Southeast City Scoop: Construction Starts in Tampa

Total Construction Starts Should Climb to Highest Level in at Least Five Years

Gains in residential and non-building sectors expected to outweigh a decline in non-residential contracts.

City Grill

Steve Cona III
President & CEO
Associated Builders and Contractors, Florida Gulf Coast Chapter

The Tampa Bay construction market has been “hot” so far in 2018, says Cona, who expects the second and third quarters to be the strongest for new starts. “I see the momentum of the market carrying over into 2019,” he says, adding that the start of the Water Street Tampa project will have a “considerable impact” on the market. One downside Cona sees is that while national contractors are moving into the growing market, “the speciality contractor base has not expanded at the same pace.”

Firm in Focus

Harvard Jolly Inc.
2714 Dr. MLK Jr. St. N, St. Petersburg, Fla.
Chairman/CEO: William B. Harvard
Architects: 42
Founded: 1938
What’s New: Harvard Jolly designed the $61.7-million St. Petersburg Police Headquarters, which was the largest of the firm’s designs to break ground in 2017.