The Future of the County’s Properties in Downtown Clearwater

Pinellas County owns 17 properties encompassing 32 parcels and approximately 24.5 acres (18.5 football fields) in downtown Clearwater.  The County will select a private partner to redevelop these downtown Clearwater properties. The goals for this project include:

Maximize revenue to offset the cost of the new County campus through a competitive market-driven process 

Reduce the burden on taxpayers in two ways: by decreasing ongoing maintenance expenses through moving from aging buildings into a new campus, and by getting money for the soon-to-be-vacated County properties in downtown Clearwater. The proceeds from the downtown properties will decrease the amount of money the County borrows to fund that construction. Borrowing less means paying less interest over time, reducing the cost to taxpayers.  

Select an experienced and qualified developer to activate downtown Clearwater 

Carefully review the qualifications and history of developers through a competitive Request for Negotiation process. Select a master developer with a proven track record of completing projects of an equivalent size, scope and character.  The developer must be capable of achieving the consistent goal heard from elected officials and residents alike: breathing new life into downtown Clearwater.  

Negotiate a structured deal with controls to hold the developer accountable to meet short- and long-term goals 

Secure an agreement with a developer that contains legally binding language to guarantee that the vision, through the negotiated terms and conditions for the redevelopment, comes to fruition and is sustained into the future.  

Choose a development plan that will increase the County’s and City’s tax base from the highest and best use of the properties 

Choose a development plan that activates Clearwater’s downtown and supports residents through mixed-use development, new industries and jobs. Redeveloping government-owned land into homes and businesses increases the City’s and County’s tax base by turning tax-exempt property into taxable, higher value property that will allow the governments to deliver better services without an impact on taxes. The increased County tax revenue will further offset the cost of the new County campus over time.

The Vision for Downtown Clearwater

The County has worked with the City of Clearwater to select mutually beneficial goals for the redevelopment of downtown, especially activating downtown with high density and intensity uses built around walkability.

Clearwater 2045, the City’s Comprehensive Plan, is its guide for future growth and development. The plan was recently updated through a robust public engagement process. In 2021, the City hosted community conversations, listening sessions, polls, questionnaires, surveys, and a photo contest to collect input from a variety of residents including youth and the Hispanic community.

The City’s Comprehensive Plan identifies common themes that came out of this engagement, which included:

• Concerns about transportation issues, including safety, multimodal connections, congestion, public transportation and bikeability and walkability.
• Interest in promoting cultural, social and artistic vibrancy citywide including increasing the number of events (concerts, markets, et.) and entertainment opportunities appealing to a diverse age range in the community.
• Bringing new life to downtown with more local businesses and restaurants.
• Balancing the emphasis of city policy and programs between neighborhoods, Downtown, Clearwater Beach, and other corridors.
• Emphasizing sustainability in development and preservation of natural resources.

This input was integrated into a draft plan which was shared with the community, Community Development Board, Environmental Advisory Board and City Council through a series of workshops in 2023 and adopted in January of 2024.

In addition, the City of Clearwater’s Community Development Code, updated in 2024, describes the development standards for the downtown core as follows:

The Downtown Core Character District is intended for high intensity mixed-use, office, and residential development in buildings with active ground floor uses opening onto pedestrian-friendly streetscapes. Standards are designed to support a dense urban pattern of development with buildings facades aligned along public sidewalks and parking primarily located within buildings behind active uses and behind buildings. Properties adjacent to the Pinellas Trail are designed to provide pedestrian and bicycle connections to the trail.

The County’s goals for downtown redevelopment are based on objectives set forth in Clearwater’s 2045 Comprehensive Plan.

The County’s redevelopment strategy seeks to:

1. Create an activated mixed-use downtown that functions both as a local hub and as a destination for vacation beach visitors on “days 3 to 5” when they are ready for a beach alternative.
2. Diversify the local economy by encouraging new industries such as marine, technology, and creative sectors to complement the tourism base.
3. Support development with ownership and occupancy conditions that ensure long-term mixed-use continuity and ongoing tax base expansion.
4. Strengthen connectivity between the downtown, the waterfront, the beach and Cleveland and Osceola Streets.
5. Build on city and capital investments to leverage existing momentum for redevelopment.
6. Require deed restrictions for permitted and restricted uses, and enforce strict development and occupancy timelines with reverter clauses if timelines and occupancy standards are not met.

The Board of County Commissioners plans to hold a town hall to receive community input on April 29, 2026, 6-8 p.m. at 333 Chestnut Street. A request for negotiations with developers is expected to be released this spring.