Mid-America Apartment Communities overcame a series of challenges to open a 495-unit waterfront rental on a former industrial site in Tampa, Florida.
MAA Breakwater at 5432 W. Tyson Ave., completed early last year, is in the city's popular Westshore Marina District, offering residents sweeping views of Tampa Bay and proximity to the Tampa Riverwalk and other destinations.
The property on more than 18 acres contains five‑story wood‑framed residences, covered parking and seawalls on the west and south sides. Monthly rents for the studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom units range from more than $2,100 to nearly $4,700, according to CoStar data.
The MAA team "navigated coastal constraints, durability demands, and late-stage construction pressures without compromising their schedule or losing their nerve," said one of the judges, Quinn Eddins, a managing director for Greystar Real Estate Partners. "The result is a community that quietly raised expectations for waterfront living in Tampa — proof that you can build something luxurious, resilient, and deeply rooted in place without it feeling like it’s trying too hard, which may be the hardest trick in residential development."
The luxury rental earned the 2026 CoStar Impact Award for multifamily development of the year for Tampa/St. Petersburg as judged by professionals in the market.
About the project: The units include quartz countertops, walk‑in closets and home technology systems. Some residences have dual vanities, large private balconies, built‑in desks and wine coolers. Amenities include a 24‑hour fitness center, coworking spaces, fire pits, kayak launch access and rentable boat slips. Rule Joy Trammell and Rubio designed the three-building property.
What the judges said: "While each of the projects nominated represent best-in-class product, MAA Breakwater gets my vote for it being an example of how to design a project that takes advantage of Tampa's beautiful waterfront while still being resilient to storm risks, and being economically viable," said Matt Mitchell, a senior managing director at Berkadia Real Estate Advisors.
They made it happen: Mid-America Apartment Communities' team included Peter Wyatt, vice president of construction; Indrid Agaj, senior vice president and director of new construction; Bob Strelec, vice president of development; Elizabeth Long, vice president of investments; Nicole Kline, regional vice president; and Melanie Savage, property manager.