TAMPA, Fla. — Work begins Tuesday on the reshaping of a Bay area shopping mall.

  • Revamping of University Mall
  • 100-acre property being transformed into new "Urban Village"
  • Mall finally getting a much-needed makeover

The long languishing University Mall is finally getting a much-needed makeover. 

Development firm RD Management is redoing the 100-acre property, which sits on Fowler Avenue just west of the University of South Florida.

Demolition will pick up on the west side of the mall today, where a JCPenney store formerly stood. Once that portion is cleared, construction will start on what is being called new "Urban Villages" where residents will live, work and play. 

Over the years, the mall has seen anchor tenants leave and other stores close, leaving lots of empty parking spaces. 

The redevelopment plans include construction of a pedestrian-orientated street lined with restaurants, office space and even a residential complex. 

"It’ll be prettier," said shopper Demeshia Bully. "You’ll still want to come here, they’ll have more stores, but it’ll look better." 

The developers have said the existing store tenants will be able to stay in the new mall, which will incorporate some the current structure into the new plans.

"It’s a good location," said shopper Franklin West. "You have the university and a lot of things around here it’s easy access with I-275 really close so you have easy access in and out of this mall."

 
The redevelopment plans include construction of a pedestrian-orientated street lined with restaurants, office space and even a residential complex. 

 (RD Management, LLC)