Tampa synagogue, residential tower plan changed to win city approval

A Miami developer looking to build a residential tower on a piece of a land owned by a Tampa synagogue has revised its initial plan and will go before City Council Thursday to seek approval.

The developer is The Related Group, a Miami company with several projects active in the area. It is looking to build a 29-story tower on land that is occupied by the Congregation Rodeph Sholom synagogue’s preschool and parking lot.

The property is on Bayshore Boulevard, one of the highest-dollar addresses in the city. It is also on a portion of the boulevard that’s seen a number of residential towers begin construction in the past couple of years. Among those is The Ritz-Carlton Residences that Related is building about a half mile from the synagogue.

The updated plan, which addresses some neighborhood concerns, will cut the number of units in the building to 50, down from 60.  Other changes include a four-story parking and amenity deck being set back 10.9 feet from the north property line and 10 feet from the south property line and the residential tower being set back about 43.2 feet from the north property line and 56.1 feet from the south property line.

Related has also pulled a request for a change to Tampa’s Comprehensive Plan that, in theory, would have allowed it to add to the development in future years. Instead, it is asking for a rezoning to residential single family from medium density.

But one of the biggest changes is a commitment to sign a restrictive covenant that guarantees no more than 50 units will be built on the property. This is being done in order to address neighborhood concerns that the project is creating too much density.

The synagogue was founded in 1903 and its property sits on what is arguably one of the most expensive and exclusive stretches of land in Tampa Bay. While officials have not disclosed what Related paid, the synagogue has said the sale assures that it can stay on the site for years to come.

Despite the synagogue’s agreement and a host of letters from congregants supporting the project, there is a push to convince Tampa City Council members to deny the request at Thursday’s meeting.

A petition that's been submitted to the city says the building will be located in a FEMA flood zone and that the presence of residents living in 50 units will have “an adverse effect on storm evacuation times and overburden hurricane evacuation routes and shelter capacities.”

The petition goes on to say that the tower impinges on the privacy of neighbors and will economically impact the “well-loved Tampa Garden Club and compromises its ability to continue in its historic location as a garden club and an affordable wedding venue.”

The nonprofit Tampa Garden Club operates a wedding venue and event space next door to Rodeph Sholom as part of its mission. 

Tampa City Council will take up the matter at its 5 p.m. meeting Thursday.