West Riverfront

West Riverfront is a City of Tampa neighborhood association bounded by Cass Street to the south, North Boulevard to the east, Rome Avenue to the west and Interstate 275 to the north. Just across North Boulevard, the west bank of the Hillsborough River is lined with some of the city’s biggest landmarks: the University of Tampa and Plant Park, Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park, Tampa Preparatory School, the Tampa River Center and Blake High School.

Few Tampa neighborhoods are seeing as much public investment right now. The rebuilt Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park, the West Riverwalk expansion and new street improvements are reshaping the area, and new development, including a new Publix, has followed.

Nearby: West Tampa, North Hyde Park, Hyde Park and Downtown Tampa. Neighborhood and ZIP boundaries do not always match; confirm the address on each listing.

West Riverfront homes for sale range from older homes to brand-new builds, and price per square foot varies widely by age, finish and lot:

• New construction. New single-family homes and townhomes on infill lots. Ask for permits, the builder’s warranty and the elevation certificate.
• Older and renovated homes. Established homes on the neighborhood’s original streets, some renovated and some original. Ask what was updated, when, and with which permits.
• Land and lots. Lots for new construction come up as older properties turn over. See the land for sale section below, and check zoning, utilities and any tree or survey issues before you buy.

The City of Tampa broke ground on the West Riverwalk expansion in October 2025, extending the Tampa Riverwalk to the west bank of the Hillsborough River. City officials expect it to spur new investment in the neighborhoods it connects:

• The riverfront trail: a 1.5-mile multi-use trail along the west bank from Kennedy Boulevard to Rome Avenue, linking Plant Park, the University of Tampa, Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park, Tampa Preparatory School, the Tampa River Center, Blake High School, Stewart Middle Magnet School and the Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Complex.
• A link to Bayshore: a new segment near the Platt and Brorein street bridges with two pedestrian underpass bridges, connecting Bayshore Boulevard north along the river.
• Safer streets: new bike lanes, protected two-way cycle tracks, sidewalks and high-visibility crosswalks, connecting West Tampa neighborhoods south to Hyde Park and east to the riverfront.
• The bigger network: the city’s roughly 5-mile West River multimodal path, funded in part by a federal BUILD grant, will connect Downtown Tampa to West Tampa, Tampa Heights, Bayshore Boulevard, Hyde Park, North Hyde Park and Ybor City.
• Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park: reopened in 2018 after a $35 million rebuild, with about 25 acres of riverfront space.
• Riverfront Stadium: the Tampa Bay Sun, a USL Super League women’s soccer club, renovated Riverfront Stadium at Blake High School as its home field.

Timelines for public projects can change. Read the latest from the City of Tampa; we’ll keep this section updated.

Dining

Rick’s on the River, a longtime riverfront bar and grill with its own marina and live music every day, is a short drive north on North Willow Avenue, and Cousin Vinny’s Sandwich Co. in North Hyde Park is a Michelin-recommended sandwich shop a few blocks west. Downtown Tampa’s restaurants are just across the river.

Things to do

• Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park: riverfront lawns, a boathouse, the Tampa River Center, playgrounds and sports courts.
• The University of Tampa: Plant Park and the historic Plant Hall, built as Henry B. Plant’s Tampa Bay Hotel in 1891, are just southeast.
• Tampa Bay Sun games: USL Super League women’s soccer at Riverfront Stadium at Blake High School.
• Tampa Riverwalk: cross the river to Downtown Tampa’s 2.6-mile Riverwalk, the Straz Center and Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park.

Restaurants, venues and park facilities change. Check hours and status before you go.

Living in West Riverfront

• Close to everything: Downtown Tampa is just across the river, with the University of Tampa, Hyde Park and North Hyde Park minutes away.
• Getting around: Interstate 275 forms the northern edge, with North Boulevard, Rome Avenue, Cass Street and Kennedy Boulevard connecting to Downtown, South Tampa, Westshore and Tampa International Airport (TIA). The new West Riverwalk and bike lanes add walking and biking routes. Travel times depend on your address and traffic.
• Schools: consult Hillsborough County Public Schools for current school information and address-specific assignments. Confirm zoning for each home rather than relying on its ZIP code.

1. 1891 Henry B. Plant’s Tampa Bay Hotel opened on the west bank of the Hillsborough River. Since 1933 it has been Plant Hall, the heart of the University of Tampa.
2. 1895 The area became part of the newly incorporated city of West Tampa, a cigar-making town, until Tampa annexed it in 1925.
3. 1960s Interstate 275 was built through West Tampa, and today it forms West Riverfront’s northern edge.
4. 2018 Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park reopened after a $35 million rebuild.
5. 2025 The City of Tampa broke ground on the West Riverwalk expansion on October 28.
6. 2026 Construction continues on the West Riverwalk and the West River multimodal path along the west bank of the river.

Sources: West Riverfront (Wikipedia), Henry B. Plant Museum (Wikipedia), West Tampa (Wikipedia), City of Tampa: West Riverwalk expansion, City of Tampa: West River BUILD project, 83 Degrees.

For land and new construction, confirm zoning, setbacks, utilities, survey and any tree-removal rules with the City of Tampa before you buy, and budget time for permits. For new homes and townhomes, confirm the builder, permits and warranty, and review any HOA’s budget and rules. For older homes, budget for a thorough inspection and ask what was updated and whether it was permitted.

Review the property’s FEMA flood map, elevation certificate if available and insurance quotes, especially near the river. With Riverwalk and street construction under way and Interstate 275 along the northern edge, visit at different times of day to get a feel for traffic and activity.