TampaBayBusinessNews.com | September 12, 2026
Quick Answer
Tampa Union Station, the 1912 Italian Renaissance Revival depot at 601 N. Nebraska Ave., is undergoing a roughly $6 million restoration funded mainly by the Tampa Community Redevelopment Agency ($4 million) and a $408,000 state grant. Work led by architect Jerel McCants and contractor Collage Co. is expected to finish in fall 2026, after which the city plans to seek proposals for cafés, coworking and event uses inside the landmark.
Why the Project Matters for Tampa Bay Business
Tampa Union Station is not a museum piece. It is Florida’s busiest Amtrak stop, handling more than 156,000 riders in 2024, a 21 percent jump over 2023, on only two daily Floridian-route trains. It also sits at the seam of downtown’s most active development corridor, between Water Street, the Channel District, Encore, Ybor City and the Gasworx district. A restored, activated station becomes a connective anchor for all of them.
Project Overview at a Glance
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| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Building | Tampa Union Station, opened 1912 |
| Style | Italian Renaissance Revival |
| Estimated cost | About $6 million |
| Primary funding | $4 million from Tampa CRA (2025) |
| State support | $408,000 Florida historic preservation grant |
| Architect | Jerel McCants, Jerel McCants Architecture |
| Contractor | Collage Co. |
| Amtrak status | Operating from temporary trailer since March 16, 2026 |
| Target completion | Fall 2026 |
| Last major renovation | Late 1990s (reopened 1998) |
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What the Renovation Includes
The scope is a full building-envelope and interior refresh designed to protect the structure’s historic designations rather than modernize its look:
- Windows and trim: Replacement of deteriorated window assemblies with a denser, longer-lasting wood system matched to the originals.
- Brick exterior: Cleaning and protective coating of the red brick façade that defines the building.
- Roof and canopy: Roof repairs plus cleaning, repair and recoating of the large iron passenger canopy.
- Termite remediation: Whole-building tenting, one reason Amtrak moved passenger services into a temporary trailer northwest of the depot.
- Interior plaster and paint: Restoration of damaged plaster in the grand waiting room, with paint colors matched to the original yellow-and-green scheme.
- Restrooms: A complete remodel with finishes reflecting the early 1900s.
- Systems: Upgrades to aging electrical and building systems.
Because the station is a local historic landmark, listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1974 and recognized as a National Historic Railroad Landmark, every change requires a certificate of appropriateness from architectural review committees.
Who Is Behind the Work
The City of Tampa owns the building and is funding the bulk of the project through its CRA. The nonprofit Friends of Tampa Union Station, led by president Brandie Miklus, has been the long-running advocacy and fundraising force; McCants also serves as the group’s vice president. The University of South Florida’s Access 3D Lab produced precise 3D scans of the structure to guide restoration. Amtrak separately partnered on upgrades to the outdoor rail platforms.
Smaller grants are adding finishing touches, including an $8,000 Frank E. Duckwall Foundation award for museum-style displays of station artifacts such as original TUS-monogrammed glass doorknobs and period planters recovered by volunteers.
Timeline and Current Status
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| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 2023–2024 | Baggage building renovated (electrical, windows, doors, pavers) |
| 2025 | CRA commits $4M; state grant awarded |
| Summer 2025 | Restoration work begins; original December 2025 target slips |
| Jan 2026 | Budget updated to ~$6M; fall 2026 completion confirmed |
| Mar 16, 2026 | Amtrak operations move to temporary trailer |
| Apr 2026 | Public construction tours; RFP for building uses signaled |
| Jun 2026 | Architect reports work actively underway |
| Fall 2026 | Targeted completion |
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As of mid-September 2026, no formal reopening date has been announced publicly. Based on the fall target, business owners and event planners should expect the grand waiting room to return to service in the fourth quarter, subject to the usual historic-project variability.
What Happens After Construction
The city has indicated it will issue a request for proposals for commercial and community uses once the building is complete. Ideas already floated by the city and Friends of Tampa Union Station include:
- A coffee shop or café in the main terminal
- Coworking space in the station or adjacent baggage building
- An expanded event venue for weddings, galas and corporate functions
- A CRA-commissioned public art sculpture near the train platforms
The stated goal is a self-sustaining revenue model so the station can fund its own upkeep rather than waiting decades between city-funded overhauls.
Long-Term Rail Upside
Five of the station’s original platforms sit unused. Advocates point out the site could absorb additional Amtrak frequencies, a future SunRail extension or Brightline service to Tampa without new track infrastructure. That latent capacity is one reason the restoration is framed as an economic-development investment rather than a preservation expense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tampa Union Station still open for Amtrak?
Yes. Trains are running normally, but ticketing and waiting areas are in a temporary trailer beside the depot. The station is temporarily cashless and passengers are advised to allow extra time.
How much is the renovation costing?
Roughly $6 million, up from an initial $3.6 to $4 million estimate, with $4 million from the Tampa CRA and $408,000 from the State of Florida.
When will the renovation be finished?
The current target is fall 2026. Interior activation (café, coworking, events) will follow a city RFP process after construction closes.
Who owns Tampa Union Station?
The City of Tampa owns the building. Friends of Tampa Union Station is the nonprofit steward and advocacy partner.
Can businesses lease space in the station?
Not yet. Watch for the City of Tampa’s request for proposals expected after construction wraps.
Sources and Further Reading
- Business Observer – “Renovations to Tampa Union Station go full steam ahead” (April 8, 2026): https://www.businessobserverfl.com/news/2026/apr/08/renovations-tampa-union-station-full-steam-ahead/
- WMNF 88.5 FM – “Tampa’s historic Union Station to undergo $6 million renovation” (January 5, 2026): https://www.wmnf.org/tampas-historic-union-station-to-undergo-6-million-renovation/
- 83 Degrees Media – “Tampa Union Station renovation moving along” (September 2025): https://83degreesmedia.com/tampa-union-station-renovation-moving-along/
- FOX 13 Tampa Bay – “Restoration, renovation project on historic Tampa Union Station begins this summer” (July 24, 2025): https://www.fox13news.com/news/restoration-renovation-project-historic-tampa-union-station-begins-summer
- Plan Hillsborough – “Tampa Union Station Is Getting a Glow-Up!” (July 2025): https://planhillsborough.org/tampa-union-station-is-getting-a-glow-up/
- Amtrak Great American Stations – Tampa, FL (TPA) service notice: https://www.greatamericanstations.com/stations/tampa-fl-tpa/
- Jerel McCants Architecture – Tampa Union Station project page (updated June 2026): https://jmccants.com/tampa-union-station/
- Friends of Tampa Union Station: https://tampaunionstation.com
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