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Hillsborough County staff map downtown land, commissioners authorize courts committee and funding study
Summary
County staff reported 19 parcels totaling about 28.61 acres of county-owned land downtown and overlaid nearby public‑agency holdings. Commissioners authorized staff to join a courts-led stakeholder committee to update the courts master plan and to explore non‑ad valorem funding options, motions approved unanimously.
Hillsborough County officials on Oct. 1 reviewed an inventory of county-owned parcels in downtown Tampa and moved to pursue updated planning and funding for a long‑needed criminal courthouse.
John Mueller, director of Facilities Management Real Estate Services, told commissioners the board’s study area includes 19 county properties totaling about 28.61 acres, not including the Benchmark International Arena, and overlays about 14.78 acres of other public‑agency land nearby. He said the expressway owns roughly 30.6 acres in the study area and about 4 acres are being considered for a mixed‑use mobility hub combining parking, transit and retail or office uses.
“While we have listed an estimated value, I must note this value is not intended to supply a fire sale price,” Mueller said, summarizing the inventory and the site context.
Commissioner Harry Cohen said court facilities are the county’s responsibility under Revision 7 to Article V of the Florida Constitution and called a new criminal courthouse a long‑standing priority of several chief judges. Cohen moved, and the board unanimously approved, two items: authorize staff to participate in a courts‑led stakeholder committee to revise the 2020 courts master plan scope and budget, and direct staff to investigate non‑ad valorem funding sources — including public‑private partnerships, debt instruments and state or federal funds — to supplement the approximately $155,000,000 already proposed in the capital improvement plan to fund an updated master plan.
“Previous boards had the foresight to purchase property downtown,” Cohen said, framing the motion as a next step to move the county’s criminal justice infrastructure forward.
Several commissioners asked staff to include east‑county options and records‑facility needs, and to ensure the stakeholder work looks at records storage and related infrastructure. Both motions passed 7‑0.
Next steps: staff will join the stakeholder committee and return to the board with recommendations from that committee and an analysis of potential non‑ad valorem funding sources.
