Mayor Bob Buckhorn said he’s aware of all the concern about the redevelopment plans for the west bank of the Hillsborough River, and the West Tampa community.

“First of all, I wouldn’t call anything a plan at this point. What the Urban Land Institute and the Tampa Housing Authority have are studies, not plans. What the West Tampa Chamber of Commerce has is a study, not a plan. There are no plans.

“Before anything is finalized, there will be several community meetings held, and everything will be based on a community consensus.”

Mayor Buckhorn said the studies done by the West Tampa Chamber of Commerce, and the West Tampa CDC will all be discussed at length, and segments of all the studies will be put into the final document that will be a plan.

“I want to go on record as saying not one school in West Tampa will be impacted by any of the development projects. Also, displaced residents will be handled exclusively by the Tampa Housing Authority.

“I have intentionally not attended any of the meetings going on to discuss their outlook on what they expect from the redevelopment proposal. I’m also happy people are engaged in the revival of West Tampa.”

Mayor Buckhorn said once and for all, there is no plan to react to at this time, because everything is still in the discussion stage.

“Nothing will move forward until the community has been heard. The only official study right now is the one submitted by the ULI.

“Once everything is finalized, if there are land use or zone issues, the City Council will have the last word. Other than that, it would be only a guiding document. If we set up a CRA, the Council would have to approve it.”

Councilman Frank Reddick said when the Mayor goes forward with any redevelopment plan, it has to come before them for approval.

“There are three plans out there. The West Tampa Chamber of Commerce doesn’t have funding, and they need to establish a CRA before they can even get started.

“The West Tampa CDC is in a worse position, because they don’t have a funding mechanism. They also need to set up a CRA.”

Councilman Reddick said the plan that shows the most promise would be the ULI recommendations, because the Mayor would have direct input into the funding.

“I think in the end, what we will see is a mixing of all three plans. They all have the same goal.”

Reporter Leon B. Crews can be reached at (813) 248-0724, or e-mailed at lcrews@flsentinel.com, or noelswerc@gmail.com.