Banc of America, housing authority start construction of The Reed

Construction of The Reed at Encore has started. The seven-story, 158-unit building will open as senior housing in late 2014, according to Banc of America Community Development Corp., which is partnering in the development with the Tampa Housing Authority.

The total development cost of The Reed at Encore in the Encore development in downtown Tampa is more than $31.01 million. Baker Barrios Architects designed The Reed, and Siltek was recently selected as the general contractor.

Located at 1240 Ray Charles Blvd., the 279,535-square-foot building will feature one- and two-bedroom units in the four upper levels. The three lower floors will include a 220-space parking garage, retail space, a swimming pool, shuffleboard court, clubhouse and movie theater.

Encore is a 40-acre master-planned, mixed-use redevelopment community just north of downtown Tampa's urban core. Spanning 12 city blocks, Encore will feature multifamily, retail and office space, a hotel and a grocery store. The $425 million project is scheduled for development over the next five to seven years. The 160-unit The Ella at Encore senior-housing project is complete and fully leased and construction is 50% complete on the 141-unit The Trio at Encore apartment development.