BY IRIS B. HOLTON
Sentinel City Editor

Construction should begin on two more buildings of the Encore Project. The groundbreaking is slated to take place before the end of the year.

Leroy Moore, Chief Operations Officer for the Tampa Housing Authority said funding for both projects has been secured.

The new development replaces the former Central Park Village Public Housing Project. The complex was home to 483 apartment units. The Encore Project, which is replacing it, will sit on the 28 acres near downtown Tampa.

Upon its completion, the Encore Project will be a mixed community with apartments, shops, a hotel, and a Black History Museum. It will nearly double the number of units torn down five years ago.  Moore described the project as an integrated retail, commercial, and residential community.

“We will close on “The Trio” in late August and building will start after that. We will close on the “Reed Building” in September or October. All of the funding is in place,” Moore said.

Upon completion, the Encore Project will consist of five buildings that will have nearly 800 units. The new development has a musical theme and each of the buildings will have a name associated with music.

The first building constructed was “The Ella,” which is slated for completion in November 2012. The ground was broken for that building nearly two years ago.

The first building constructed was “The Ella,” named in honor of popular singer, Ella Fitzgerald. It will sit beside “The Reed,” upon its completion in December 2013. Both of those buildings are earmarked for senior citizens.

“The Reed,” is named in honor of Mrs. Essie Mae Reed, a former Central Park Village resident who fought to improve the quality of life for people living in public housing.

“The Trio” is actually three buildings designed for families. It will consist of three separate buildings. The fourth building, which is not completed funded yet, will bear the name of “The Tempo.” Moore said the fifth and final building has not been named yet.

The Tampa Housing Authority submitted an application for the Choice Neighborhood Grant, a $30 million HUD grant in April of this year. Moore said the organization applied for the grant last year and was one of the finalists. He stated they hope to obtain the funding this year.

The Choice Neighborhood Grant replaces the HOPE VI Grants used by the Tampa Housing Authority to replace the College Hill, Ponce DeLeon, Riverview Terrace, and Rembrandt Public Housing Complexes.