Tampa Bay Developer

Hosted by Garrett Greco

Business Investing

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Episodes

202

Latest episode

Aug 2026

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About the show

The TBD POD is a weekly show featuring ambitious and interesting people influencing Tampa, Florida. New episodes every Friday! Stay tuned for more.

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60 recent

August 21, 2026Episode 2011 hr 54 min

Tampa Electric Company: The Cost of Energy

Tampa Electric CEO Archie Collins joins Garrett Greco on TBD Podcast Episode 201 to explain why Florida electric bills have risen, how Tampa Electric sets rates, what AI and data centers mean for the power grid, and the future of solar, nuclear energy, hurricane resiliency, and electricity in Tampa Bay. They discuss: ◼️ Why electric bills have increased and how investments in generation, storm recovery, fuel, and a stronger power grid ultimately affect what Tampa Electric customers pay ◼️ How Tampa Electric is using solar, natural gas, backup coal generation, underground power lines, and self-healing grid technology to make Tampa Bay’s electricity system more reliable ◼️ Why AI and massive data centers are creating unprecedented electricity demand, and why Florida law requires those data centers to pay the costs of the new infrastructure they require ◼️ How Tampa Electric is preparing for hurricanes by burying vulnerable power lines, replacing infrastructure, managing trees, and building a grid that can automatically isolate outages and restore power faster ◼️ What the future of energy in Florida could look like, including more solar through 2030, the possible return of nuclear power, free home energy audits, and programs designed to help Tampa Electric customers lower their monthly bills 0:00 Intro 0:21 Why electric bills rise 9:27 Clearwater's privatization debate 19:47 Fuel mix: gas, solar, coal 32:43 Giving the grid a brain 48:43 Solar limits, no wind 55:20 Nuclear power in Florida 1:02:33 Battery storage future 1:10:24 TECO history and streetcar 1:29:29 Home energy saving programs

August 14, 2026Episode 2001 hr 37 min

Infill Development, Flood Rebuilds, and The Affordability Crisis

Domain Homes President Adam Mays and project manager and lot specialist Guy Frankenfield join Garrett Greco to reveal why Tampa Bay homes have become so expensive, how $400,000 lots, construction costs, city codes and flood regulations are reshaping Tampa and St. Petersburg real estate, and how builders are helping families rebuild after the 2024 hurricanes. 00:00 Intro 02:21 How city codes shape homes 10:18 Cost to build a home 21:40 CRA subsidies and affordability 37:34 Inherited lots and generational wealth 43:46 Flood zones and elevation costs 53:53 Rebuilding after Helene 1:07:14 Historic neighborhoods and design costs 1:17:02 The alleyway problem 1:31:21 Domain's podcast on a plane

August 11, 2026Episode 19938 min

Rays CEO: The NEW Tampa Stadium Deal Explained

Tampa Bay Rays CEO Ken Babby and Tampa City Councilman Bill Carlson break down the NEW Tampa stadium proposal, how the financing has changed, where the tax revenue could go, and why the project could reshape Tampa far beyond baseball. Under Carlson’s new proposal, Tampa would eliminate the previously contemplated $80 million Community Investment Tax contribution and $100 million backed by future Drew Park CRA tax growth. Instead, a new 35-year tax-increment financing district would use property taxes generated by the private development surrounding the stadium, with revenue going to Tampa, Hillsborough County, and a new public Community Development District. The Rays have also asked Tampa to advance the CDD $80 million through four annual payments of $20 million, which the CDD would repay to the city from its share of future tax revenue generated by the district. Tampa’s share of the new revenue, combined with a proposed redirection of roughly half of future Downtown Tampa CRA revenue, would help create a citywide infrastructure trust fund that Carlson estimates could generate $1.5 billion to $2 billion over 30 to 35 years without raising taxes. 00:00 - Emergency episode, Rays deal 00:53 - Taxpayer concerns about ballpark 07:26 - Who's been negotiating this 12:35 - The infrastructure trust fund 14:17 - How the TIF works 16:43 - Parking lots generating zero taxes 20:18 - Development milestones and incentives 24:24 - Hillsborough College and tech jobs 26:37 - Not another Raymond James 32:59 - August vote, September shovels

August 7, 2026Episode 1981 hr 42 min

Property Tax Referendum, Autonomous Transportation, and the Governor’s Race

Garett Greco and producer David break down the latest fight over the Tampa Bay Rays stadium, Florida property taxes, Ybor City’s transformation, AI data centers, Tampa transportation, Amtrak, housing affordability, and what Tampa needs to get right as the city continues to grow. They discuss: ◼️Why Tampa should understand the impact of Florida’s property tax changes before committing massive public dollars to a new Rays stadium ◼️How restoring Castle Lala and moving the TBD Podcast headquarters to Ybor City fits into his vision for preserving Tampa’s history while building its future ◼️Why Tampa Union Station, expanded rail service, walkability, and better connectivity could transform the way people move around Tampa and Florida ◼️Why AI data centers could create major questions around land, electricity, drinking water, infrastructure, and whether local communities actually benefit from them ◼️What Florida’s property tax amendment, rapid population growth, rising housing costs, and development pressure could mean for homeowners, renters, businesses, and local governments 0:00:00 - Intro 0:01:10 - Stadium & Development News 0:07:41 - Casa Da Lala Building Purchase 0:19:31 - Ybor Connectivity & Totem Grocery 0:25:02 - Miami-Tampa Train Ride 0:37:31 - Autonomous Vehicles & Robotaxis 0:53:22 - 9/11, Covid & Surveillance 1:05:10 - AI Data Centers Debate 1:11:35 - Florida Governor Race 1:25:37 - Property Taxes & Wrap-up

July 31, 202638 min

Ybor City Q & A

Hosted by Stephanie Harrison-Bailey, the neighbors of Ybor City sat down with Garrett Greco to ask questions about Ybor’s past, present, and future. Together, they explore the neighborhood’s history, redevelopment, nightlife, infrastructure, local government, and how Ybor can grow without losing the culture and character that make it unique. 00:00 Intro 00:24 Garrett's family history in Ybor 03:52 What makes Ybor special 06:07 Decades-long push to redevelop 09:22 Micro development and vacant lots 12:30 Origin of the podcast 19:36 Buying back family's Ybor building 23:12 Red tape and daytime business 29:36 Radical ideas for the district 33:08 Neighborhood activism and city council

July 24, 2026Episode 1971 hr 13 min

How Cities Can Make It Easier To Start A Small Business

On TBD Podcast Episode 197, Garrett Greco and AJ DeSimone unpack how Cousin Vinny’s Sandwich Co. grew from a 100-square-foot Tampa ghost kitchen into a breakout Italian American restaurant brand, survived an 18-month storefront buildout, used social media and AI to maintain momentum, and prepared to expand across Tampa Bay. 00:00:00 - Intro 00:00:38 - How founders met 00:03:11 - Ghost kitchen testing begins 00:10:53 - Ghost kitchen not sustainable 00:16:29 - City permitting delays 00:35:02 - Opening day, huge lines 00:39:14 - "Cousin Vinny" name origin 00:48:07 - Everything made in-house 00:50:55 - New equipment, scaling production 00:53:00 - Two new locations announced

July 22, 202611 min

How Tampa Bay’s 3 Mayors Are Solving Regional Issues Together

Tampa, St. Pete, and Clearwater aren’t competing for growth, they’re solving Tampa Bay’s biggest regional problems together. Mayors Jane Castor, Ken Welch, and Bruce Rector break down how the three cities actually collaborate. 00:00 — Intro 00:21 — Rector: Not competing, we’re partners 00:51 — Welch: Quarterly lunches, strong relationships 01:22 — Castor: Not competing with Miami 02:11 — Rector: Solving regional workforce housing 02:52 — Welch: Downtown partnerships, tourism collaboration 04:45 — Rector: Global Tampa Bay economic trips 05:56 — Welch: Navigating the Rays stadium situation 06:48 — Rector: Protecting shared water quality 08:21 — Castor: Growing without losing our identity 09:15 — Rector: Closing message: we’re one team

July 17, 2026Episode 19649 min

St. Pete Mayor: The Gas Plant District, The Rays, and The Future Of St. Pete

Ken Welch is the 54th Mayor of St. Petersburg, the city’s first African American mayor and a third-generation St. Pete resident who grew up in the Historic Gas Plant community before homes, churches and businesses were displaced for development; he was sworn into office in January 2022 and is seeking another term as mayor. 00:00 - Intro 00:36 - Growing up in Gas Plant District 06:18 - Rays stadium sale and move 08:14 - Trop dome damage and repair 11:14 - Selecting the development partner 16:14 - Green space and park design 18:14 - I-175 removal debate 24:13 - Central Avenue small businesses 35:22 - Property tax homestead exemption 44:02 - Water transportation and ferries

July 10, 2026Episode 19537 min

Why I’m Running For Tampa City Council

Garrett Greco sits down with producer David to reveal why he is running for Tampa City Council District 3 and discuss his vision for Tampa’s growth, neighborhoods, transportation, infrastructure, small businesses, and future. They talk about: ◼️Why he decided to run for Tampa City Council District 3 ◼️What Tampa must do to manage growth without losing its identity ◼️How the city can improve transportation and critical infrastructure ◼️Why protecting neighborhoods and supporting small businesses are central to his campaign ◼️What kind of future he wants to help build for Tampa residents 00:00:00 Intro 00:01:31 Consistency is the secret sauce 00:04:20 Growing social media following 00:08:15 Filing for City Council 00:10:36 Open District 3 seat 00:13:35 Launching the District Series 00:18:12 Podcasting while holding office 00:21:44 Comprehensive plan community backlash 00:26:20 Explaining the "developer" name 00:34:51 Seattle trip, closing thoughts

July 3, 2026Episode 1941 hr 55 min

Old Tampa Looked Nothing Like The City We Live In Today

hip Weiner is a Tampa photographer, creator of https://www.oldtampaphotos.com/, author of multiple before and after Tampa history books, food photographer, and mental health counselor who has spent years documenting historic buildings, researching their stories, and showing how Tampa has changed from the late 1800s through today.