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Information Item
DATE: Tuesday, August 13, 2013
TO: School Board Members
FROM: MaryEllen Elia, Superintendent
SUBJECT / RECOMMENDATIONS
Information about the Tampa West River Plan and Redevelopment of North Boulevard Apartments and Mary Bethune Senior Housing
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The City of Tampa developed a master plan called InVision Tampa looking toward preservation, development and redevelopment of the City’s center city neighborhoods.  One of the areas identified is called West River and includes the communities around Blake High School, Just Elementary School and Stewart Middle School, Tampa Housing Authority’s (THA) North Boulevard Apartments and Mary Bethune Senior Housing and West Tampa neighborhoods.  THA is planning to redevelop its two housing communities in the coming years and has engaged a consulting team to develop scenarios for the land and how to meet the needs of the community.  The consulting team is working in concert with the City of Tampa’s planning efforts for West River and has held several community meetings and individual meetings with the various stakeholders in the general area, including staff from the School District, regarding their needs for the future.   THA will be applying for grant funding in the coming months to begin to implement a redevelopment plan. 

Using the input they received, the consulting team prepared several redevelopment scenarios, one that included only the lands owned by THA, another that included THA property and City of Tampa property, another that included land owned by the School Board, primarily the track and ball fields on the river, and finally, another scenario that also contemplated relocating the school buildings for both Just and Stewart and all the ball fields and track.  In any scenario that included School Board property, the plans relocated the facilities back into the community proximate to Blake High School, nearby to their current locations.  The consulting team and THA were made well aware that any changes to School Board property must maintain the current student capacities and associated facilities such as track and ball fields and would have to come at no expense to the School District.  And finally, any plan involving School Board property would need to be approved by the School Board and handled according to all laws related to the disposition and acquisition of property.

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
• Demonstrate best financial practices • Demonstrate "best practices" in all aspects of safety including students, employees, visitors, facilities, transportation, and health • Construct and maintain facilities that create an environment conducive to teaching and learning
FINANCIAL IMPACT (Budgeted:  No)

There is no financial impact to the School District from this Plan.  Implementation of any scenario that could impact school properties will be considered separately.

EVALUATION
SUBMITTED BY: 
Lorraine Duffy Suarez   Cathy L. Valdes
General Manager, Growth Mgmt. & Planning
(813) 272-4685
  Chief Facilities Officer
(813) 272-4004
    A 10.04
Hillsborough County Public Schools (Florida) * Mtg.#20130813_593 (Board Meeting) * Section A Item# 10.04