The Lawyer Who Shaped Tampa | From City Hall to Hockey and Water Street

In Episode 99 of The TBD Podcast, Garrett Greco talks with Jim Shimberg, the former Tampa City Attorney, general counsel for the Tampa Bay Lightning, and general council for SPP (the developer of Water Street Tampa). They discuss Tampa’s growth and the challenges that come with it. Jim shares his experience working on projects like Water Street Tampa and discusses affordable housing, zoning, and infrastructure issues in the city. He explains what it takes to balance development with community needs and why decisions made today will shape Tampa’s future. This conversation gives you a clear look at what’s happening in Tampa’s real estate and what to expect moving forward. 0:00:01 - Introduction to Water Street 0:07:15 - Tampa Bay Lightning leadership 0:15:10 - Role as City Attorney 0:22:45 - Affordable housing challenges in Tampa 0:30:20 - Infrastructure issues in Tampa 0:38:05 - Water Street development process 0:44:30 - Attracting South Florida developers 0:51:15 - Tampa’s economic development hurdles 0:57:10 - Live Local Act explanation 1:04:45 - Balancing density and community needs 1:12:30 - Impact of hurricanes on housing 1:20:15 - Long-term vision for Tampa 1:26:05 - Challenges in corporate relocation 1:30:10 - Tampa’s appeal for new residents 1:32:00 - Optimism about Tampa’s future