending the old with the new in a way that only Ybor City can.
Two Historic Storms in Two Weeks
Tampa being a more inland city insulated by the bay has been lucky with these storms, but 103 years ago we got slammed with a direct hit. I remember my grandfather telling me water was up to the door of the Columbia Restaurant in the 1921 storm.
Bayshore Boulevard destroyed, ships from the channel washed ashore, trolly tracks ripped up across the city.
We’ve all talked about the possibility of a direct hit for decades, but it never came. Stories of the past have only been echoed for the last 100 years with only a “possibility” of something like that ever occurring again.
Now, we had two storms back-to-back that brought different impacts to our area: Helene with historic storm surge and Milton with wind damage and rain floods.
Hurricane Helene and Milton hit our Tampa Bay community hard, leaving many families and children with nothing after devastating floods, rain and wind events. In response, I’ve teamed up with the nurse manager and COO of Tampa General Hospital to do what we can to help.
We’re supporting Project HOPE Packs, which will provide comfort to the children who lost everything. These backpacks will be filled with stuffed animals, blankets, books, coloring supplies, flashlights, and a special note of encouragement from another child.
By purchasing a Hope Pack, you will bring comfort and essential items to the kids from the hardest-hit coastal communities. Drop-offs for donations are being accepted from October 17th to October 27th, between 9 AM to 5 PM at TGH Main Campus (1 Tampa General Cir, Tampa, FL, 33606). Please call Nelson at (863) 585-4884 prior to arrival.
Thank you for being a part of the support we’re building for our community!
Coastal Real Estate Outlook
People move to Florida for a multitude of reasons. In fact, 365,205 just last year. Retirement here has always been popular, escaping the cold and trading the snow for the sand. The young, high earners of the country also see Florida as a haven.
Florida had a net gain of 1,786 households earning at least $200,000 from ages 26 to 35 in 2022, making FL the state with the highest net migration of wealthy young earners. But will they all stay given the storms? I believe so. Florida is a beautiful place with many tax and business advantages, these storms don’t change that. What will change is the perception of coastal property, particularly the marketability of coastal real estate that is older, and not built to current codes.
At my real estate company, Greco Real Estate, we are already receiving calls from clients wanting to
Sell and move to higher ground or
Tear down and build new.
When a new client moves to FL or a Floridian is looking to move coastal, they will be extremely flood zone and code conscious like never before. Time will ease some worries, but with insurance costs and recent flooding events, the disadvantage of an older coastal property is now undeniable to a prospective buyer
BEWARE OF SHARKS
Unfortunately, in times of tragedy, some individuals and organizations see opportunity. Beware of predatory investors trying to make a quick deal in your area, pressuring you into signing a contract before you weigh your options. Contractors will also be hounding neighborhoods, be sure to do your due diligence in selecting one. There will be insurance “professionals” scouring the area to guarantee you a new roof, if only you quickly “sign” over your benefits to them. There are great, honest people out there but blood is in the water..beware of sharks!
X Flood Zone….I’m Good…Right?
Recent events have caused flooding in areas that have never flooded. Parts of Sarasota County, far away from the coast, had water for over a week during Helene. Now Milton has flooded Hillsborough in neighborhoods like Seffner, and in the City of Tampa, Forest Hills - far from any storm surge that could have ever affected them.
The exact cause for this is being investigated, but we know the generalities behind the issue: historic rains and unmitigated suburban sprawl. When natural wetlands are built over, and inadequate storm water mitigations are planned, this is what you get: flooding in areas that aren’t supposed to flood. Most have no insurance for issues like this, and some neighborhoods STILL have standing water.
Tampa Mayor Jane Castor will be bringing a budget proposal of $3.5 Million to City Council to beef up storm water pump generators, which apparently failed during Milton.
How can you prepare for a historic event? You can’t. There is no public or political will to invest in infrastructure for an issue that has never happened, unfortunately.
Now, our community needs massive help ($$$) from the state and federal government to beef up our infrastructure to insure this does not happen again, and yes, change development standards around the state so water drainage is at the forefront of proper planning. We’ll be updating this issue moving forward, it will be a large conversation for quite a while.
🎤 TBD POD Highlights
This month, our host, Garrett Greco, interviewed some of the most fascinating people in our community. If you have missed, here is a quick a full breakdown:
October 11th - Scott Gilner, Kimley-Horn
October 4th - Representative Rico Smith
September 27th - Ferrell Alvaez and Chon Nguyen, Proper House Group
September 20th - Justin Cournoyer and Josh Frank, Reimagine I-765 #BLVDStPete
September 13th - Abbye Feeley, Tampa’s Director of Development and Growth Management
September 6th - Representative Fentrice Driskell
August 30th - Joey Redner, Founder of Cigar City Brewing
Check out some of our social media clips that you might enjoy:
U.S. cities are reclaiming their downtowns by removing highways that once divided communities
Ever gotten stuck in traffic at the Trader Joe’s in South Tampa?
The Tampa Convention Center is booking events out through 2031 because there is no space
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Great edition with issues I was interested in regarding storms effect on real estate.
Ramond, I am glad to hear you enjoyed the report! If you have any other topics you would like me to cover, please send me your suggestions.