Tampa's Robles Park Village Demolition and Redevelopment Plan

Demolition of Robles Park Village

• demolition of Robles Park Village, a low-income housing complex in Tampa, is scheduled to begin on September 15th.
• 🏘️ The former complex housed approximately 400 units for low-income families and has been boarded up since the remaining residents moved out last year.
• 💔 Some former residents express pain and reservations about the demolition, especially considering the ongoing homeless population in Tampa.

Historical Context and Discovery

• ⏳ Robles Park Village was a saving grace for many families in the 80s, providing basic necessities and fostering growth.
• ⚠️ In 2019, it was discovered that part of the community was built on top of Zion Cemetery, the city's oldest known African-American burial site, dating back to the early 1900s.
• 👥 It is believed that upwards of 700 people were laid to rest at Zion Cemetery, where headstones were removed by a developer.

Redevelopment and Future Plans

• 🏗️ The site will be replaced by a $800 million mixed-use development featuring nearly 2,000 units for mixed incomes.
• 🌳 Phase one includes a $4 million community hub with walking trails, a market, educational and health resources.
• 🏛️ A memorial and genealogy center dedicated to Zion Cemetery will be established as part of the redevelopment effort.
• 🏠 Former Robles Park Village residents will receive Section 8 housing vouchers and will be the first with access to the new units, with rent based on income.
• 📅 Construction for the first phase is slated to begin in April of next year.