As Tampa’s $ 3.5 billion Water Street Tampa project completes its first phase, it will offer the public a glimpse of its next major residential tower.
Asher, the third and largest residential building on Water Street, opens in March at 1050 Water St., with pre-letting starting in January. The building will also house a new extended-stay boutique hotel, Roost Tampa, from a Philadelphia-based hotel company making its Florida debut.
At 490 units, Asher – the name comes from a Hebrew term for happy or blessed – will be the largest of the three residential buildings in Water Street Tampa’s first phase of development. The 420 unit heron and 338 unit Cora opened this year. Another building, the Tampa Edition Hotel, also has 37 luxury condominiums.
Roost Tampa will have 97 units on the first six floors of the building, while the Asher’s permanent residences will fill the top 15 floors. The concept of combining high-end apartments and hotel-style amenities is a new one in Tampa Bay, said Lee Schaffler, chief portfolio officer at senior Water Street developer Strategic Property Partners.
“You’re right in the middle,” said Schaffler. “It is the first of the three buildings that will open onto Water Street. It will be in the front and in the middle. The lights and street activities will be on your doorstep. “
This rendering shows the exterior of Asher, a new residential tower located at 1050 Water St. on Water Street Tampa. The building will open in 2022. [ Strategic Property Partners ]
Ashers Design will be “reminiscent of Tampa’s industrial history,” according to a description by Strategic Property Partners, with studio, one and two bedroom units available. According to Schaffler, the prices have not yet been fixed, but with the exception of the cheaper studio units, they will be comparable to those at Cora and Heron. Cora initially offered apartments at prices starting at $ 1,650 per month for a 451-square-foot one-bedroom studio; while Heron’s apartments started at $ 1,918 a month for a 545-square-foot studio.
“Someone might be able to afford a studio and have access to this great neighborhood that they might not otherwise be able to get to if it was a one-bedroom,” said Schaffler. “There are a lot of studios in New York and a lot of demand for them, and we feel like this is an untapped niche in Tampa, that there are a lot of people who would trade personal space for outdoor communal space.”
This rendering shows a common area of Asher, a new residential tower at 1050 Water St. on Water Street Tampa. The building will open in 2022. [ Strategic Property Partners ]
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Under the direction of the Philadelphia hospitality company Method Co., Roost will offer designs and furniture that are “inspired by the rich Latin American heritage that prevails in the Tampa neighborhoods,” the developers said.
Randall Cook, Co-Founder and CEO of Roost, said Tampa was a coveted city for the brand as many people move to the area.
This rendering shows the interior of Roost Tampa, an extended stay hotel owned by the Philadelphia hotel company Method Co., which is moving its first property to Water Street Tampa in 2022. [ Strategic Property Partners ]This rendering shows the interior of Roost Tampa, an extended stay hotel owned by the Philadelphia hotel company Method Co., which is moving its first property to Water Street Tampa in 2022. [ Strategic Property Partners ]
“We see Tampa as a growth market and one of those cities that more and more people are talking about,” said Cook.
Both Asher residents and Roost guests have access to the building’s communal facilities, including concierges, a co-working space, demonstration lounge, fitness center, and a rooftop pool deck with cabanas, lawn games, and a bar and outdoor kitchen. Method will oversee programming for both facilities, which could include food and drink options or groups like running or yoga clubs.
This rendering shows the pool deck of Asher, a new residential tower at 1050 Water St. on Water Street Tampa. The building will open in 2022. [ Strategic Property Partners ]
The building’s ground floor will have 30,000 square meters of retail space. One previously announced deal for the space is Wagamama, an Asian fusion restaurant with locations in New York and Boston. Another sales area will be temporarily occupied by a Felt art exhibition by the artist Lucy Sparrow.
Related: Water Street Tampa is preparing large light art installations
When Wagamama and other nearby restaurants open in 2022, Water Street residents will be there to meet them. Heron opened in March and is almost full, said Schaffler, while Cora opened this fall and is already 30 percent full.
“At some point we’re going to say, ‘Okay, we’ve built the number of units the market can hold,’” he said. “We’re not there yet. I think the demand for this building will be very robust, just like Cora and Heron. “
This rendering shows the pool deck of Asher, a new residential tower at 1050 Water St. on Water Street Tampa. The building will open in 2022. [ Strategic Property Partners ]
