Good News Monday: Vinik Makes Tampa First Certified Wellness City

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Dear Wellness Seekers,

Good News Monday: Vinik Makes Tampa First Certified Wellness City. Wow! What a forward looking idea to shape the development of Downtown Tampa. You may recall Spanista shares many stories on the changing shape of Tampa and the surrounding neighborhood’s many positive attributes as a wellness lifestyle community. Well…. now it is official!

Jeff Vinik, the wealthy owner of  Strategic Properties Partners in Boston and The Tampa Bay Lightening unveiled his $1 billion plan that would transform downtown Tampa, Channelside in December 2014.

Less than a year later Mr. Vinik has advanced his efforts by announcing last week that 40 acres of downtown Tampa targeted for development will become the world’s first “WELL-certified” city district.

What is this new idea? A WELL-certified city or district is one that is dedicated toPINIMAGE the well-being of employees, students, residents and visitors and has mixed-use areas designed with people’s health in mind.  You may recall a Spanista post about the river walk improvements so far – see pics here.

The project is a partnership with investor and technology magnate Bill Gates’ Cascade Investment and real estate development company Delos a pioneer in wellness real estate and strategic property concepts.

Vinik said his vision for Tampa includes a walkable downtown that appeals to millenials and empty-nesters alike. The first major project for the $1 billion plan is the USF medical school facility and a new hotel next to Amalie Arena.

The project also will bring more green space, low pollen trees, sound barriers and air quality monitoring to the area. Spanista loves this too!

Vinik, along with Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn, made the announcement in front of former President Bill Clinton. Vinik and Buckhorn announced the plan Tuesday in New York during an annual meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative.

PINIMAGE“The (project) will invest and construct a $2 billion, 40-acre urban, mix-use development to pilot this innovative model for urban development,” Clinton said while speaking about the project to an Initiative audience. “One that would be good for our campaign against climate change and good for the health of the people who live in the buildings and walk the neighborhoods.”

In addition to the USF medical school, the project includes a new 500-room hotel, an officer tower and 200,000-square feet of shopping and entertainment space and renovations to the Waterside Marriott hotel and Chanelside Bay plaza.

Infrastructure work has already started around Amalie Arena and a groundbreaking is set for next year. The first phase of the project is slated for for completion within five years.

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Good News Monday: Vinik Makes Tampa First Certified Wellness City gets thumbs up from Spanista. The reality of it cannot come soon enough. The downtown Tampa area has so much potential to be cultivated into a world class city experience that shines bright with real purpose – we need cities that enhance our emotional wellbeing versus zapping it away. May we see the virtues of Mr. Vink’s vision soon.

To Your Self Care Journey To Joy,

Ginny