The Tempo's Metronome is Ticking Faster

Tampa Housing Authority COO Leroy Moore, Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn, 102 year old ELLA resident, Mrs. Stratford and Tampa Housing Authority CEO Jerome D. Ryans

The Tempo, a 7-story building containing a total of 203 units with 1, 2, 3 and 4-bedroom floor plans in the Tampa Encore district, started construction in February and is expected to be ready in the spring of 2015.

The multi-family affordable rental building will join The Ella, a 160 unit property for senior citizens that is fully occupied, The Reed, also for seniors, currently under construction; and The Trio, a 143 multifamily rental that was recently finished and is now receiving its tenants.

The buildings at Encore have been named in honor of the rich musical history of the Tampa downtown area of Central Avenue. This is where Ray Charles recorded his first song. This is also where jazz artists Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday and Cab Calloway visited often to perform in what was known then as "Harlem South."

The Encore housing redevelopment by the Tampa Housing Authority is located on a 28 acre site, where a public housing property, Central Park Village, once stood. The new district has a combination of mixed-income and mixed use development and it is the first of this type for the City of Tampa. HUD funding has been instrumental. Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP2) awarded $28 million for infrastructure development; and $30 million of a Choice Neighborhood grant made possible leveraging and significant the participation of several community partners. Both grants were competitive.

When The Tempo is complete, it will have secure entry access, a swimming pool with outdoor theatre, fitness center, a clubhouse with library and computer center, musical rehearsal and games rooms.

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