A long vacant site along the city’s most historic Black commercial corridor took two significant steps toward development Thursday.
After contentious debate, City Council voted to hire a contractor to build homes and commercial space and partner with a community group that will likely run the commercial component. The 2.8-acre property is on historic 22nd Street, south of Sixth Avenue S and north of Interstate 275, at the former Commerce Park site where for more than a decade city leaders hoped to create industrial jobs.
Council first voted to hire the contractor, Tampa-based Horus Construction, to design 28,000 square feet of commercial space that fronts 22nd Street and 24-to-26 townhomes in the rear. Right after, the body voted to partner in the development with the Sankofa Vision Group, which includes some of the city’s most visible African-American leaders.
