Industrial buildings, warehouses, and port facilities once dominated the downtown Tampa waterfront. In the mid-1970s, Mayor Bill Poe recognized the appeal of having public access to the waterways for residents and tourists and sought redevelopment. It took 35 years and over $35 million, but the Tampa Riverwalk that now fronts 2.6 miles along down the Hillsborough River, from Water Works Park (opened in 2014) to the Channelside District, is now open.

Current plans call for the extension of the Riverwalk to the west side of the river to continue northward, connecting neighborhoods on both sides to downtown. The most remarkable change in these two photos, which span 60 years, is the difference in the skyline. In the Burgert photo, the First National Bank (center left) with the flag on top was 13 stories high and looks to be the tallest building in downtown. It pales in comparison to the modern skyscrapers. Built in 1990, 100 Tampa North, in the same position in the new photo, is 42 stories high.

 © Chip Weiner. All rights reserved