University of South Florida (USF) has received approval from the Florida Board of Governors to move forward with a planned 27-acre mixed-use development called the Fletcher District, located near its Tampa campus.
The project, to be built on a portion of a former university golf course, is envisioned to include student and faculty housing, retail, restaurants, and an academic/research building.
USF and its trustees say the development will help ease housing demand near campus, boost economic activity in the area, and create a “live, learn, work, play” environment.
However, environmentalists and some neighborhood residents are raising concerns. They point to potential impacts such as increased traffic on nearby roads like Fletcher Avenue, stormwater runoff into adjacent natural areas, and disturbance of wildlife corridors and upland habitats near the USF Forest Preserve.
USF officials say the plan includes measures like native vegetation restoration, wildlife buffers and storm-water management systems, though final approvals and detailed design are still pending.
Construction could begin as early as spring 2026 for the first phase.
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