Way back in 1847, when John Jackson first platted the Village of Tampa, Water Street was the name of the southernmost and easternmost road in downtown Tampa, running along the waterfront businesses from current day Adamo Drive south to the Florida Aquarium, through the current day Channelside Bay Plaza, and west nearly to the Hillsborough River.
In 1968, Water Street was connected to (and renamed) Ashley Drive (see From Shoreline to Museum).
Part of that roadway exists today as Saint Pete Times Forum Drive, and begins at Platt & Brorien Streets heading south and turning east to Franklin Street / Harbour Island Blvd (map). If you looked at that map, you will see SPTF Drive’s current as well as it’s former name, Ice Palace Drive.
The City of Tampa renamed the road Ice Palace Drive in 1992 when the arena was built for the Tampa Bay Lightning. In 1997, Mayor Dick Greco temporarily named the road Sesame Street to highlight the arrival of a Broadway performance of the kids educational TV show at the arena. In 2003, the Lightning sold naming rights of the arena to the St. Petersburg Times. Along with that came the street’s latest name, Saint Pete Times Forum Drive.
And now, in preparation for the coming of the new Tampa Bay History Center, city officials want to change the name again. If Tampa City Council approves the changes, Saint Pete Times Forum Drive will be renamed Old Water Street in a tip of the hat to the all-but-forgotten waterfront warehouse district.
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