Tampa City Council Votes Today on $4 Million Flood Relief Project

URGENT UPDATE: The Tampa City Council is set to vote today on a critical $4 million flood relief project aimed at addressing chronic flooding issues in South Howard. This decision could significantly impact the infrastructure and safety of local neighborhoods, including Swann Avenue.

City leaders, including interim mobility director Brandon Campbell, emphasize the need for a robust solution to the city’s insufficient stormwater management. “South Howard has been studied and under consideration for ten years or more,” Campbell stated, highlighting the urgency of the situation.

The proposed project includes the installation of a massive box culvert designed to alleviate flooding in South Howard and surrounding areas. Today’s vote will determine funding for the design-build phase, which Campbell says is essential for the early works, including necessary repaving and waterline replacements.

However, reactions from local business owners paint a different picture. Steve Michelini, a representative of the SoHo business alliance, warns that the project could lead to economic devastation. “If you want to turn South Howard into a graveyard, keep going. Because the businesses will not survive,” he expressed, highlighting the potential for significant disruptions during construction.

Residents also voice concerns over the approach to flood management. Anneliese Meier, a South Tampa resident, argues that regular maintenance could be a far less disruptive solution. “The drains need to be cleaned every year. If we kept up on that, it would cost us far less than the $100 million plus they are proposing,” she stated, suggesting that proactive measures could mitigate flooding without extensive construction.

If the council approves the project today, work is expected to begin in 2024, with parts of SoHo potentially shut down for months at a time. The community awaits the decision that could reshape the future of flood management in the area.

For more details on the South Howard flood relief project, visit https://shstormwater.com/. Stay tuned for updates as this situation develops.