Overview

In 1988, the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority (Authority) announced long-term plans to begin acquisition of approximately 206 acres in the Drew Park area, east of Tampa International Airport. The boundaries for the acquisition area are West Crest Avenue on the north, Dazzo Avenue on the south, Hesperides Street and Lauber Way on the east and Westshore Boulevard on the west.

The purpose of the Drew Park Property Acquisition/Relocation Program is to provide the necessary land for expansion of the Airport in the future. The amount of land needed was outlined in the 1988 Master Plan which addressed the Airport's needs into the 21st century.

The Authority follows federal and state laws and procedures throughout the acquisition process which require the payment of fair market value for the property acquired as well as location assistance to displaced residents and businesses. The Authority's goal is to acquire properties in the acquisition area under terms that are mutually acceptable to the property owner and the Authority.

The concept of willing seller-willing buyer is the basis of the Tampa International Airport Land Acquisition Program. The program is completely voluntary.

Once the property owner indicates to the Authority that he or she is interested, the Authority begins its due diligence. And, unlike the eminent domain process, either side can walk away from a deal at any time.

Authority staff administer the program directly and are the primary contact for the acquisition process. Relocation services are at the same address and are provided by a representative of O. R. Colan Associates. The Authority's office for the acquisition and relocation program is located in Drew Park at 4506 West Cayuga, Tampa, FL 33607. Both Authority staff and O. R. Colan representatives are available to meet with property owners who have questions about the program or are interested in selling their property to the Authority. Property owners with questions regarding the acquisition program can call the program office at (813) 876-4106 during normal business hours.

The attached map shows the status of the project as of September 2005. To date, the Authority has acquired 85% of the parcels within the Drew Park land acquisition area.

View the Drew Park Property Map 299 K

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How does the HCAA appraise properties in the acquisition area?

Appraisals are conducted by one of four appraisal firms hired by the Authority. Once the title search, survey and environmental audit are compiled on a parcel, one of these firms will send an appraiser to inspect the property. Property owners are welcome to accompany the appraiser during this inspection. When determining the current fair market value of property, appraisers use statistics from recent home and business property sales within Hillsborough County. These statistics are drawn from comparable properties that have recently been sold and are near the Drew Park land acquisition area. Appraisals must be completed in accordance with local, state and federal regulations and are based on the current fair market value of the property. After the appraisal report is submitted, it is reviewed by a certified review appraiser. Upon approval of the appraisal, an offer package will be prepared for the purchase of the property.

2. What are relocation benefits? Are they taken off the purchase price of my property?

Relocation benefits are payments to property owners and tenants who must move their home or business after the property is sold to the Authority. These benefits are paid in addition to the price the Authority pays for the property. For residential property owners or tenants, these benefits can include the costs of moving household items, assistance in locating and moving into new housing, assistance with closing costs and down payments for the purchase of a home or rental subsidies if not purchasing a home. For business owners or tenants, relocation benefits can include costs of moving business personal property, assistance in locating to another location and re-establishment costs. The 2005 Uniform Relocation Act revision allows for additional and increased benefits to businesses, families and individuals.

3. If the Airport plans to eventually expand into Drew Park, won't that have a negative impact on current property values? Prospective tenants might think the Authority will take over the area soon and may not want to go through the trouble of moving again very soon.

The Authority has seen no negative impact on property values as a consequence of this program. Appraisers hired by the Authority conducted a market study of the property in Drew Park in August 1994. The Federal Aviation Administration required that this study be conducted before any property was acquired by the Authority. The study looked at how property values were affected since 1988 when the Authority first announced the land would be needed for future Airport expansion. The study concluded that property values did not go down because of the Authority's announcement. As previously indicated, an appraisal prepared for a prospective sale in Drew Park, compares the value of the property offered for sale to the value of similar properties outside Drew Park.

Property owners should simply inform prospective tenants that the Authority staff member will be happy to explain the voluntary acquisition and relocation program to prospective tenants.

4. After I have agreed to sell my property to the Authority, when will an offer be made to me?

The process starts when you first inform the Authority that you are a willing seller. This process consists of title search, a land survey, an environmental audit, and appraisal and a review appraisal. Each of these steps must be done in order and each must be completed before the next step can start. At the present time, this process is taking from 9 to 12 months, due to the number of willing sellers.

5. How much is it going to cost me?

The acquisition process costs you nothing. The property owner (seller) pays no real estate commissions. There are no attorney's fees unless the owner hires an attorney at his or her own expense. The property owner is not charged for any land surveys, environmental audits, title searches, credit reports and so on. The Authority pays all normal closing costs. At the closing, the property owner is responsible for the payment of any unpaid property taxes and any outstanding scheduled mortgage payments that must be made in order to transfer the property title free and clear of all legal encumbrances. This payment is separate from the purchase price of your property and will be calculated by the Authority and deducted from the purchase price. If you have tenants leasing any part of the property you sell to us, the Authority also pays to relocate them.

6. What if I tell the Authority I want to sell, but then change my mind? What if I withdrew from the process previously but now want to re-enter?

If at any time you change your mind about selling to the Authority, simply contact our office in writing and tell us to stop the acquisition process. You can stop the sale of your property at any time prior to signing the "Purchase and Sell Agreement" which is a binding contract. Once the Authority makes a purchase offer to you, you have 90 days to consider the offer. If you do not sign the agreement within 90 days, the Authority assumes you are no longer interested in selling.

You can re-enter the acquisition process at any time. However, the Authority's purchase of your property will depend on several things, such as the number of properties already ahead of yours in the process, the amount of time since the appraisal and environmental audits were conducted, and availability of acquisition funds.

7. Can I get an independent appraisal for my property?

Yes, but the Authority is not responsible for the cost. If you decide to get your own property appraisal, it, and any other information you provide establishing the value of your property will be considered by our staff.

8. I am not ready to sell my property right now because I want, or need to make some improvements to my property. Will these improvements be considered by the Authority's property appraiser if I become a willing seller in the future?

Yes. As part of the acquisition process, an appraisal will be ordered. Improvements to your property will be considered at that time.

9. When does the Airport really need the Drew Park property?

Development of the acquired property will depend on the growth and future needs of the Airport. The Authority is continuously evaluating that need using the best data and forecasting resources available.

10. What plans does the Airport have for the acquisition area once it is acquired?

When the number of passengers using Tampa International Airport begins to approach 25 million annually, the Terminal Complex and airfield will have to be expanded. Facilities that are in the path of this expansion will need to be moved to the Drew Park acquisition area. This will include the redevelopment of the Airport's air cargo facility, aircraft maintenance, fuel farms, equipment maintenance, Aircraft Rescue Fire Training facilities and other aviation-related facilities.