The Pinellas County government plans to vacate 17 properties in downtown Clearwater. At a town hall Wednesday, residents were able to provide input on the future of the land.
These sites encompass approximately 24.5 acres and will be available for redevelopment. They were declared surplus by the Board of County Commissioners.
The County will issue a competitive request for negotiations with developers that are interested in the parcels. A new County Government Center, which will consolidate operations, is currently being designed near U.S. 19 and Ulmerton Road.
Many individuals agreed Wednesday that there should be more activation downtown. They also expressed concern that the Church of Scientology, which already owns numerous properties in downtown Clearwater, would take the land over. Since the 1970s, the organization has had a presence in Clearwater.
“I’d like to see excitement going forward,” former Clearwater City Council member Doreen Caudell said. “I would like to see the collaboration of the City of Clearwater and the County commission working together to lease the dirt to developers.”
Resident Mike Mastruserio cautioned the Board of County Commissioners about selling the land. The Church of Scientology was one of his central talking points.
“A lot of these people are here because they do not want our heritage erased by an organization that has both the money and the right kind of architects to do whatever they want to do,” he explained. “We need to make sure that we leave all of our properties, going forward, in our control. You have the control and that’s the best place to be.”
Brooks Gibbs agreed.
“For the love of Clearwater, don’t sell the land,” he said. “Lease it. We have a very unique situation in this town and we’re tired of losing land to one property owner.”
Gibbs added that leasing the properties can allow the County to have flexibility. It can also bring in multiple streams of income.
Resident David Glenn Jr. believes that the parcels could be developed “for the good of Pinellas County” and that they should be leased. County commissioners could consider plans that include a convention center or more affordable housing. He added that if the county controls the land, it can “control additional development on other properties.”
“To sell these valuable properties, I think we all know what’s going to happen,” said resident Robert Holsinger. “The buyer is going to be one entity. It’s going to be Scientology and the story that we’ve been through for many years will just continue to repeat itself.”
Michael Jones grew up in Clearwater. A performer, his career has brought him to New York City and Las Vegas. He explained that although the Clearwater area is home to venues like Ruth Eckerd Hall, the Capitol Theatre and the BayCare Sound amphitheater, there is an opportunity for more creative spaces.
“What I believe is currently missing in downtown Clearwater are accessible, ongoing environments where artists, creatives and community members can regularly gather, collaborate and express themselves.”
Jones also argued for more areas for residents to have fun. There should be options that “attract” people of all ages from children to seniors. Clearwater has “untapped potential,” he said.
Former Clearwater City Council member Mark Bunker explained that the City has made “great strides” in redeveloping downtown Clearwater “despite Scientology.”
Projects include the recent Coachman Park revitalization, and the 2023 construction of the BayCare Sound amphitheater. Earlier this month, ground was broken for The Bluffs, a 400-unit residential tower. He said that the “only way we have a solid footprint to continue developing downtown is to have the County properties out of Scientology’s hands.”
Jessica Andujar is manager of a dueling piano bar in downtown Clearwater called the Nash Keys. She argued that the County should lease the properties.
“We have fought tooth and nail to have one of the only non-Scientology businesses here,” Andujar said. “We just want to see more of it.”
She believes the downtown area needs “more actual things going on.” Andujar explained that there should be more working businesses and entertainment for residents and guests.
Cleveland Street Alliance, LLC, an organization associated with the Church of Scientology, has been working on a project to reimagine the Cleveland Street corridor in downtown Clearwater. The entity’s goal is to restore the historical buildings it owns and redevelop the area.
After Wednesday’s public comments section, commissioner René Flowers thanked the participants for their “complete honesty.” Board of County Commissioners chair Dave Eggers said that he was excited to “see the energy and hope for an even better downtown.” He asked residents to be patient as the process will be “a little bit lengthy.”
“We want to make sure we’re doing the right thing along the way.”
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