Facility Development: Tampa Bay, U.S. Virgin Islands

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Port Tampa Bay’s board of directors has board approved a proposal of the firm of CBP, LLC, to put together a thorough plan to redevelop and revive the Channelside Bay Plaza entertainment facility. The Virgin Islands Port Authority is beginning the process to construct a new U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility and parking garage at the island’s most busy ferry and cargo port.

Tampa Port Board Pre-Approves Developer’s Bid to Redevelop Channelside Bay Plaza

Port Tampa Bay’s board of directors on June 30 pre-approved a proposal of the firm of CBP, LLC, to put together a thorough plan to redevelop and revive the Channelside Bay Plaza entertainment facility, with the goal of bringing people, jobs and economic development to this very important asset along downtown Tampa’s waterfront.

The port authority owns the property where the plaza is located and approves the leases.

CBP, LLC was accepted as the winner at the July 2 auction by the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation (IRBC) with a bid of $7.1 million for the property lease. The next step will be to seek approval by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, in Delaware, on July 15.

"We are extremely excited to be able to move forward with Channelside and work with a developer that will breathe new life into the complex and connect it to the other world-class attractions in the Channel District," said Port President Paul Anderson. "The community and its citizens deserve a top-notch entertainment venue for many, many years to come."

U.S. Virgin Islands: Customs Facility and Parking Garage Conceptual Design Starts for St. Thomas Terminal

The Urman V. Fredericks Marine Terminal in Red Hook, St. Thomas, is scheduled for a major enhancement as the Virgin Islands Port Authority begins the process to construct a new U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility and parking garage at the island’s busiest ferry and cargo port.

VIPA Executive Director Carlton Dowe said the Authority’s marine consultant was assigned a contract in the amount of $252,532 to develop the concept and assist with the permitting process to build the new US Customs and Border Protection Facility near the old ferry dock in Red Hook. The plan will also include a multi-level parking garage.

"When the port authority increased three of its marine rates earlier this year, we indicated that a portion of the monies raised from the rate increase would fund the construction of a new U.S. Customs facility in Red Hook and parking lot improvements," Mr. Dowe said. "I am pleased to announce to the public that we will deliver on our promise to improve our port, and to decrease the amount of time it takes to travel between the British Virgin Islands and US Virgin Islands by building a Customs building on St. Thomas."

Passengers traveling from the BVI to Red Hook on St. Thomas currently stop in St. John to clear Customs before continuing to St. Thomas. This process adds about 45 minutes or more to travel time. Mr. Dowe said the U.S. Customs facility in St. John will be available for vessels traveling directly to St. John from the BVI and other foreign destinations.

VIPA anticipates that concept design for the facility will take approximately three months to complete. This phase of the project will be funded via the authority’s fiscal year 2014 budget.