The Historic East Ybor & Gary Neighborhood Association (HEYGNA) is holding its Annual Executive Board Elections and General Meeting next Tuesday, January 13, 2026. Elections are for the following positions: Vice- President, Secretary, Treasurer, Parliamentarian, and the 3 Area Representatives: North, South, and East,  6-7:00 PM, Entrepreneurship Collaborative Center (ECC), 2101 E. Palm Ave., Tampa, FL 33605.
Ballots will be counted following the close of voting and results will be announced as soon as possible thereafter.
Upcoming
Hey East Ybor and Gary Neighbors – mark your calendars for some upcoming Holiday Events!
Celebrate the season at the One Ybor Holiday Party on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, from 6:00PM to 9:00PM at J.C. Newman Cigar Company—bring your favorite covered dish to share!
Then, get magical at Enchanted Wonderland, hosted by Tampa Police Department, on Saturday, December 20, 2025, from 11:30AM to 3:00PM—perfect for kids newborn to fourteen. Kids must be there to join, and I’ll be hosting a craft table as Santa’s elf!
Check out the flyers (below) and come out!
See you there!
HEYGNA
Historic East Ybor & Gary Neighborhood Association
P.O. BOX 5262 Ybor City, FL 33675-5262
[email protected]
Top of East Ybor
A Real Wake Up Call…includes breakfast
HEYGNA joined with folks from Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful for a Nov. 8 meetup/cleanup around East Ybor Park on 26th St., along the northern border of our historic district.
Many thanks to Jose Miguel Cayon Guardiola, Julio Armando Camargo Gutierrez, Claire Fenlon May, James Wilson, Valerie Riddle, Elise Aiello Schiller, Evan Schiller, Baby Henry, Carmen Cecilia Guardiola Ramirez, Denise Collado, Denise Sansur, Brian Miller, Ronnie DeSantis and David. Welcome to the neighborhood. Please join us.
Historic East Ybor & Gary Neighborhood Association
P.O. BOX 5262 Ybor City, FLÂ 33675-5262
[email protected]
www.heygna.org
Facebook Group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/HEYGNA
Recent Events
New on 7th Ave.
Getting social at the Grand Opening of Tico’s Bakery, a great early weeknight meetup for HEYGNA members. Excellent menu. Tico’s Bakery, 2209 E 7th Ave, Suite 2209A. Visit the shop at ticosbakery.com. For more upcoming events, join our Facebook group at www.facebook.com/groups/HEYGNA. All are welcome.
Tampa PD Neighborhood Rollout
Tampa Police on the move in Gary, the eastern end of historic East Ybor. The Rollout gives residents a chance to express concerns and get updates on stats specific to our neighborhood. Come and join us on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/HEYGNA for more upcoming events. All are welcome.
October Meeting with Developer Darryl Shaw
by Denise Sansur
Developer Darryl Shaw, driving force behind Ybor City’s Gas Worx development, led an open discussion about his vision for East Ybor at HEYGNA General Membership meeting held in the Jose Marti room of Casa Ybor residences on 8th Ave.
Rezoning in East Ybor
The meeting focused on Shaw’s early-stage plans to rezone about 30 acres in East Ybor from heavy industrial to mixed-use Planned Development (PD). The areas include nine acres at the former Sheriff’s Office site, the empty block between Palm Ave and 11th Ave near 21st and 22nd Streets, lots on 7th Ave between 22nd St and the Connector, and blocks south of 7th Ave and east of 26th St. These are separate from parcels already in process with the City.
Darryl shared an artistic rendering of the potential mixed-use development, including offices, townhouses, apartments, and retail. He noted this rezoning could attract investors to Gary, which isn’t currently in development focus.
Community and green space ideas
Community and green space ideas included a possible community garden on the TECO-owned lot and green spaces at the former service station on 7th Ave and 26th St, plus a tree-shaded lot at 10th Ave and 23rd St.
Infrastructure & Connectivity
Infrastructure plans included a road diet for 21st and 22nd Streets north of Palm Ave, potentially reopening 12th Ave for pedestrian-only traffic, and adding stop signs and speed bumps to improve safety.
Darryl’s also in talks with THEA about public use of space under the Connector.
Join our Facebook group at www.facebook.com/groups/HEYGNA or more upcoming events. All are welcome.
For more upcoming events, join our Facebook group at www.facebook.com/groups/HEYGNA. All are welcome.
Neat streets
Here’s your sign…
For months HEYGNA members have shown up to clean up.
We not only have a more pleasant neighborhood, our efforts gain recognition through Hillsborough County’s community engagement program, Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful.
Keep an eye out for our sign, at a location to be determined on 34th Street.
October 14th HEYGNA general meeting
Hey East Ybor and Gary Neighbors!
Don’t sit this out – This October 14th HEYGNA general meeting isn’t just another one – Darryl Shaw, the man behind Tampa’s Gasworx boom, is coming to lay out East Ybor plans and hear what you think.
He’s pumped to dive into his planning and development ideas for East Ybor, and he wants your feedback to shape it right!
We’ll have food, beverages, and a room full of excited neighbors-tell everyone, drag a friend, this is where it all starts!
Quick Agenda: –
Welcome and Announcements (6 PM)
Darryl Shaw’s presentation-get those questions ready! – Open Q&A to wrap by 7:30 PM
Location: Casa Marti, 1221 East 8th Avenue, Tampa, FL 33605. (Directions: https://maps.app.goo.gl/fV625hTXuNR3ydu5A.)
Parking: Check Ybor City spots like Centro Ybor garage – 1500 E 5th Ave, Tampa, FL 33605 (parking info: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Yv6DWVP87H4HzZt27).
Be there at 6-this meeting’s too big to miss!
But wait-more coming!
October 20th: One Ybor Tampa Municipal Special Election Runoff Candidate Forum at the J.C. Newman Cigar Factory – flyers coming soon.
October 28th: Front-porch roll-call with the Tampa Police Dept. in Gary – food and beverages will be provided. Be sure to stop by and say hello. More info to follow.
November 8th: East Ybor cleanup with Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful, down in the Bottoms – Julio’s stirring up breakfast if you’re early. More info to follow. That’s our final meet before elections and holiday relaxation.
We hope to see you there!
Regards,
HEYGNA Board
Historic East Ybor & Gary Neighborhood Association
P.O. BOX 5262 Ybor City, FL 33675-5262
[email protected]
www.heygna.org
Facebook Group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/HEYGNA\
Out and About in Ybor
Logo no longer — Saddlebags country music entertainment venue finished packing it in Friday morning with the removal of their sign from the club on historic 7th Ave.
East Ybor Cleanup
East Ybor Park —
A lovely day to walk the East Ybor Park area on Saturday, for a neighborhood cleanup and review of conditions along 12th Ave. and adjacent streets. HEYGNA members took the opportunity to meet residents and distribute association contact information.
Along with the general cleanup, several large abandoned items were found and reported to the city for removal.
Members also trimmed overgrowth around vacant properties and noted road conditions and wastewater impediments.
Please join us for our next general meeting at 6 pm. October 14 at Casa Marti residences, 1221 E, 8th Ave. , with guest speaker Daryl Shaw. All are welcome.
Subscribe for details and updates.
Neighborhood Clean Up Event with TPD – SEPT 2024
JUNE 2024 – Tampa Police Roll Call in East Ybor.
