TAMPA, Fla. — Hillsborough County commissioners began talks that could eventually lead to the county sheriff's office headquarters moving out of Ybor City.
Commissioners voted unanimously to authorize staff to advertise and solicit alternative proposals from a proposed land exchange announced earlier this month.
The board discussed the potential to move the sheriff’s office from its Ybor City location to the current headquarters of Grow Financial. The site is nearly three times as large and was built in 2005, which would give law enforcement an updated working space, according to a news release.
The building is located at 9927 Delaney Lake Drive near Brandon, which Ybor developer Darryl Shaw is under contract to acquire.
Staff will evaluate any proposals received in response to the advertisement to determine if they are equal to, or better than, the proposal received from Ybor City Holdings, LLC, read the item on the agenda.
“Whenever there's a chance to collaborate for the benefit of taxpayers, the Sheriff’s office, and Ybor City, we are always going to be interested in those opportunities,” Shaw said in the release earlier this month. “We are fortunate to have forward-thinking public partners who are open to exploring possibilities that could lead to long-term advantages for the community.”
The current sheriff’s office sits on about 8.33 acres of land and has some buildings that are more than a century old. If the swap is approved, the agency will get 24 acres of land and a 5-story building. The property also has a 3-story parking garage.
“I support the county’s incredible collaboration with Mr. Shaw to initiate this land swap, that will increase efficiencies in the services we deliver to the community, supports future growth, and lowers costs for taxpayers,” Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said in the release.
Earlier this month, Chronister noted the need to keep up with the county's growth and updated infrastructure.
Grow Financial will relocate into a new office building that is part of the Gas Worx development in Ybor City, which was also a venture by Shaw. It was approved in August 2022 and will have residences, shopping and office space.
“We have an opportunity here to pursue an innovative solution to our Hillsborough Sherriff’s aging facilities and provide his team with a home that will serve future generations,” Commissioner Michael Owen said in the release.
The current Grow Financial site is about a 15-minute drive away from the current sheriff's office and right across I-75 from the Brandon Mall.
Depending on the outcome, commissioners must set a public hearing on any proposal and could vote on moving the headquarters later this year.