Tampa, Florida -- The Bay Area's retail renaissance is spreading into South Tampa's Hyde Park Village.
The area's new owners, WS Development, say they have a vision to bring the outdoor shopping area back to its glory days.
These days, even in the middle of lunch hour, South Tampa's Hyde Park Village has no shortage of empty sidewalks to go with its empty stores.
"We were just like - is this it?" Asked visitor Anastasia Francis, "Are there more shops?"
Paula Kwitko, also shopping today, is a long-time resident.
"I think it's a wasted resource, because it's beautiful here," said Kwitko.
Now, Hyde Park Village has taken a major step toward a retail renaissance. The property's new owners have submitted plans for an urban update.
Jeff Curley, Director of Development for WS Development, says it's time to bring the area back to its full potential.
"Yes, we have to make some improvements," said Curley, "These are 30 year-old buildings in some cases."
Artist renderings suggest a major face-lift.
The Wells Fargo building along Swann Avenue will be leaving in a couple of months to make room for retail shops and a marquis restaurant.
Brick facades will get an updated look, in step, say developers, with the kind of retailers who are looking to take par tin the village vibe.
Another change will take Hyde Park Village to a whole new level.
No, literally - level.
Developers believe that one of the biggest challenges facing Hyde Park Village is that its sidewalks often slope away from the buildings on an angle. So, part of the retail redo will level the roads and sidewalks to make them flatter, encouraging more outdoor dining and pedestrian traffic.
Retailers like Margo Stewart, encouraged by the plan, remember the days when Hyde Park Village was a destination.
"And I think with these new revamps and ideas it's going to become one again," said Stewart who operates the Downtown Dogs store.
The changes come as other retail spots like Sundial in St. Petersburg and Channelside in Tampa update their look too.
There is some pressure to remain competitive, says Curley, "But it's more about creating the vision we have for Hyde Park Village going into the future."
The property owners hope to have phase one completed by the end of the summer. They then plan to take a strategically-timed break for the holiday shopping season, and resume after that - with the goal of finishing up by Spring of 2016.
