Pinellas Seeks Developers for Downtown Clearwater Overhaul
Pinellas Seeks Developers for Downtown Clearwater Overhaul
County has opened a 90-day request for negotiations to redevelop nearly 25 acres of county-owned downtown Clearwater land, including the historic courthouse campus.
County has opened a 90-day request for negotiations to redevelop nearly 25 acres of county-owned downtown Clearwater land, including the historic courthouse campus.
Pinellas County has launched one of the largest redevelopment opportunities in Clearwater's history, opening a request for negotiations process that invites experienced developers to reimagine 24.66 acres of county-owned land across the downtown core.
The land spans 17 properties, encompassing roughly 32 parcels, that currently house government buildings, surface parking, vacant lots, and the Pinellas County Courthouse. The county declared these sites surplus on April 7, 2026, a technical step required before redevelopment planning could begin. Officials have described the collection of properties as the largest redevelopment in Clearwater's history.
The county's vision calls for a walkable, mixed-use district blending residential, commercial, retail, hospitality, civic, and public realm uses, the kind of district that generates consistent activity throughout the year rather than occasional destination traffic. County Administrator Barry Burton framed it as an opportunity to build on past public investment and support long-term economic growth.
Rather than a traditional request for proposals, the county opted for a request for negotiations, a structure designed to encourage competition and transparency while preserving room to negotiate terms. That flexibility matters here. The county has not committed to selling or leasing the land, and officials have signaled they may pursue a mix-and-match approach, with some parcels developed under ground leases and others sold fee simple. As CBRE's team put it during commission discussions, it is the terms, not the transaction structure, that ultimately control the outcome.
CBRE, serving as the county's real estate advisor alongside the procurement department, is helping lead the process. Developers have until 3 p.m. on Sept. 18, 2026, to submit proposals. Submissions will be evaluated on developer experience, financial strength, project timelines, compatibility with the redevelopment vision, and long-term operational plans.
One constraint shapes any proposal: the Pinellas County Courthouse at 315 Court St. is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and cannot be demolished. Commissioners have indicated the building can be repurposed, but it will remain. Historic preservation advocates have pressed the county to build preservation requirements into the redevelopment from the outset.
The move follows the county's decision to consolidate its aging downtown operations into a single new government campus. Pinellas purchased a 21-acre site at 13600 Icot Blvd. in Largo, near U.S. 19 and Ulmerton Road, in November 2023 for roughly $33 million. The county's current 14 downtown buildings, many dating to the 1960s and 1970s, are considered functionally obsolete, and officials estimate the consolidation will save about $150 million in maintenance costs over the next 50 years. Construction at the new campus is expected to complete in 2029, with an opening targeted for that year.
Public input has already shaped the conversation. At an April 29 town hall, residents and officials raised concerns about ownership concentration in a downtown where land is increasingly held by a small number of owners, and many urged the county to favor long-term leases over outright sales to retain control. Others called for affordable housing, cultural space, and transit-oriented elements alongside the commercial uses. Public presentations from shortlisted developers are expected in early 2027, with additional community input to follow before the county makes a final selection.
Pinellas County has launched one of the largest redevelopment opportunities in Clearwater's history, opening a request for negotiations process that invites experienced developers to reimagine 24.66 acres of county-owned land across the downtown core.
The land spans 17 properties, encompassing roughly 32 parcels, that currently house government buildings, surface parking, vacant lots, and the Pinellas County Courthouse. The county declared these sites surplus on April 7, 2026, a technical step required before redevelopment planning could begin. Officials have described the collection of properties as the largest redevelopment in Clearwater's history.
The county's vision calls for a walkable, mixed-use district blending residential, commercial, retail, hospitality, civic, and public realm uses, the kind of district that generates consistent activity throughout the year rather than occasional destination traffic. County Administrator Barry Burton framed it as an opportunity to build on past public investment and support long-term economic growth.
Rather than a traditional request for proposals, the county opted for a request for negotiations, a structure designed to encourage competition and transparency while preserving room to negotiate terms. That flexibility matters here. The county has not committed to selling or leasing the land, and officials have signaled they may pursue a mix-and-match approach, with some parcels developed under ground leases and others sold fee simple. As CBRE's team put it during commission discussions, it is the terms, not the transaction structure, that ultimately control the outcome.
CBRE, serving as the county's real estate advisor alongside the procurement department, is helping lead the process. Developers have until 3 p.m. on Sept. 18, 2026, to submit proposals. Submissions will be evaluated on developer experience, financial strength, project timelines, compatibility with the redevelopment vision, and long-term operational plans.
One constraint shapes any proposal: the Pinellas County Courthouse at 315 Court St. is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and cannot be demolished. Commissioners have indicated the building can be repurposed, but it will remain. Historic preservation advocates have pressed the county to build preservation requirements into the redevelopment from the outset.
The move follows the county's decision to consolidate its aging downtown operations into a single new government campus. Pinellas purchased a 21-acre site at 13600 Icot Blvd. in Largo, near U.S. 19 and Ulmerton Road, in November 2023 for roughly $33 million. The county's current 14 downtown buildings, many dating to the 1960s and 1970s, are considered functionally obsolete, and officials estimate the consolidation will save about $150 million in maintenance costs over the next 50 years. Construction at the new campus is expected to complete in 2029, with an opening targeted for that year.
Public input has already shaped the conversation. At an April 29 town hall, residents and officials raised concerns about ownership concentration in a downtown where land is increasingly held by a small number of owners, and many urged the county to favor long-term leases over outright sales to retain control. Others called for affordable housing, cultural space, and transit-oriented elements alongside the commercial uses. Public presentations from shortlisted developers are expected in early 2027, with additional community input to follow before the county makes a final selection.
