Bern's Steak House sues Tampa over $100M South Howard flood project

Bern's Steak House is serving up a legal battle against the City of Tampa.The iconic restaurant and five other property owners have filed two class-action lawsuits challenging a $100 million flood relief project along South Howard Avenue.Bern's Steak House, companies tied to the Ciccio Restaurant Group and the Epicurean Hotel filed two class-action lawsuits Thursday in court. The legal action names the city of Tampa, Mayor Jane Castor, contractor Kimmins Contracting Corp. and engineering firm AtkinsRéalis USA Inc. as defendants.The $100 million project plans to install large box culverts under South Howard and West Swann avenues to drain floodwaters away from Parkland Estates and Palma Ceia Pines. Construction is expected to tear up South Howard Avenue for three to four years and could start in spring 2027 after Gasparilla. The first lawsuit alleges the city illegally diverted $13.4 million from a taxpayer-assessed stormwater fee across a dozen other projects without holding a required