Hillsborough County Commissioners have given the green light to a significant land swap that will relocate the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) Operations Center from Ybor City to a larger facility near Brandon, paving the way for mixed-use development in the heart of Ybor.
Key Takeaways
- The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office will move from its aging Ybor City campus to a 140,000-square-foot facility on approximately 25 acres near Brandon.
- This move allows for the redevelopment of the HCSO’s current eight-block Ybor City property into a mixed-use project.
- The swap is expected to provide long-term benefits for public safety and community development.
Sheriff’s Office Relocation
The approved land swap will see the HCSO Operations Center move to a facility currently owned by Grow Financial, which developer Darryl Shaw is under contract to acquire. This new location, situated about a 15-minute drive from the current Ybor City site and 10 minutes from the Falkenburg Road jail, offers a modern, larger space. Sheriff Chad Chronister highlighted the aging infrastructure and lack of expansion room at the current Ybor City location as key reasons for the move, emphasizing that the new facility will allow the Sheriff’s Office to "grow, evolve, and provide a more effective and efficient service to the community."
Ybor City Redevelopment Opportunity
In exchange for the HCSO’s Ybor City campus, Hillsborough County will acquire the Grow Financial site. This exchange opens up a prime eight-block area in Ybor City for redevelopment. County officials expressed enthusiasm for the potential of this prime real estate. Hillsborough County Commissioner Harry Cohen described the opportunity as "monumental" for securing public safety investments for "the next two generations." Commissioner Pat Kemp added that the deal is a "great win" for both the Sheriff’s Office and the redevelopment prospects in Ybor.
Financial and Community Benefits
County staff indicated that the land swap could address the Sheriff’s Office’s facility needs while avoiding the significant costs associated with constructing new buildings. John Muller, Hillsborough County Director of Facilities Management & Real Estate Services, noted the appeal of acquiring a "high-quality, used facility previously built where we can get maximum taxpayer value."
Developer Darryl Shaw expressed his commitment to collaboration, stating, "Whenever there’s a chance to collaborate for the benefit of taxpayers, the Sheriff’s office, and Ybor City, we are always going to be interested in those opportunities." He also commended the county’s "forward-thinking public partners" for exploring possibilities that offer "long-term advantages for the community."
Sources
- Darryl Shaw closes on land swap with Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, The Business Journals.
- Hillsborough leaders look at land swap proposal involving Sheriff’s Office, Tampa Bay 28.