Phase II of Ybor's 7th Avenue Rebricking Now Complete News Community Redevelopment Areas, News General 7th Avenue Reopens with Completion of Bricking Project's Second PhaseWork[...]

Work on the second phase of the 7th Avenue Bricking Project has wrapped up ahead of schedule, allowing Ybor City's main drag between 17th and 19th streets to reopen Monday.

The bricking, funded by the Community Redevelopment Agency or CRA, has been completed in phases, the first taking place in 2024. Despite a full road closure around the project, sidewalk access to the surrounding businesses was maintained and wayfinding signage assisted visitors.

Throughout the first two phases, roughly 140,000 historic bricks have been utilized -- 80,000 for the first phase, and 60,000 for this second phase. These historic, repurposed bricks have been collected, stored, and maintained by the City of Tampa in accordance with City Code. Due to their limited supply, they are prioritized for historically significant projects, like this one.

7th Avenue's origins date back to the turn of the 20th century, when Ybor was known as the "Cigar Capital of the World." It remained a brick street through the 1960s before the city turned to asphalt paving.

Bringing brick back not only enhances the character and feel of the National Historic Landmark District, but it also provides natural traffic calming and promotes walkability. It is also expected to benefit the local businesses in Ybor City and help stimulate economic growth.

Funding this second phase to the tune of $663,000, the Community Redevelopment Agency has played a central role in advancing the Ybor City 7th Avenue rebricking project, reinforcing its commitment to preserving the district's historic character while supporting modern infrastructure needs.