With major restoration and rehabilitation set to begin on the historic Sanchez y Haya Building and surrounding site, the City of Tampa is now accepting applications from residents to serve on a non-partisan board that will advise the Mayor and other officials on how to best implement the development project.
In 2023, City Council approved the Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) program to create a process that considers the social and community impact of upcoming development plans. The program came with a caveat: Developers must provide community benefits for projects receiving public funds, through the help of a Community Benefits Advisory Council, or CBAC.
The city is currently looking for four “Ad Hoc” CBAC Members that live within a half a mile radius of the Sanchez y Haya Building. The Ad Hoc members will help negotiate the Community Benefits Agreement between the developer and the community, which ensures this project results in tangible advantages for residents and meets community needs.
Originally constructed in 1910, the Sanchez y Haya Building was Tampa’s first reinforced concrete structure and a commercial hub for Ybor City and East Tampa.
The renovation project includes historic preservation, adaptive reuse of the blighted structure, and adjacent public realm improvements such as enhanced streetscape and public space infrastructure. Once completed, the project will reactivate a key historic asset and strengthen the cultural and economic vitality of Ybor City.
Ad Hoc Project-Specific Member:
The Mayor and City Council will each appoint two Ad-Hoc members per project.
Ad Hoc members serve until the project is approved by the City Council or withdrawn, about a six to nine-month commitment.
As a project-specific member, you must live within half a mile of the project.
Interested participants can verify if they fall within the half-mile radius here. The deadline to apply is Friday, November 21. To access the application, click the link on the bottom of this page that says, “Apply for initial board position.” For a detailed list of the four projects that belong to the CBA Program, click here.