About Franklin Street Vision

City leaders unanimously approved $6 million in funding to revamp Franklin Street in downtown Tampa. The funding will come from the Downtown Community Redevelopment Agency Fund. 

Taking advantage of the Partnership's Activation Grant, Hidden Springs Ale Works commissioned Arielle Katarina to create a stunning mural inspired by the poppy field scene from the "Wizard of Oz" film.  You can see this mural at the corner of N. Franklin and E Henderson Ave.

A new traffic signal at the Tampa St & 7th Ave intersection, with curb bulb-outs, marked crosswalks, pedestrian signals, ADA-compliant ramps, and drainage modifications, aims to enhance safety in the area and improve connections between Franklin Street and the Hillsborough River. 

 The Water Works Sidewalk Gap project will enhance multi-modal connectivity by eliminating critical sidewalk gaps within the Tampa Heights district along I-275 near Water Works Park. This improvement will improve pathways between Franklin Street and the Riverwalk. Construction is anticipated to begin in late 2024.

Thanks to Hillsborough County and The Tampa Bay History Center, residents, workers, and visitors alike can catch seven unique views of Old Tampa on their walks along the 1300 and 1400 blocks of N. Franklin. Historic images include aerial views of Tampa and street-level views from Franklin, Layafette, and Twiggs Streets. 

The Tampa Downtown Partnership has encouraged investments across the district in street-level appearance and activation through the Storefront Improvement Grant Program. In the past six months, businesses along Franklin have been awarded over $11,000.

 Once seen as highly problematic for many reasons, street trees are proving to be a great value to people living, working, shopping, sharing, walking and motoring in and through urban places. Recently, Do The Local Motion Tampa Bay finished its ‘Value of Trees’ tour along Franklin Street to celebrate arbor day and Franklin Streets' impressive tree canopy.

To achieve the goal of Vision Zero, the Tampa Downtown Partnership and the City of Tampa came together to improve safety along E. Kay Street through decorated curb extensions. The Tampa Downtown Partnership commissioned Tampa Artist Tony Krol to paint decorated curb extensions along E. Kay Street and its intersection with Franklin Street. These improvements are traffic calming measures which aim to reduce speeds and make crossings safer for pedestrians.  

Franklin Street is becoming more pedestrian-friendly. The City of Tampa, in partnership with the Tampa Downtown Partnership, worked to convert the Zack Street & Franklin Street intersection into a four-way stop. All drivers will be expected to stop before proceeding, and pedestrians will no longer have to wait for a walk signal. 

The first intersection mural in Downtown Tampa, titled "Lift Up Luck," is located at the Twiggs and Franklin Street intersection. The mural was commissioned by Tampa Downtown Partnership and painted by local artist Meaghan Farrell Scalise. 

The Tampa Bay LGBT Chamber has partnered with the Tampa Downtown Partnership for Pride Month to reveal the permanent intersection mural in the historic Tampa Heights neighborhood of Tampa's Downtown. The vision of the painting is to signify unity and to showcase our diverse community.

The corner of Madison Street and Franklin Street has a new look. Tampa's early history, from its streetcar line to its early brick storefronts, to its horse-drawn carriages on sandy streets, is now front and center in one of the busiest blocks in Downtown Tampa.  In partnership with The Tampa Bay History Center, CVS, and 220 Madison, the Tampa Downtown Partnership installed historical window clings at ground level for all to see what Tampa looked like over 100 years ago.

Partnership staff are bringing resources and experts to property owners, stakeholders, and industry experts on taking advantage of incentives to preserve, protect, and celebrate Tampa and Franklin Street's history! The first workshop will be November 19, 2024. 

 On October 25, 50 attendees participated in the first annual historic preservation-themed scavenger hunt. Attendees went to over 12 historical sites to learn about Tampa's rich history. Sites included Sacred Heart Catholic Church, The Tampa Theatre, City Hall, and the Kress Building. 

From its historical origins as Tampa's main street, the Franklin Corridor remains the heart of a bustling, vibrant downtown. The Tampa Downtown Partnership tracked over 627,300 visits along the corridor in 2023. Since the pandemic, there's been steady growth in visits along Franklin Street. In 2021, there were 586,400 visits; the following year, it was 616,500 visits. With several months left in 2024, all signs point to another record-setting year. 

Karen Kress, Senior Director of Transportation and planning, speaks to WMNF about the Partnership's recent efforts to document and preserve history along Franklin Street.

83 Degrees explores the transformation within the Downtown Core and historic preservation efforts happening in Tampa's Downtown. From long-time residents to History guides, hear how Tampa manages its growth and past.

Downtown Tampa is getting a new late-night hotspot. 511 Franklin describes itself as “a neighborhood cocktail bar with zero pretenses.”  The new bar will sell a  wide variety of beer, wine, and bubbly—511 Franklin is, first and foremost, a craft cocktail bar.

A new fine-dining experience comes to downtown Tampa along Franklin Street. Ebbe is a unique fine dining experience. The restaurant is the concept of Swedish-born chef Ebbe Vollmer, who has helmed Michelin-starred restaurants, across the world.

Tampa’s majestic movie palace will show Wes Anderson’s highly anticipated new film Asteroid City on Friday, June 23. To celebrate, the Tampa Theatre will host a Franklin Street Block Party from 5 to 7 p.m. before the opening night screening of Asteroid City at 7:30 p.m. The block party is free and open to the public.

 The Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority is taking the next step to extend the TECO Line Streetcar service even without securing expected transportation surtax funds. 

The 600 and 800 blocks of North Franklin Street — offer a unique lesson in local history. Their owner, Carolyn Wilson of the Wilson Co., hopes to keep the history alive.