City of Tampa seeks to sell downtown police HQ for at least $36M

The boxy downtown building dubbed “Big Blue” for its navy tinted windows — it's also the Tampa Police Department headquarters — will soon be on the market for sale, the city of Tampa says. 

The city put out a request for proposals Monday afternoon for the headquarters, at 411 N. Franklin St.. The property is just over one acre and encompasses one full city block, bounded by Madison Street to the north, Franklin Street to the west, North Florida Avenue to the east and East Kennedy Boulevard to the south.

The starting bid for the property, which includes the 10-story police building and adjacent parking garage, is $36 million, the request for proposals states. 

The sale is the first step toward relocating the police department, which has occupied their central downtown headquarters since 1997, city records show. The new owner will be required to lease back the building to the city for one year while TPD searches for a new location for its operations, the RFP states. 

“Downtown Tampa is evolving fast, and this site offers a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reimagine a key parcel in the heart of downtown,” Tampa Mayor Jane Castor says in the release. (Castor was the Tampa Police Chief from 2009-2015.) “This is a valuable opportunity in the downtown core to create a community-minded development that will serve Tampa for generations to come.”

Located in Tampa’s Central Business District, the building was constructed in 1962 and operated as the Marine Bank & Trust building until Tampa Police purchased it in 1967. It wasn’t until decades later, though, that the department moved its main operations to the boxy blue building from its former headquarters on Tampa Street and Henderson Boulevard. 

Before then, city records show, TPD’s historic headquarters were part of Old City Hall, where a police annex was constructed in 1916. 

“The property occupies a prime downtown location envisioned as a catalyst for innovative, high-value redevelopment,” a release from the city states. 

The city intends to close on the sale of the property no later than Jan. 31, 2027, the RFP says. The buyer will be fully responsible for all costs associated with demolition, environmental review, surveying, engineering, architecture, rezoning, construction and all other due diligence or developmental expenses. 

Those interested must submit a comprehensive response to the city’s RFP, including a cover letter and organizational information, cost and financing plan, requested pre-closing conditions and special agreement terms by February 6, 2026.

Interested parties can download the full Request for Proposals on the city’s website.