As Tampa’s Gasworx rises, here’s what’s in store for the development

It’s been two years since crews broke ground on Gasworx, a 50-acre mega-development wedged between Ybor City and the Channel District in Tampa.

Gasworx is the brainchild of Tampa businessman Darryl Shaw, a longtime champion of Ybor City who wants to elevate the historic district from a place known mainly for drinking and debauchery to a fully walkable neighborhood with all the amenities of a modern city. He’s partnered with Washington, D.C.-based developer Kettler and more recently brought on PPF group out of Prague to bring that vision to life.

Once completed, the project will include 5,000 residences, 500,000 square feet of office space, and 150,000 square feet of retail.

Last month, the developers secured a $182 million construction loan from Bank of OZK to accelerate the first phase of the project.

As construction plows ahead, here’s a rundown of what’s happened so far, what’s to come, and when it will all be completed.

Where does the project stand now?

In November, La Unión Residence & Social Hall, the neighborhood’s first apartment building, opened, adding 317 residential units. Prices range from $1,780 to $3,581 a month, according to apartments.com.

La Union is now 46% leased and leasing has begun on retail space within the site, Kettler’s Managing Director of Florida, Graham Tyrrell, wrote in an email.

Earlier this week, construction crews topped out on seven story mixed-use building that will include 390 residential units, retail space and 482 parking spots.

Those apartments will come online in January.

“Together with La Union, a new section of East 4th Avenue is now defined, and future residents and neighbors alike will enjoy direct, walkable access to Gasworx’s retail, restaurants, and marketplace, along with new park space and a new TECO Streetcar stop,” Tyrell stated in a media release.

Infrastructure work to connect the street grid has already begun. Work on the park, trails and streetcar stop is still several months out.

What’s next?

Construction on what the developers are calling the “E blocks,” will start in the coming weeks.

The first component is 5-story building with 140 residential units, mainly one-bedrooms and 18,000 square feet of retail space.

Next is the centerpiece of the entire development, a 28,000-square-foot warehouse that will be repurposed into a market with restaurants, retail and indoor and outdoor seating. A 100,000 square-foot office building connected to the warehouse is set to become the future headquarters of Grow Financial Federal Credit Union.

The final block will feature a 10-story residential building with 376 units and 29,000 square feet of retail space.

The E-bocks will be completed in late next year and into early 2027.