Tampa Bay Developer

Tampa Bay Developer How do we create the best city possible?

09/18/2026

TECO Energy is investing in technology designed to detect outages and restore power faster.

The system can identify where power has been lost, determine how widespread an outage is, and automatically open or close switches to reroute electricity when possible. Known as self-healing technology, the goal is to restore service to more customers quickly while isolating the part of the grid where the problem remains.

Archie Collins is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Tampa Electric, where he oversees the utility’s electric grid and infrastructure investments.

Episode 201 of TBD Podcast is available on all major podcast platforms.

Howard Avenue is getting a major makeover, with 10-foot-wide sidewalks, upgraded landscaping, better lighting and a much...
09/17/2026

Howard Avenue is getting a major makeover, with 10-foot-wide sidewalks, upgraded landscaping, better lighting and a much more walkable streetscape planned for SoHo.

The improvements are part of Tampa’s $100.4 million South Howard Flood Relief Project, a major infrastructure project designed to reduce chronic flooding along Howard Avenue, Swann Avenue, Parkland Estates, Palma Ceia Pines and surrounding areas.

Above ground, Howard Avenue is planned to receive wider sidewalks, improved pedestrian crossings, traffic calming, expanded street parking, a larger tree canopy and enhanced landscaping, while overhead power and communication lines are also planned to be moved underground.

Permeable pavers and other green infrastructure will also be incorporated to improve water quality, with the city saying the new streetscape is intended to create a safer and more enjoyable environment for walking, shopping and dining.

The project was highly controversial, with South Howard businesses warning that years of construction could dramatically affect customer access, bookings, revenue and jobs, while some council members also questioned whether spending roughly $100 million on one area could limit Tampa’s ability to fund major flood projects in other neighborhoods.

Supporters argued the project is necessary to address long-standing flooding and create the drainage capacity needed for future improvements, leaving the city to balance a major infrastructure investment with its impact on businesses and broader stormwater needs across Tampa.

09/17/2026

Tampa’s next wave of growth may depend on making its urban core more walkable, livable, and culturally active.

Employers increasingly want to be in places where people actually want to spend time, and that creates a major opportunity for Tampa.

Wider sidewalks, more parks, fewer surface parking lots, and new mixed-use development could help connect areas like Water Street, downtown, and Ybor while the private sector adds restaurants, housing, and businesses.

Ed Buckley, PhD is a digital health behavioral researcher and entrepreneur with experience building technology startups, conducting academic research, and developing new products and market solutions.

Episode 202 of TBD Podcast is available on all major podcast platforms.

09/14/2026

More than half of power outages are caused by tree damage, according to TECO Energy CEO Archie Collins.

Trees provide shade, contribute to Tampa’s canopy, and can help reduce cooling costs, but they can also create reliability issues when branches interfere with power lines. How should utilities balance protecting mature trees with maintaining the electric grid and reducing outages?

Archie Collins is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Tampa Electric, where he oversees the utility serving the Tampa Bay area.

Episode 201 of TBD Podcast is available on all major podcast platforms.

Traci Deen joins Garrett to discuss one of the biggest questions facing Florida right now: how do we keep growing withou...
09/12/2026

Traci Deen joins Garrett to discuss one of the biggest questions facing Florida right now: how do we keep growing without losing the land, water, wildlife, and natural beauty that make this state so special?

They talk about the state park controversy, the Florida Wildlife Corridor, conservation funding, local land preservation efforts, and why protecting Florida’s environment is not just a quality of life issue, but an economic one too.

This episode is a great reminder that growth and conservation do not have to be opposites, but getting both right will take planning, funding, and accountability.

Available now on all major podcast platforms.

09/12/2026

One of the world’s most densely populated cities manages to stay remarkably clean, even with very few public trash cans.

Tokyo shows how strongly culture can shape the way a city functions. Ed explains how security concerns led to the removal of many public trash cans and how residents adapted by simply carrying their trash home with them.

Ed Buckley, PhD is a digital health behavioral researcher and entrepreneur.

Episode 202 of TBD Podcast is available on all major podcast platforms.

The Tampa Bay Developer Podcast will now broadcast Saturdays at 10 a.m. on NewsRadio WFLA radio stations AM 970, FM 94.5...
09/11/2026

The Tampa Bay Developer Podcast will now broadcast Saturdays at 10 a.m. on NewsRadio WFLA radio stations AM 970, FM 94.5, and FM 99.1, while also streaming through the iHeartRadio app.

Hosted by Garrett Greco, TBD POD focuses on the people, projects, businesses, policies, and ideas shaping Tampa Bay, with more than 200 episodes published since the show launched.

The podcast has featured conversations with major Tampa Bay figures including Jeff Vinik, Jane Castor, Bob Buckhorn, Darryl Shaw, developers, business leaders, entrepreneurs, elected officials, historians, and environmentalists, covering everything from development and transportation to local history, conservation, politics, and the Rays.

The move to radio gives TBD POD another way to reach Tampa Bay residents beyond Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and its digital audience, bringing long-form conversations about the region to traditional broadcast listeners.

09/09/2026

What will large data centers actually mean for Florida’s power grid, utility rates, water use, and surrounding communities?

As concerns grow around the expansion of data centers, Archie Collins says developers considering Florida are looking to utilities like TECO Energy for their electricity and points to new state rules intended to prevent existing customers from subsidizing their power needs. But as these projects become larger, what safeguards are necessary, and do the potential economic benefits justify the added demand on local infrastructure?

Archie Collins is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Tampa Electric, where he oversees one of Florida’s largest electric utilities.

Episode 201 of TBD Podcast is available on all major podcast platforms.

09/08/2026

One Ybor City stage has hosted silent films, adult movies, legendary concerts, and some of the biggest names in music.

The Ritz originally opened in 1917 as the Rivoli Theater before becoming one of Ybor City’s best-known entertainment venues. Over the decades, the building evolved with the neighborhood, eventually becoming The Masquerade and hosting acts like Nine Inch Nails, Tool, Nirvana, and later the Foo Fighters.

Max shares the buildings, businesses, and stories that reveal just how much history is hiding throughout Ybor City.

Learn more by booking a tour with Max Herman

09/07/2026

Florida voters will decide this November whether to dramatically expand homestead property tax relief.

We took a deeper dive into the legislation behind the amendment, including the proposed increase in the homestead exemption and the rules restricting how counties and municipalities can spend property tax revenue. Those restrictions are baked into the amendment itself, raising a larger question about whether statewide mandates are eroding home rule and limiting how local governments choose to fund their communities.

TBD Podcast host Garrett Greco and producer David break down the case for property tax relief and the bigger implications hidden inside the amendment.

Episode 198 of TBD Podcast is available on all major podcast platforms.

Are you for or against Amendment 3?

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