The Vicente
| Address | 2914 N. Nebraska Ave., Tampa, FL 33602 |
| Units | 20 (16 one-bedroom, 4 two-bedroom) |
| Ground-Floor Retail | Yes |
| Attainable Housing | Up to 80% Area Median Income (AMI) |
| Population Served | Workforce Housing |
| Status | Broke ground September 2, 2026 |
| Co-Developers | Urban ReWorx LLC and the CDC of Tampa |
| Architect | Mancini Duffy |
The project is designed to complement the historic character of VM Ybor, incorporating architectural elements that respect the neighborhood’s unique aesthetic while offering modern, efficient living spaces. The development is expected to enhance the Nebraska Avenue corridor, serving as a major catalyst in the area’s revitalization efforts.
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The Vicente – Community FAQ
What is The Vicente?
The Vicente is a 20-unit mixed-use affordable housing community at 2914 N. Nebraska Avenue, in the V.M. Ybor neighborhood of East Tampa. It will include 16 one-bedroom and four two-bedroom apartments above ground-floor retail space, serving working households earning up to 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI). The Vicente is co-developed by Urban ReWorx and the Corporation to Develop Communities of Tampa (CDC of Tampa), with public investment from the City of Tampa and the East Tampa Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA).
Where does the project stand today?
The Vicente broke ground on September 2, 2026. The ceremony was hosted by Urban ReWorx and the CDC of Tampa and attended by Mayor Jane Castor, CRA Board Chair and District 5 Councilwoman Naya Young, and neighborhood stakeholders, partners, businesses, and community faith leaders. The Vicente is expected to bring a positive impact for the Nebraska Avenue corridor and the wider community. The 1965-era car wash, recently renamed the Island Shine Auto Wash, will be cleared to make way for new construction of the Vicente. We will post progress updates as work advances.
How does this benefit East Tampa?
The Vicente brings long-term, deed-restricted affordable housing to a corridor that has seen decades of disinvestment. It helps preserve affordability for current residents and workers while catalyzing future economic activity, and it creates new local jobs and retail space for neighborhood businesses.
Why is the Nebraska Avenue location important?
Nebraska Avenue has been identified by planning and policy leaders, including local university researchers and the East Tampa CRA, as a high-priority transportation and investment corridor. The Vicente is one of the first projects to activate the corridor with high-quality, walkable, mixed-use development, and it is the most significant project along this portion of Nebraska Avenue in decades.
Who is designing and building The Vicente?
The Vicente was designed by Mancini Duffy and approved by Tampa’s Barrio Latino Commission, which reviews development in V.M. Ybor to ensure new construction respects the historic district’s architectural character. Construction is being performed by FIN Construction whose principals served as construction managers overseeing final design. Subcontractor participation is being sought through a competitive RFP process, with an internal goal of at least 10% participation from SBE/WMBE-certified firms. Urban ReWorx and the CDC of Tampa are also implementing an apprenticeship program so young people can learn hands-on construction skills.
How is the project funded?
The Vicente is supported by a combination of public investment and private capital:
- $3.5 million from the East Tampa Community Redevelopment Agency
- $750,000 from the City of Tampa
- Construction financing from Suncoast Credit Union
- Private equity from Urban ReWorx
How is this cost-effective for taxpayers?
The Vicente is deed-restricted as affordable housing for 50 years. Measured across that term, the $4.25 million in public investment works out to approximately $85,000 per year, or about $4,250 per apartment per year.
The site today is a 1965 car wash on a 0.31-acre parcel that generates very little property tax. A 20-unit mixed-use building will be assessed at a multiple of that value, and The Vicente will pay property taxes on it. Because the site sits within the East Tampa Community Redevelopment Area, those incremental taxes flow back into the same CRA trust fund that helped finance the project, returning a meaningful share of the public investment over the life of the affordability restriction. This is not money spent and gone — it seeds a tax base on a parcel that has produced almost none for decades, exactly how the CRA should be funded.
For context, construction costs for affordable housing have risen sharply nationwide. Recent National Low Income Housing Coalition and HUD data put the average cost per unit in the U.S. above $300,000 to $350,000, and Florida markets with rising land and construction costs frequently exceed $375,000 per unit. Despite its small scale, infill site constraints, historic-district design requirements, and local hiring goals, The Vicente is consistent with those benchmarks.
How will this benefit families in East Tampa?
Apartments are designed to be within reach of essential workers, small families, and first-time renters. These homes help working households build stability while staying in the community they are part of. The ground-floor retail space creates room for locally owned businesses to grow.
How was the community involved?
Urban ReWorx and its partners held multiple meetings with the V.M. Ybor Neighborhood Association, the Ybor Heights Neighborhood Association, the Jackson Heights Neighborhood Association, the East Tampa CRA Citizens Advisory Committee, and countless neighbors, small business owners, and stakeholders. The project’s unit count was intentionally reduced in response to that feedback. Neighbors preferred a smaller-scale development, and the final design reflects their direct input: scale, affordability, and integrity, without displacement.
Is this a new role for CRAs in Tampa?
Yes. The Vicente represents a new direction for Tampa CRAs, investing directly in the creation of long-term affordable housing. It is a model for how CRA resources can be used to stabilize neighborhoods, support inclusive growth, and address housing access head-on, and it sets the stage for more community-led projects to follow.
How do I get on the list for an apartment?
Leasing has not opened yet. Join our interest list using the form on this page and we will contact you directly when applications open, with details on availability, income qualification, and the application process.
Is retail space available?
Yes. The Vicente includes 950 sq. ft. of ground-floor retail intended for neighborhood-serving businesses. If you are interested in leasing, please contact us at info@urbanreworx.com.