Two Storms, New Gateway into Ybor City

A New Block of Buildings Emerges in Historic Ybor City

As you cruise down 7th Avenue in Ybor City, you’ll spot something fresh at the western edge — Casa Gomez and Casa Marti, two new developments designed by Chancey Architecture and Interior Design, an architecture and interior design firm with deep roots and history in the Historic District. These buildings bring a modern transformation to Ybor, while still celebrating its deep-rooted history. Perched on the rooftop of Casa Gomez, you’ll find yourself with sweeping views of the city. To the east lies José Martí Park — owned by the Cuban government since 1956 — and to the southwest, you’re greeted with a vision of Tampa’s future, stretching across Gas Worx and downtown.

Walt Chancey, principal of Chancey Architecture, originally purchased the dirt lot from the city in 2006. “Our firm has a long history in Ybor City, 35 years. It’s where we opened our first Tampa office, so when the chance came to build on historic 7th Avenue, we took the chance,” Walt Chancey says.

Fast forward to 2015, when Darryl Shaw began executing his vision for a revitalized Ybor City. Shaw purchased the remaining lots around the Chancey office building, setting the stage for what would become Casa Gomez and Casa Marti.

Casa Gomez and Casa Marti are the latest in a series of transformative projects spearheaded by Shaw. Together, Chancey and Shaw focused on filling the gap between Ybor and downtown Tampa. These developments have turned previously vacant lots and aging industrial sites into a bustling hub of new homes, businesses, and retail spots. Positioned at Ybor’s western entrance, these projects merge historic charm with modern convenience, creating a bridge between the past and the future.

Casa Gomez, a 22,000-square-foot mixed-use office building, has already filled all its office spaces. Major tenants like New Wave Energy, ChappellRoberts, and NextPath Career Partners have moved in. The building will also feature a first-floor restaurant occupying 4,200 square feet, and a rooftop bar, measuring 4,200 square feet, both of which are sure to breathe new life into the district.

Right next door, Casa Marti adds a residential element with 127 units, ranging from studios to two-bedroom apartments. It also offers ground-floor retail spaces, including a coffee shop and a restaurant. The design of Casa Marti honors Ybor’s architectural roots with brick exteriors and wrought-iron balconies, while 8th Avenue’s historic brick road is being restored to further embrace the area’s heritage.

“This project is a tribute to Ybor’s rich history, ensuring that any new development seamlessly fits into the fabric of the district,” remarks Walt Chancey.

Why It Matters?

Now complete, Casa Gomez and Casa Marti serve as a new gateway to 7th Avenue, marking the beginning of a new chapter in Ybor’s storied timeline. Together, these developments represent the renaissance of a historic Tampa neighborhood, blending the old with the new in a way that only Ybor City can.

Two Historic Storms in Two Weeks

Tampa being a more inland city insulated by the bay has been lucky with these storms, but 103 years ago we got slammed with a direct hit. I remember my grandfather telling me water was up to the door of the Columbia Restaurant in the 1921 storm.

Bayshore Boulevard destroyed, ships from the channel washed ashore, trolly tracks ripped up across the city.

We’ve all talked about the possibility of a direct hit for decades, but it never came. Stories of the past have only been echoed for the last 100 years with only a “possibility” of something like that ever occurring again.

Now, we had two storms back-to-back that brought different impacts to our area: Helene with historic storm surge and Milton with wind damage and rain floods.