A Tampa development group has proposed building Hillsborough County’s planned African American Arts & Cultural Center through a public-private partnership. The plan estimates construction at $56.3 million and total project costs at $68.7 million, with a county payment upfront and decades of lease payments. The proposal still requires county approval.
Key takeaways
- Legacy Development Association proposes a 50,000-square-foot center at 2103 N. Rome Ave.
- Its financing plan includes a proposed $25 million county contribution and about $43.7 million in tax-exempt bond financing.
- The group targets substantial completion in September 2027, although its baseline schedule assumed construction began in February 2026.
A cultural center planned for West Tampa
The proposed two-story facility would occupy county land on a roughly six-acre site in West Tampa, a neighborhood with deep ties to Black homeownership and businesses. County plans envision replacing existing buildings with a center focused on African American history, arts and culture.
LDA’s design concept includes a quilt-inspired facade, galleries, art studios, a sculpture garden and an amphitheater. The group also proposes school field trips and internships through partnerships with Hillsborough County Public Schools. The county held three public meetings about the project in 2024, and Commissioner Gwen Myers has championed the effort.
How the financing would work
Under LDA’s proposal, a nonprofit would secure tax-exempt bonds and enter a lease-purchase agreement with the county. The county would make annual payments toward principal and interest; ownership of the improvements would transfer to the county after the debt is repaid.
The preliminary model assumes $25 million from the county at the outset, with approximately $43.7 million financed over 30 years at 4.75% interest. LDA estimates annual lease payments of about $2.7 million. The figures remain preliminary and may change. Optional reserves for maintenance, security, cleaning and groundskeeping would average about $357,000 per year.
The group estimates design and construction at $56.3 million, while development and financing expenses bring the projected total to $68.7 million. The county’s capital improvement tracker lists the project in the design phase with a $15.5 million budget and no construction or completion dates set. County documents anticipated design completion in late 2026.
Proposal faces approval and timing questions
The unsolicited proposal was submitted to the county for consideration and remains subject to Hillsborough County Commission approval. LDA says its partnership approach could speed delivery and direct economic benefits to local suppliers and contractors. Its consortium includes AAA Builders, DuCon, Horus Construction Services, Barr & Barr and FG+M Architecture, among others.
LDA’s September 2027 target for substantial completion will depend on the project’s next steps. The proposal’s baseline construction schedule assumes work began in February 2026, a date that had already passed when the plan was announced. The county has not set a construction start date.
- Developer pitches $56.3M plan for west Tampa cultural center, Business Observer.