TAMPA — A massive project to connect Ybor City and the Channelside in Tampa is underway.

Developers and local leaders on Monday officially broke ground on Gas Worx, which will bring housing, stores and parks to the area.

Gas Worx will sit on 50 acres of land. That space is mostly vacant and home to old warehouses, but city leaders want to bring it back to life.

“This isn’t just a development,” said Mayor Jane Castor. “This is going to be a part of continuing on with Ybor City’s history and ensuring that we maintain what has made this city such an amazing city.”

Once it’s complete, Gas Worx will bring nearly 5,000 new homes, as well as offices, stores, restaurants and greenspaces.

The project’s developers say they want to support economic growth in Ybor City but also create a sense of community.

“Gas worx will provide connection," said Graham Tyrell, senior VP of Multifamily Development at Kettler. "It will connect neighborhoods and people. And in the true spirit of Ybor, it’s really about inclusiveness. So we’re going to offer affordable housing, we’re going to have small retail spaces that are going to be provided for local small businesses.”

Developers say it’s meant to be a walkable and bikeable community, and they’ll be adding another streetcar stop to cut down on traffic.

Castor says the development will help address the city’s need for more housing, but she also wants to preserve Ybor’s character.

“Making sure that we are making room for those individuals that really created Ybor and are continuing on with that culture and history,” Castor said. “We don’t want individuals to be priced out of any community in our city.”

According to developers, Gas Worx will include more than 300 affordable housing units.

Construction on the first buildings is expected to be done next year.

Developers say plans for the next phase of construction include building four more residential buildings and converting an old warehouse into a retail hall.