Riverwalk Place developers tack away from office space

TAMPA — The sail-shaped Riverwalk Place project — which, when complete, will be the tallest building on the Gulf Coast — is changing course.

According to a press release, developers Feldman Equities LLC and Two Roads Development have abandoned plans to incorporate up to 14 floors of office space into the mixed-use development, citing increased demand for residential dwellings. The building’s ground floor will still feature retail and restaurant establishments.

“We knew interest would be high to live in a tower this special, and what we found is extraordinary demand before we even formally opened our sales gallery,” states Reid Boren, managing partner of Two Roads Development, in the release. “This is a testament to the design, architecture and sales team that truly helped bring the vision of this building to life in a way that clearly is exciting the market.”

Construction of Riverwalk Place will begin in early 2019, according to the release. It’s designed by architecture firm Gensler, with interiors by celebrity designer Thom Filicia, known for his work on the hit TV show “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy.”

The revamped tower will now boast more than 200 luxury condominiums. According to the release, deposits on more than $70 million worth of residences were placed before the sales gallery opened this week.

“Interest this strong in Riverwalk Place shows downtown Tampa is blossoming into an all-day, all-night live, work and play community,” Feldman Equities President and CEO Larry Feldman states in the release.