TAMPA, Fla. — The State of Tampa’s Downtown Forum is happening Tuesday, touting the area’s development growth and future.

Mayor Jane Castor, developers, hospitals, colleges and community organizations will make presentations on how far they have come, and how they will grow into the future.

With the pandemic over and office workers returning to in-person jobs, foot traffic has increased in downtown Tampa businesses.

Moxie’s Cafe owner Karen Carr said business has improved in the past year. She said modes of transportation around downtown like scooters and bikes have increased in numbers.  

“There’s a new ride to work called ‘The Dash,’ which is excellent,” Carr said. “They’ve got an app. You go on the app, click the app and they pick you up at your location. There are certain corners they pick you up on, it’s two bucks.”

It’s a cheap ride, but in a not so cheap part of town to live.

Carr lives in Channelside, and said affordable housing is hard to find, parking is at a premium and there is only limited retail available.

“Living downtown, we definitely need retail,” she said. “We’ve lived downtown for about eight years and you still have to drive your car. You still need a car to go outside of downtown, to go clothing shopping and shoe shopping and whatever.”

Not needing to own a car is a big draw for people looking to live in Tampa’s Urban Core and it also has been a long-term goal as the city has worked to bring in new developers to add residential space downtown.

New retail spaces are expected to be a top priority for the city in future years, and will also likely be a topic of discussion during the forum on Tuesday.

The forum starts at 8 a.m. at Marriott Water Street.