Development is academic for college

It's called Hillsborough Community College's “front yard,” located just across the street from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' home, Raymond James Stadium.

And it's worth a lot for an empty piece of land. At least $25 million, Cushman & Wakefield of Florida's retail specialist Patrick Berman says.

But what HCC wants to do with this prime piece of real estate near the intersection of North Dale Mabry Highway and West Columbus Drive is still unknown, Berman shared during the Westshore Development Forum April 21.

“I love this site,” Berman says. “I've been watching it for years.”

College officials dream of creating a development that could include not just retail, but restaurants, hotels and even some office. “Those are uses that would support a student body, and that's understandable,” Berman says. “But you're never going to see pure retail here.”

Instead, the site could be the base for up to 30,000 square feet in support retail, the senior director of retail brokerage services says.

That's not all HCC has to offer. A 9-acre plot of land just to the north, closer to George Steinbrenner Field, currently offers tennis courts for students. While HCC has talked about possibly building indoor sports facilities there, Berman believes there could be some stronger retail options there as well.

“Nothing is underway there right now, but it's very valuable land,” he says. “It's very valuable land that I'm certain will be developed sometime soon.”