Community Redevelopment Agency on 2026-09-28 1:00 PM - Sep 28, 2026

This time we'll call to order the September 28, 2026 meeting of the City of Clearwater Community Redevelopment Agency. This time we'll move to item 2.1 on the agenda. Approve the minutes of the August 3, 2026 CRA meeting and the August 20, 2026 special CRA meeting. Is there a motion to approve the minutes? So moved. Second. All those in favor? Aye. Opposed? Unanimous. Move to item 3 on the agenda. Citizens to be heard regarding items not on today's agenda. Are there any citizens to be heard on the item that's not on today's CRA agenda? Hi, my name is Jill, and I'm here to speak on issues pertaining to our streets within the CRA and the process of allowing public comment on these street vacations specifically. I'm aware that a process of first come, first serve was allegedly implemented back in June, but that hasn't happened, and it certainly did not happen in the last City Council meeting. Since this council seems to have three members who've been enjoying handing over what's left of our available public property within our CRA, I imagine that there's going to be a lot more meetings that are going to draw passionate crowds. So I'm just urging you to please come up with a process that would work and allow all citizens of Clearwater to engage in the democratic process that's available to us. I did want to state that Sarah Heller very kindly reached out to my friend and I outside. She's from the Church of Scientology. She offered to or she requested that we come up with a process, just us and them, and that they would allow us to come in to speak. I told her I really appreciated her reaching out and her kind offer, but that we would prefer that the council has a process in writing so that if someone as generous as she was not here to implement the process that she came up with, it would still be in writing, in the rules and procedures. So I did want to note that she did reach out, but we would prefer that it be just a process that's implemented. I also just did, and I know you're not able to answer, but it was mentioned about the legalities of having approve and oppose public comment. I'm certainly not an attorney, but the little research I did, I wasn't able to find what might be a problem with that. So perhaps that could be just helping us to understand, you know, why that would be a problem if something like that was implemented. So thank you all. Thank you. Next speaker. Excuse me. Next speaker. Yes. Good afternoon. I'm Kelly Meyer. Nice to see you today. I'm much more rested than the last time I came before you. Thank you for having us speak during this public comment time for the CRA. I want to thank the Clearwater Police Department for implementing the line more clearly this time around to attend this meeting. I did want to point out that with meeting procedures here at the CRA, or the council meeting, the city's own website talks about how the city clerk will read into the record any public comments that are submitted to the council regarding a specific agenda item. And I do think that would also help those public other people in our public that would like to speak at a meeting yet cannot get inside that their voices are heard too. So that is something that's on our city website and published. So definitely something to consider in your conversations today. And I also wanted to just clarify when Jill mentioned that we were approached or we were walking to this council meeting. And right at the corner is when we were approached by two representatives from the Church of Scientology. And we do appreciate the offer. But, again, I just want to reiterate that I think it's important for you as our elected officials to be making decisions about our procedures. And we just thank the city staff that allowed us to come in to speak today because we were told all the folks that were in line outside were not planning to come inside or speak today. So, unfortunately, it was optics to keep a lot of the other public members from coming down, most likely. So, I just wanted to bring that out in the open. I just want you to know the truth of what we're experiencing as citizens of our city and the roadblocks that we're up against. Thank you. We'll move to item 4.1 of the agenda. Approve an agreement for development and purchase and sale of property between the City of Clearwater Community Redevelopment Agency and Rural Development LLC for certain CRA-owned property located at 103 Northeast Avenue, Clearwater, Florida, 33755 and authorize the CRA chair-designate to execute all documents necessary to effectuate closing. Good afternoon. Jesus Nino, CRA Executive Director. The item before you is an agreement for development, purchase, and sale of a community redevelopment agency or CRA-owned property, which is located at 103 Northeast Avenue. I'm going to put this map up temporarily, then we can take it down. For location reference, the map on the screen identifies the property, which is located between Northeast Avenue and North Myrtle Avenue and between Drew Street and Cleveland Street. That was for the public. So, earlier this year, the City of Clearwater declared this property surplus and authorized this property to be transferred to the CRA for redevelopment purposes. So, following that, the transfer on July 19, 2026, the CRA, in accordance with Section 163, .380 of the Florida Statutes provided a public notice for the disposition of the property and invited proposals from private developers and other interested parties. So, proposals were due on August the 18th, 2026. The public notice established a minimum purchase price of $875,000 and required the property support development opportunities that are consistent with the downtown community redevelopment area plan and, more specifically, the downtown core character district. So, the CRA did receive one response from Myrtle Development LLC. Staff reviewed the proposal and determined that it was consistent and responsive and met the minimum requirements of the notice. So, the Myrtle's proposal included a purchase price of $1 million and incorporates the property into a larger redevelopment project consisting of 83,000 square feet of Family Entertainment Center, which is commonly referred to as the EVO Entertainment Facility. Staff further submits that the $1 million purchase price represents a value determined to be in the public interest for use as consistent with the downtown community redevelopment area plan. So, the negotiated agreement before you provides the following key terms, and this is verbatim from your memorandum so that I don't get it wrong. So, the purchase price for the property. A purchase price for the property of $1 million to be conveyed via quick claim deed to Myrtle Development LLC. A 15-year term and recordation of the agreement and the public records of Pinellas County. A definition of the project, which includes an 83,000 square feet Family Entertainment Center and minimum of 400 associated parking spaces. A use restriction that the property must be used as a vehicular parking area, area for Family Entertainment Center. The project development schedule, which includes a requirement that the project receive a certificate of occupancy within four years of adoption of the City of Clearwater Ordinance No. 9908-26. A requirement that the parking area be open to vehicular access, ingress, egress, and passage at all times subject to reasonable accommodations or reasonable restrictions. And a right for the CRA to repurchase the property for $1 million if certain conditions of the agreement are not met by Myrtle. So, the proposed redevelopment supports the downtown CRA plan by encouraging entertainment and recreation opportunities, attracting visitors and investment, and enhancing the built environment within the downtown core. The staff is recommending approval of the agreement for development, purchase, and sale of property with Myrtle Development LLC. An authorization for the CRA chair or designee to execute all documents necessary to effectuate closing. With that, staff is open for questions. Staff is here. In addition, we have our senior assistant city attorney, Mr. Matthew Maddock, to answer any agreement questions. Thank you. Is this similar to the vacations where there's opportunity for the bidder to present? Okay. Mr. Potter, would you like to present? Good afternoon, council members and trustees. My name is Bob Potter. I represent the Church of Scientology and its development entity, which is Myrtle Development LLC. Myrtle Development seeks to buy this relatively small piece of property owned by the Community Redevelopment Agency. The property totals about one quarter of one acre, and it's going to be incorporated into a much larger redevelopment, which will repurpose about five acres of vacant land in the downtown core. Specifically, it's going to be incorporated into a parking area, which will serve as critical infrastructure for the 83,000-square-foot EVOS Family Entertainment Center. The Family Entertainment Center will be a premium, destination-size entertainment venue. It'll have multiple cinema theaters, and will have the world's largest movie screen. The theaters will have the latest in Dolby sound and vision technology. The center will also include other interactive activities, such as bowling, arcade games, and my favorite, rock climbing. It will also have food and beverage options. The use of the property will directly advance the goals of the CRA, which is to redevelop the downtown core into an entertainment destination with theaters, attractions, and food and beverages for all ages. My understanding is that this property was used by the city's waterworks department for a number of years, but it has essentially been vacant and non-functional for decades. There was a small building that was demolished in 2011. In 2011, the building was acquired by the city in April of 1922 for the grand price of $3,000. Today, 104 years later, Myrtle Development is offering to purchase that property for $1 million, and that purchase and sale will also return it to the tax rolls. So, as you just heard, we have reached an agreement with the CRA, and we're here today to ask you to formally approve that agreement. We're happy to answer any questions that you might have. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. At this time, is there anyone here from the public that desires to speak to this agenda? Yes. We have them in order, as received. Catherine Safatinos. Hi, everyone. My name is Catherine Safatinos. I'm here on behalf of my father, Terry Safatinos, who is unable to comfortably address the council himself due to his speech and vision impairments. At his request, I'll be reading the following statement on his behalf. Dear members of the CRA, I have been involved in downtown Clearwater for more than 40 years, and I have always believed that this community has tremendous potential. I came to Clearwater from New York in 1985 and invested a great deal of time, effort, and money into downtown properties, including the Colony Building, the World Woolworth Building, the Brown Brothers Building, the Ritz Theater, and other buildings throughout the downtown area. I did this because I believed in Clearwater and believed that downtown could once again become a place where people wanted to gather, work, shop, dine, and spend time. Over the years, I've watched many people talk about the potential of downtown Clearwater. I've also watched many people work hard to make that vision a reality. The challenge has always been the same. Downtown needs activity. It needs destinations that bring people into the area and create energy for the businesses, residents, and property owners who have invested here. That's why I support the sale of the CRA property to Myrtle Street Development to complete the site of the Evo Family Entertainment Center. Today, my office is very close to the property, and I would like to see this project completed, which will add value to the area. As you know right now, it's very depressed. I believe this project represents exactly the type of investment downtown Clearwater has needed for many years. A major family entertainment destination will bring people downtown, create opportunities for surrounding businesses, and help make Cleveland Street a place where residents and visitors want to spend time. Throughout my years as a downtown property owner, I believe that successful downtowns are built by creating reasons for people to come. Restaurants, shops, entertainment, events, and gathering places all work together to create a vibrant downtown. Evo will add another important piece to that vision. After decades of believing in what downtown Clearwater could become, it is exciting to see real progress taking place. I believe the Evo Family Entertainment Center is an important step toward realizing that downtown that many of us have envisioned for years. I respectfully ask the CRA to sell the property to Myrtle Development so that this important project can move forward. Sincerely, Terry Sabatinos. Thank you all. Have a good day. Thanks, Speaker. Jay Wiesel. My name is Jay Wiesel, and I've lived in Pinellas County here for over 40 years and the past 25 years working in the real estate industry. So I'm looking at what is being presented here today from the perspective of a long-time Pinellas County resident and a real estate professional, and what I see is opportunity, an increase in values through residential and commercial development, but most of all quality of life. And I can't imagine that this is the first time that a municipality has been in a situation where a private entity wanted city property for development. Cities often use these opportunities as a catalyst for economic growth. Austin, Texas, for example, the city sold downtown property to a private developer, and what came out of that was hundreds, if not thousands, of jobs, new residences, more tax revenue, and a district that drove further downtown development. Now, it's obvious to me that this isn't about part of a street or a quarter acre. There's something else going on here, but we're not here to talk about that today. What I want to do is share my opinion on why I feel the EVO entertainment complex is important to this community. This investment can create significant economic benefit for Clearwater residents and for the city as a whole. If I remember correctly, Mr. Mitch Roberts, the CVO CEO, said in May that the development will create over 300 jobs and $2 million a year in wages. And on top of that, EVO alone is expected to generate more than a half a million dollars a year in property tax revenue for the city. And I believe that the quarter acre that we're talking about is probably a very inconsequential piece of land that is generating nothing for the city right now. And my understanding is that the CRA exists to improve areas that need redevelopment, reduce blight, strengthen the tax base, create and retain jobs, and encourage public and private investment. Considering all of this, I believe the approval to sell this quarter acre is the right decision. Thank you. Sir, next speaker. Ervis. Good afternoon. My name is Ervis, and me and my cousin are the owners of Cheesewell Pasta and Pizza, the restaurant in the Apux building in Cleveland Street. We are originally from Albania, but we grew up in Italy, and we opened this restaurant almost one year ago. Cheesewell Pasta and Pizza is a family-owned, operated one. My wife, my sons, and my cousins all work at the restaurant with me, and we aim to create a real Italian experience for all our customers. We always have other tourist restaurants, the Ocean City, Maryland. There are so much food traffic over there, too. When I first came to Clearwater, it was so welcoming. I have worked to bring more people to downtown Clearwater from Dunedin, Largo, and other nearby cities to help to create the same type of environment because we are still investing in downtown Clearwater. We are so excited for the Evo Family Entertainment Center coming to downtown Clearwater because I think that Clearwater Beach already attracts thousands of visitors, and Evo should be the same for downtown. It will bring so many people to downtown to enjoy the shops and restaurants like mine, too. Downtown has needed an acre like Evo to bring the lot of people in the area. I support this project and look forward to being completed. Thank you. Natalie. Good afternoon, Mayor and Council members. My name is Natalia Timofieva, and my husband and I have called Clearwater home for the past 15 years. We live about a mile from downtown, so what happens here is important to us. We have built our lives here, volunteer here, and we feel truly connected to the community. I support the road vacations for the Evo Family Entertainment Center because I think this center would be a great addition to our city. I can see my husband, and I enjoy an evening by getting dinner and seeing a movie at Evo. I also have a young daughter, and many of my close friends have children. We get together regularly and are always looking for new places to go. From time to time, we also organize community events. I would love a place like Evo nearby where we could meet, have fun, and even hold events for local community members. As a mother, I think it is important that these roads be vacated to allow Evo to be built as planned. When I am with my daughter or my friends and their kids, I want to be safe and comfortable entering and exiting a large venue. An amazing center like this should be a family-friendly environment where children can enjoy themselves and parents can feel at ease. Since I live right next to downtown, I understand that closing the road can impact daily life. But I also know that whatever minor inconvenience these street vacations could cause is far outweighed by everything Evo will bring to our downtown. I am asking you to approve the sale of this small piece of land on the Evo site. Your support will help make Evo a part of the downtown we call home. Thank you. Thank you. Next speaker. Sean Noll. Hello, Mayor, City Council Member, staff. Thank you for your time. My name is Sean Noll. My wife, Shannon, and I have called Clearwater Homes since 2003. We've raised three beautiful children here, built a thriving business, and created many wonderful friendships. In 2012, I founded Linens & Hutch, an e-commerce company that sells bedding and home goods. We ship millions of products all over the country every year. And over the last 14 years, we've grown into a business generating more than nine figures in annual revenue and employing over 200 people, 60 of whom are here in Clearwater. We're now moving our headquarters into downtown Clearwater, investing millions of dollars into renovating a 10,000-square-foot building for our new office. We're putting our own money behind the future of downtown Clearwater because we believe in where the city is going, and we want to be a part of what's next. Those 60 employees and growing will become part of our downtown community every day, eating at local restaurants, shopping at the local shops, and helping create the vibrant downtown we've been working towards for years. These streets and the small plot of land aren't the lifelines of the city. The people are. EVO is projected to bring an estimated 650,000 people a year. And as we heard from EVO CEO Mitch Roberts in the last meeting, that $50 million private investment depends on safe, sufficient, and frictionless parking. The entertainment is exciting, but I believe EVO's most important contribution is something you can't put a price on, an anchor. Clearwater has gone over 50 years without this kind of major downtown development. An anchor like EVO gives people a reason to come to downtown, and once they're here, it gives other businesses a reason to invest here, too. That's how downtown grows. New restaurants, new shops, new investment, more people living, working, spending time, and investing in Clearwater. I believe this is just the beginning. The decisions this city council makes today will shape the city we live in years from now. I approve the sale of this plot of land, and let's build a downtown our families, our businesses, and the city deserve. Thank you. Camille. Hello, Mayor and Council members. My name is Camille Cusick, and I've been a Clearwater resident for the last 13 years with my family. I'm also the manager of Nourish & Nosh, an organic cafe and bistro on downtown Cleveland Street. I'm very excited for the plans of the continued development of downtown Clearwater, especially the EVO Family Entertainment Center. I see this as a major opportunity for businesses like ours. I'm looking forward to EVO as a place where my family and neighbors can have fun, where my five children can spend time with their friends after school or on weekends. But from a professional perspective, this project presents a major opportunity. Because I'm the manager of Nourish & Nosh, and I've been a hospitality consultant working on downtown Cleveland Street for many years, I know how important food traffic is to downtown retail and dining. With cutting-edge technology and assortment of attractions, the EVO will bring people from all over the state right into downtown Clearwater. I can see very clearly what this could mean for us and my business. When people come for entertainment, they'll walk down Cleveland Street discovering merchants and business along the way. People stop by shop for a coffee, lunch, or something from the bakery, and if they have a good experience, they'll come back again. I believe this is a positive opportunity for Clearwater, and that's exactly the kind of activity that helps businesses grow. And I ask for your sale in the small land parcel needed for the EVO Family Entertainment Center. Thank you. Thank you. Nick Zimmer. Good afternoon. My name is Nick Zimmer, and I'm actually the CEO of a local mold remediation company that employs over 60 people here in Clearwater. I'm also a husband and a father of two, local Cub Scout leader and youth baseball coach. And actually, our offices are downtown here in Clearwater. And I drive past the lands that we're discussing twice a day. I see an expansive lot that's empty, and I see potential. And I believe that, obviously, downtown Clearwater is entering a new and exciting chapter. As a business owner, I know that attracting talent is more than just a paycheck. Employees have families. They consider where they want to live, where they want to raise a family, and where they want to build a career. This is why I see the EVO Entertainment Center as a massive opportunity for all of us. Clearwater has much to offer. We've got incredible beaches, a unique history, and we have a community with tremendous potential. We should build on those ranks and create a downtown that people are excited to visit, proud to call home, and eager to invest in. I'm originally from San Diego, and it has a landmark of its own, which I'm sure you've heard of, which is the San Diego World Famous Zoo. San Luis has its arch. Las Vegas has its strip. New Orleans, the French Quarter. We have an opportunity here to create a defining downtown district that's known nationally. So, a vote in favor of selling this land parcel is a vote for more jobs, more activity, and more possibilities with this fine city. I appreciate your time. Thank you. June Middleton. Good afternoon, members of the City Council and the CRA. I'd like to thank you for your time, first of all. Like she said, my name is June Middleton. I moved to Clearwater from Washington, D.C. in 1994 with my then two-year-old son. Growing up in a city like D.C., I was used to seeing people walking on the streets all times of the day. And there was always an abundance of things to do, restaurants, museums, theaters, and many, many places to shop. When I moved to Clearwater, I found myself looking for things to do with my son. It wasn't what I was used to. For family entertainment or to celebrate birthdays with friends, we would end up driving several miles east to either Chuck E. Cheese or Celebration Station. Believe me, those places got a lot of my hard-earned money. Raising my son, I would have done anything to have a place like Evo Family Entertainment right here in downtown. I can't tell you how many times I would have taken him and his friends over there for bowling, rock climbing, arcades, not to mention watching movies on the world's largest movie screen and all under one roof. I'm honestly ecstatic about what this center will mean for all the families living currently in Clearwater and all the visitors it will bring. From my experiences in Washington, D.C., I think the draw of a place like this will attract more and more people into our downtown area and into our local businesses, creating a vibrant city center. I ask that you please support selling this small parcel of land so Evo can make this center a reality. Thank you. Heather Burk. Hi, my name is Heather. I'm a Clearwater resident and local business owner. I came to tell you why I support the Evo Family Entertainment Center. Having grown up here, I always wished Clearwater had more of a happening downtown. I wished it so much that I moved away for many years to New York and L.A. I loved being in those cities, but I ended up moving back here in 2018 because what I missed there was the sense of community and friends that I had found here. When I moved back, I vowed to do my part to help create a Clearwater that I really wanted to live in. I decided to open my fitness studio in Clearwater almost four years ago. The support we received from our customers here allowed us to grow, and eventually I was able to open two more locations in Palm Harbor and St. Pete. So many clients told me that the studio was something Clearwater really needed, and I knew I wasn't alone in wanting more things like that here. People don't want to drive for just one thing. They want to drive to an area that ticks off many boxes. I know from running a small business that people are more inclined to shop or use your services when you are near other shops, activities, and plenty of parking. To me, it makes all the difference. When I found out that Evo wanted to build a movie theater here, I got so excited. As a teen, I spent every Friday night at the Oldsmore Movie Theater, since it wasn't just a place to see movies, but also a fun place to hang out with friends. The thought that my future kids will get to have that in Clearwater makes me so nostalgic and excited for them. I love the direction Clearwater is going, and I hope you will support this investment. The piece of land you are considering may be small, but it is part of a much bigger picture for our city. It's residents and small businesses like mine. I ask that you approve this sale. Thank you. Kira Delaware. Hello, Mayor and Council Members. My name is Kira, and I've lived in Clearwater for the past 31 years. I raised my kids here. I participated in local PTAs, worked at community events, and I currently serve as a board member at the local school that my kids attended. I work downtown at Marlena Rose Glass Gallery. Marlena is a world-renowned glass sculptor who is represented in galleries all over the country. Ten years ago, we envisioned a Clearwater with lots of foot traffic and full of art and culture. So we opened our own gallery right here on Cleveland Street next door to Clear Sky. In fact, George Kretikos, who was the mayor at the time, came to our grand opening and welcomed us to the city. We've expanded as a business since being downtown, but I wouldn't say that it's been because of foot traffic. A couple of times we've considered if relocating our gallery to a larger city would be the correct move for us. But recently, we've been completely thrilled with all the development that's now underway at downtown, and we're looking forward to everything to come and are especially excited about the Evo Center. Evo will be an anchor that will draw people from all over Florida. It will help create a thriving city center with activities and restaurants and more foot traffic and will definitely contribute to our purpose at Marlena Rose Glass Gallery, which is sharing beauty and art with others while supporting local employees. The downtown redevelopment now underway and the new family center are the manifestation of what we envisioned years ago. Part of the purpose of the CRA is to encourage investment and support economic development. So I can see no better opportunity than the one we have at hand, selling a small parcel of unused land to help Evo become established in Clearwater. I think this is the next step forward towards creating an even more vibrant Clearwater. We now have the opportunity to create a new trajectory for our downtown and make a bustling city center. Let's do it. Thank you. Steve Bolton. Hello, Mayor and Councilmembers. My name is Steve Bolton, and I have been a Clearwater resident for the past 25 years. I'm originally from Belgium, and my parents brought me here to build our beautiful life in this city. Today, my wife Sarah and I are raising our three young boys here. I've worked in business operations for over a decade, which means I work for companies to analyze their operations and implement changes that will grow their business. I'm standing before you to support selling this small parcel for the Evo Family Entertainment Center. The future of downtown Clearwater matters to me. I grew up here, graduated from high school just down the street, and worked downtown. For years, my daily routine, including driving from North Clearwater, dropping my children off at school, and heading to work at one Clearwater tower. So downtown has been a significant part of my life. Over the years, I've seen Clearwater Beach, just over the causeway, draw people from all over the world. I have always believed our downtown could become a destination people are equally excited to visit. The new Waterfront Park has shown us what is possible. My kids absolutely love the playground. My wife and I now bring our kids downtown instead of looking for other places to spend time. I've started to see that energy extend into the rest of downtown. A vibrant, thriving place filled with restaurants, businesses, families, and people enjoying themselves. I believe Evo Entertainment can help us take that next step. Personally, I would welcome an entertainment center that gives families another reason to come downtown, stay longer, and enjoy everything around it. My support for this project comes from my experience as a resident and a father who wants his children to enjoy the city they call home. I look forward to welcoming more families, more businesses, and more visitors to this beautiful city, as I'm sure we can all agree. Selling this piece of land will open new opportunities for us, and I ask you to support this next step for Clearwater. Thank you. Thank you, sir. Bob Zivinci. Hello, Mayor and Council. My name is Bob DeVinuti. I'm a business owner and currently run two small firms here, one in finances and one in counseling. I'm also the chief scout in a scout troop here in Clearwater. I've been doing this for about 20 years. I've made 45 Eagle Scouts and currently manage over 25 scouts in this troop. And after decades of helping the local youth, I've learned having places nearby that provide a safe and fun environment for kids and their families is key for them to learn and grow. An Evo Family Entertainment Center would be a place just like that. I'd be able to take scouts of all ages there for fun activities, especially rock climbing, and maybe even use their facilities to hold some meetings. I know families will love it. My son and his wife live here in Clearwater with their six-year-old daughter. They've mentioned to me several times how excited they are at the idea of being able to take her to Evo and to spend time there as a family. I'm also looking forward to Evo from a business perspective. I've always wanted to show my clients and associates downtown Clearwater when they came in town. And Evo will be the perfect draw for them to visit this beautiful city. So as someone who wants my scouts to lead more active lives, and as a business owner who looks forward to showing my clients our downtown city, I ask that you sell this plot of land so that Evo and its parking lot can be built as designed. Thank you for your time and your consideration. Chris Wiseman. Good afternoon, Mayor, Councilmembers. My name is Chris Wiseman. I live and work in downtown Clearwater. I wanted to speak to you today about why I support selling a small parcel of land for the Evo Family Entertainment Center. I'm an engineer. I've owned business in the power development for the last four years. I've also lived in several major cities, New York, Chicago, Boston, and Houston. And throughout my life, I've seen some really amazing development, right? A case study would be the High Line in New York. It was an abandoned overhead railroad running through the city. And it got converted to a two-mile-long park. And it created an amazing amount of – it really inspired lots of housing commercial development. It's been gratifying to see the recent construction and renovation happening right here in downtown Clearwater. And as a lifelong developer, I know it can be really difficult to create momentum like we now see. There's a point where enough individual projects begin working together, creating really self-sustaining development. And I believe that Evo is the catalyst that will take the existing planet to the next level, really inspiring even more self-sustaining development. I think the city needs to do everything it can to harness the momentum. Evo gives people another reason to come here, while all the restaurants, businesses, and housing, and all the other projects around give people a reason to stay. In every major development, there are tradeoffs. You sometimes need to give up something minor to allow a much bigger opportunity to move forward. In this case, we are talking about selling a small undeveloped parcel so that the Evo site can be completed as planned. And from my perspective in development, I see that parcel in the context of really a much larger project taking shape around it. And I ask that you approve the request. Thank you. Thanks, sir. Joshua Rosenberg. Good afternoon, city council members. My name is Joshua Rosenberg. I'm 18 years old, and I was born and raised right here in Clearwater. I am definitely proud to say that Clearwater is my home. I spent countless days at the beach and tons of time in downtown with friends and family. My family also owns a dental practice directly across the street from the New City Hall. So I probably grew up downtown. One of the biggest parts of my childhood was playing competitive soccer with the Clearwater Chargers. I played with them for all my years in competitive soccer, and I was honored to receive a lifetime membership award after all my years there. Now that I'm an adult, I've been looking at what I want to do as a career. I've done some jobs in construction, and I want to become a general contractor so I can work on construction progress throughout Clearwater. I've decided to live here because I love this city and it is a place I want to create my future. I'm very excited about what Evo will add to our downtown. I will definitely use the facility myself to go for an evening of friends, watch a movie, and go rock climbing or bowling. I think it will be a great place for young people who, like me, have decided to start the next chapter of their lives in this city. Clearwater will always be my home, and I'm excited to see what it looks like 5, 10, or 20 years from now. Selling a small piece of land to help build Evo will help make the future of our city great, and I ask you to approve its sale. Thank you. I apologize ahead of time. Uramia Vargas. Okay. Good afternoon, and thank you for the opportunity to speak. My name is Uramia. My family and I chose to make Clearwater our home 10 years ago, and we're raising our 10-year-old twin girls. My husband and I work hard to give them a good education, and we also want them to experience music, events, different cultures in the city we call home. My family enjoys seeing downtown become a place where people can come together for concerts and events. When a show ends, we'd love to stay downtown, eat at a local restaurant, and walk around and maybe catch a movie together. That's why we were so excited to hear about the Evo Family Entertainment Center. A movie theater downtown would give families like ours another reason to spend the whole evening in Clearwater and support nearby businesses. As a mom, one thing I really like about the plans is how easy the parking looks. Remember, it's two of them and one of me. If I'm taking the girls somewhere, I want to be able to park close by, get them out of the car, and walk straight into the center without making the whole thing complicated. The Evo, the way Evo is planned, the parking and the center work together really well, and this small piece of land is part of making that happen. When I was young, children had more freedom to ride bikes than enjoy the neighborhood. I hope we can create spaces where our children can feel the same sense of freedom and connection. I'm asking the council to approve the sale of this land parcel so that the entertainment center and parking can come together as planned. This is an opportunity to make downtown a place where families want to spend time before and after events and where our children can make memories for years to come. Thank you for listening and for considering what this project could mean for Clearwater families. Thank you, ma'am. Steve Beslow. Steve. Kelly Meyer. No. And there is a Natalia. Hello. My name is Natalia Harrison, and I'm the owner of Soul Sicilian Fusion. My husband and I moved to Clearwater seven years ago and opened a restaurant downtown Clearwater called Soul Sicilian Fusion. As a downtown restaurant owner, I understand the importance of food traffic. We definitely see difference when there is a concert and more people come to downtown, definitely lots of people. Right now we see a lot of people mostly when there is a concert. But we need downtown Clearwater to become more of the destination area, and it has that potential. Having a place of bringing families and visitors downtown gives people more reason to come here, stay longer, experience the other businesses, and make Clearwater place a special place. The Evo Family Entertainment Center is going to be an anchor that brings more people downtown as a result. More people will come to the restaurants, and with Evo, we are building a great downtown. Having the parking for all the expansion is also very important. With all these new businesses that are coming, parking is going to have to be available. That definitely includes the parking lot that need it for Evo. I'm excited for the day when the restaurant will be full of people working not just on a 400 and 500 lot, but all over the Clearwater, family, friends, children. We need downtown to become its own destination, and Evo is a vital part of making that happen. I think it's a good idea to sell the piece of land for development, and I ask for your support in this request so we can work together to make Clearwater even better. Thank you. Thank you, ma'am. Anything, Mr. Potter, you want to add to? No, sir. Let's just question. Good. Okay. Trustees, I want to start discussion. Council Member Tishada. So I have questions, but before I do, I want to make sure that I'm asking them at the appropriate time. My questions revolve mostly around access and accessibility and connectivity and not about the parcel. I have no concerns or questions regarding the parcel. However, this agenda item has the site plan and the development plan, and that is what some of the questions are specific to. So is it appropriate to ask them now or wait for the vacation agenda item? I have no preference. It's a different body, technically, so I think it's fair to ask them now. I agree. Now? Okay. It's from the staff, if that's okay with everyone. We can start with Laura or Matt. Which one? Lauren Planning or Matt? Sorry. Everybody's eager to jump up there first. Hi, if it's okay. Good afternoon, Lauren. Matt's due planning and development. Thank you, Lauren. The planning review said that the proposal did not adequately address the downtown standards or provide a reasonable explanation for how those standards were being met to the greatest extent practicable. So did the applicant ultimately provide that explanation? And specifically, why could Laura not be preserved as a true east-west connection instead of dead-ending at E Street? So as of this time, we proceeded through the initial development review committee process. We met with the applicant and reviewed all of the staff's, the collective of the DRC's comments. And we've had subsequent meetings and conversations with them, but they have not resubmitted. So what's typical in the process is once any applicant has provided the comments, they will resubmit to address those comments, usually update narratives, provide a response to comments, et cetera, which is then routed back to the members of the DRC for additional review. So where we're at now is where we were after the DRC meeting in terms of the official site plan review process. Okay, so just so I understand, so the questions are asked, and then when are the responses expected? That's where the ball really is in the applicant's court, so to speak. The state does provide timeframes for that, for non-quasi-judicial applications like this. The city is expected to make a determination to approve, approve with conditions, or deny within 120 days unless there's a mutually agreed-upon exception to that, so an extension of that timeframe. That's in the statutes to keep everyone accountable and keep applications moving, so just, you know, cities can't just sit on things, et cetera, as well. Okay. So any questions that were posed by staff, I shouldn't expect any response for a while, or at least it's not obligatory. We would not be able to evaluate if they have made changes because we have not seen any proposed changes to those issues identified through the DRC process. And then I saw one of the exhibits, I forget which one, I think it was C, where it shows, I guess, it could be the Grove thoroughfare connection, where there is sort of a right turn, right turn, right turn, that goes across the parking lot. And so according to planning, do you feel that that serves the same functionality as Laura Street? I'd like to be clear which. So I think it's exhibit. So I think you're referring to the development agreement. Yes. Exhibit C. Thank you. Yes. Sorry. There's a lot of different documents. Yes. So my questions were, when I look at this map, so Laura's open on Myrtle, so there's going to be like an in and out from one side, but a dead end at E. So there's no east-west there. And then there's Grove, which is the two orange on the ends. So that would be a thoroughfare. So you can go in from Myrtle and go out from E. And so I know how I feel about it, but I want to know, from your perspective, do you think keeping that thoroughfare open has the same functionality and equal value as keeping Laura Street open? We would be looking at it very much holistically, so looking strictly at the connection point for vehicular traffic as one piece, but it would also, we would be looking at the pedestrian access and other pieces. Because this involves, with the vacation of the rights of way, it could, it makes the parcel larger, and that in turn adds additional standards for it to comply with. So having not evaluated everything with detail with the benefit of all the other changes, it would be, or potential changes, issues identified, I would be hesitant to state anything definitively. So there's nothing definitive at all then? Correct. So where we're at is, you know, the various applications. There's numerous pieces in play with the vacations of the rights of way, with the agreement to sell this property, and then a planning application would still need to be finalized. And so is it a safe assumption that alternative configurations were not discussed then or responded to, right? There were none suggested, or were they suggested and were just waiting for a response? For example, if I would have to, if I, for example, if I would want Laura Street to stay open, but it was rejected, okay, my next suggestion would be to have a thoroughfare that connects Hendricks. So that would be another configuration. Was that something that was discussed or suggested or not? I do not recall staff suggesting anything specific. I think that we relied on the code and said, you know, alternatives should be explored. So the code says we should be looking for alternatives instead of closing all of these, but then it also accounts for pedestrian crossings and other avenues to meet the code. So I personally did not provide any direction one way or the other. We try to not design other people's projects for them. There's a lot of professionals that have different parts to play. So what might seem reasonable to me may have unintended consequences for other disciplines. So I don't know if anything came up in conversations with the traffic engineering team that I may not have been part of. I'm not trying to put them on the spot, but. I can tell you that during the negotiation development agreement process, we didn't really discuss alternative designs at that time. We mainly spoke with this diagram and worked from that. Do you want to? Thank you, Mayor, Council Members, Marcus Williamson, Public Works Director. Yes, we did put some comments regarding Hendricks on our staff comments as an alternative. Yes. So one of the things that I was wondering was, has there been any thought or analysis done on how the loss of Lower Street affects access, the circulation for the Station Square's 15-story, 160 roughly units, the 11-story, one Clearwater Tower, and the 12-story office building at 33 North Cardin, especially since Station Square's one point of entry for the garage is on Lower Street. So was there anything specifically analyzed on the impact of those three major buildings? So we didn't specifically talk to those three buildings and the impacts. We talked to some of the highlights just from traffic connectivity and all, and maybe if I can take a little bit of a step back. So Council had kind of asked us, look at the traffic at the beach and address some of that. And what we've seen is the beach developed more when vertical your density increases. You've got more pedestrian traffic movement across those limited lanes. So trying to look at things from similar lenses of how do you keep moving all of that traffic over time as things build up with the pedestrian interactions, ensuring you keep businesses. We've got parking garages. So from a public work standpoint, you know, we care about the Garden Avenue garage station square parking. So we looked at some of that. You see some of those comments that were in there. But not specifically to the impact of the accessibility to those three properties? No, ma'am. And then one other thing is I know I heard that the post office was discussed. I'm not quite sure if I'm asking the right person. But the post office was discussed, but I wasn't quite sure about what the response was and how. And I couldn't find any of the documentation. So we just identified it. So, again, we've got parking out there. We know that the Postal Service uses that parking daily for their employees. So we highlighted it. We did not speak with the U.S. Postal Service, though. Yeah, because that is definitely a route for the post office. My balcony faces that, and I know post offices uses it. So I would be interested in knowing what their official response is to having that street eliminated. I thought we had it. I just couldn't find it. Marcus, was it not in the application? Was our letter not in the application? In the application from the applicant. But we did not present it in jail. Yeah, but it was from the Postal Service provided an impact letter saying that they did not object to it, that it would not impact their routes. Can I have that page so I can find it? I missed it. It doesn't have to be now. It could be at a later time. Oh, yeah. And the last one is how do we preserve public use of LORA for as long as legally possible? And exactly what triggers the point when it must close? I'm unsure about that. Yes, ma'am. Part of that will be depending on how the ordinance is written, how the packages come in. And so whether they're looking for early exploratory, it might be temporary, but it'll get tied to some of the development when they ultimately want. The public works director is looking at me. But if you look at the ordinance, it's section three in the ordinance I'll read it. The city may continue full use of the right-of-way until such time as the city issues a right-of-way permit as needed for the construction of the development. The city shall not issue or be required to issue the right-of-way permit until the city is issued building permits authorizing construction supporting the development. So the rights-of-way are Grove, the Alley, and Mora. The development is the entire development, the parking lot, and the Ego Entertainment Family Center. So it's just a physical acquiring of the permit. It's not a specific stage of construction. Yes. I just need to understand that. Correct. All right. Thank you. That's all for me. Anybody else have any questions? Not any comments or discussion before we vote? Go ahead because I'm still making some notes, but I do have something to say. Thank you, Mayor. Staff, thank you for the presentation and for the update. Thank the applicant for the presentation. Just a couple things that were mentioned earlier. I completely agree with some of the speakers. A downtown anchor that we're discussing today is a decision that will positively shape downtown Clearwater for generations, and I think that's an impactful statement. We can step back and put it under the microscope foot by foot or road by road or sidewalk, but I think it's important that we double-click and zoom out and look at this possible catalyst and ability to, I think the word said, continue to harness the momentum and capture that downtown Clearwater and the city of Clearwater currently has, and we do. To talk about this property since 1922, being owned by the city of Clearwater and not generating one penny of tax revenues, 1922, the city paid $3,000 for it, and we're now looking to sell the property for $1 million. I think that's decisions that cities make when it comes to evaluating the opportunity of surplus properties, which we've all done and our staff's done a great job. I think we just last week presented 41 surplus properties that are on an affordable housing list to be developed that are just sitting there surplus. Here we have an opportunity for less than a quarter acre of land that's sat there vacant since 1922, and we have the possibility of putting an over $50 million investment in our downtown corridor with not $1 of public tax money. This is a great opportunity for us. So to continue to go on, this is a no-brainer in my book. A couple things to identify, I think to call Grove Street a thoroughfare, just to make sure that we're on the same page. Grove Street's been closed since 2017 and has sat vacant and empty, not used. So I don't know if I would call it a thoroughfare. Additionally, questions very important regarding the effects and impacts on Union Square, no before building the post office. I think all those were addressed in a traffic study that concluded 13 surrounding intersections would have no negatively impacted level of services. I think that's vitally important to say. So I think to help staff answer that question is, yes, they were considered, and the impacts were considered in those traffic studies because those cars and residents and visitors have to go somewhere, and they're going to continue to use those other intersections. So I think the impacts were assessed. Again, this is a great opportunity to continue to move Clearwater forward. We've heard from so many of our downtown brick-and-mortar restaurants and families about the importance of downtown Clearwater finally finding a way to become a destination. We've talked about the beach for far too many years, and we have the ability now to capture those day four, five, and six. When they're tired of the sun, they're sunburned, and instead of going to surrounding communities of Dunedin, St. Pete, or Tampa, we can keep them right here in Clearwater and extend their stays on the beach and spend day four, five, and six in our beautiful downtown and visit some of our great restaurants and shops. There's a lot of excitement and hope about our downtown district that we've heard from the younger generation as well as some wiser generations, and I'm excited as well in the direction downtown's coming, so thank you. Thank you very much. Just trying to go through my notes here because I do know that we did hit the post office last time. I was just trying to find the document of where it was, which I believe it was going to be in staff comments in the 17th meeting document. Regardless, you know, when we heard from Mitch Roberts, the CEO of Evo Entertainment, he spoke of the safety for his guests and those people that were coming to the area. That's why he designs the entertainment centers the way he does. And, you know, somebody had said it in their comments today when it comes to frictionless parking. You know, so you're able to park and go straight into the venue without having to dodge or play Frogger with vehicles. I agree, you know, when we look at Laurel Hendricks, I wouldn't say those are thoroughfares either. And, you know, I remember when we were having one-on-ones that it was vaguely brought up that, is there anything else that, you know, we're looking for in regards to this development or we'd like to see happen with roadways or anything like that? And clearly to one of the council members, because this has changed since the first rendering of how this parking lot was supposed to be, requested that access for cars to go east and west still be there. It looks like they're doing that now still at Grove Street. No, it's not a main street. It's still a parking lot, but they still have access. So when our Station Square residents, you know, need to get home, you can go Cleveland to East Street and up to Laurel. You can go Cleveland to Garden, to Hendricks, to Laurel. You can go Drew Street to Garden, to Hendricks, to Laurel. You have right there just a few ways to get back home. Again, I couldn't find it. I wish you went a little bit longer, Council Member Menino, so that I could have done a thorough investigation of where USPS was mentioned, because I do remember from the 17th meeting that it was conveyed to us that it was not going to affect their operations. I also pointed out that I think it was like, you know, on a good day, maybe nine free parking spaces that were giving up on Laurel. So when I look at this, I still see the value that it brings to the development of our downtown and the prosperity that it could have to finally make it, not that ghost town that a lot of us on this board know was growing up, and some of us know how vibrant it was before we lost it to places like Countryside Mall and other places like that. So to be on the precipice of, what was it, the urban renaissance? Is that the term that we had dubbed it? I think that this is a great catalyst to that future. So that's all I have for now, and I look forward to the rest of the discussion. Okay. Council Member Albright. I know you're picking me up because I'm old, but, you know, I was at another meeting, and I said, you know, I can remember when we had a four-digit phone number. There was people there that said, what? Look, I was pretty clear at last council meeting, something like this opportunity doesn't just get dropped in your lap every day of the week. I mean, this is a once-in-a-lifetime thing. This is going to change so much in downtown Clearwater. And I can tell you, I did remember Clearwater being a very vibrant community. I mean, very vibrant downtown. We had, you know, three movie theaters, we had bakeries, we had drugstores, we had, they call them booteries back then, but shoe stores and clothing stores. You could go downtown and see people every day of the week, not just on the weekends. And I've had that vision in my head for as long as I've been here in the city. And I see this happening again, and it's very exciting. So I'm all in favor of this. This is a great opportunity, and it's even better by having somebody bring in 50 million bucks and the city not participating in it, the CRA not participating in it. They're coming, and they're happy they're coming because we've done such a good job with the beach that they feel like they can make this a success. And I know it'll pull people from all counties around us and finally make Cleveland Street a destination. So I'm very happy with this. Okay. Vice President. Yep, me again. Thank you very much. I did receive a few e-mails, which I'm sure some of us up here are all on some of those e-mail chains together. So I just wanted to point out some bullet points in regards to the contractual agreement that we have here, that, you know, the city did a great job in dealing with murder development and coming together with moving forward on this. So as has been stated, it's a $1 million purchase price that's based on the value of $875,000. That $1 million purchase price sticks through the continuation of this term, meaning if for whatever reason this facility does not get built, the CRA can go back and purchase that lot, not at market rate value but, again, at the million dollars. I think that that's something notable. This is a 15-year agreement for the East Avenue, and it is tied or restricted to a vehicle parking area supporting the defined family entertainment project. So, you know, it's very specific for what this piece of property is being sold for. There are development guidelines. So the developer is required to have building permits within two years, commence construction with two-and-a-half and obtain certification of occupancy within four years. And, again, I just want to stress this. It's in the contract of the defined project as approximately 83,000-square-foot family entertainment center with a minimum of 400 associated parking spaces. I'm not going to continue inundating you. There's a few other bullet points, but, you know, I mean, give the kudos to city staff and, you know, making sure that the city was protected in anything like this should it go south for any reason. I mean, we all know that sometimes projects don't come to fruition. I really don't think that's going to be the process here, but even if it were to happen, there's ways in which, you know, the people's land and all these types of things are able to come back into their acquisition. So thank you. I'm done. Okay. That's a little bit to shade it. Anything further to share? Okay. I'll just share my thoughts then. First, I'm not going to go back into Laura. We talked about that the other night, and that was 3-2, and we passed it, and I'll move on to a second reading. So just assuming that that's going to go forward after the second reading, just I'm looking at this as if Laura is going to be vacated, and what do we do with this one piece of parcel that the city owns? So we've all had separate meetings to discuss this with our staff, and throughout those meetings, I've shared that it was my preference to lease this property and not to convey it. For me, that was the preferred way, to lease it to Evo Entertainment. For me, that has been the best way to make sure that the property stays active for public use and not converted by the property owner to private use at some point. For me, that's just the best way to do it, was to lease it. And in those meetings, you know, it shared with me that there was a consensus to convey it. So I've known for a long time that my lease idea wasn't going to get very far. But I still believe that's the best way to protect the citizens and those who need to make sure and protect the city, to make sure that it remains open to private use. There's a lot of wonderful people who are members of the Flag Organization have come in here today, and we're at the Lower Street, and talked about their excitement over using it. And then we've had business owners on Cliven Street talk about it, too. I just want to make sure that it stays an open-to-the-public type thing, because the reality is that a property owner could convert it to a club type thing at some point, where, you know, selective folks are invited in or not in. It may not be the great best business model, but they could certainly do that. So that was my reason and still is for preferring a lease. But I realize today that I'm not going to be in the majority on that. But it's not about whether or not I think that the Evo Family Entertainment Center is a good idea. It's not about that at all. It's just my concern that once we convey it, we convey it. And I am appreciative of the staff, the city attorney's office. In Article 3, Paragraph 6, there is this, the Vice Mayor mentioned, the restriction on the use of property. But it doesn't have as much control to it as a lease agreement would have. So for me, that's simply why I'm voting no on it. It's not because I don't like the Evo Entertainment Family Center. It would be fantastic for a lot of folks in our community, as long as it remains open to the entire public and not a private facility. It's simply about the approach. And, you know, hopefully, you know, I've heard what the others have said, why they're voting for it. We can all respect our different viewpoints on this. But for me, it's simply that. I think, have thought, and still continue to think that rather than conveying it, some type of lease arrangement would have been better for the citizens and for the city. So with that, do you have something else to share? Yeah, I'm so sorry. I apologize. I forgot about all those questions going back and forth. But I want to be clear, 4.1 is just on the sale of the parcel, correct? That's it. Yes. So as a city manager can attest, I've always been in support of that. That makes sense. We're not going to segregate a little parcel and prevent a good business venture. So I've always been in support of the parcel and selling the parcel. So I'm only voting on 4.1 right now. I just want to be clear that I am supporting the sale of the parcel. Move to approve agenda item 4.1. Second. Okay. Any further discussion? All those in favor? Aye. Opposed? That would be myself voting in opposition, but for the motion. Okay. With that, we're going to, before we move to the next agenda item, there's one gentleman here for the service award, I believe. I hope he is still here. Is he still here? Okay. Yeah. We're going to recess the CRA with the consent of the trustees. Can be in the work session for presentation of one employee award, and then we'll come back to the CRA meeting. That's accepted. I'll hear no objection. We'll recess the CRA meeting. We'll call back to order the City of Clearwater Community Redevelopment Agency meeting. We'll move to item 4.2. Approve the transfer property sale proceeds from the sale of 706 North Missouri Avenue. Good afternoon. Ann Lopez, CRA Assistant Director. On August 24, 2026, the CRA closed on the sale of the property located at 706 North Missouri Avenue, which is also known as the Armory Building, to St. Benedict's Holding, LLC. And the sale generated a net proceeds of $1,990,539.25. This item before you is to request approval to transfer the full amount of these proceeds from the North Greenwood CRA to the City of Clearwater. The funds will be used for building renovations, equipment purchases, and moving expenses for the Parks and Recreations Department as they transition out of the armory. And once completed, any funds remaining will be returned back to the North Greenwood CRA. And I'd be happy to answer any questions. So anyone here from the public today that desires to speak to Agenda Item 4.2? Hearing, seeing none, any trustees discussion? If not, is there a motion? Motion to approve Agenda Item 4.2. Second. All those in favor? Aye. Opposed? Unanimous. Agenda Item 4.3. Approve a transfer to reimburse the City of Clearwater in the amounts of $381,555.06 for costs associated with the Crumb Properties litigation. Again, Ann Lopez, CRA Assistant Director. The Crumb Properties filed a complaint against the City of Clearwater and the Community Redevelopment Agency in 2023. And the City retained Gray Robinson to serve as outside counsel for this litigation. The City was dismissed as a defendant in March of 2024, but the City continued to pay for legal services associated with this case on behalf of the CRA. There's now a new agreement with Gray Robinson and the CRA directly, so staff is recommending approval to transfer $381,555.06 to reimburse the City's general fund for litigation expenses that the City paid on behalf of the CRA. I'd be happy to answer any questions. Anyone want to hear from the public today a desire to speak to this agenda item? You're seeing none. Is there any council discussion, trustees discussion? If not, is there a motion? Motion to approve agenda item 4.3. Second. All those in favor? Aye. Opposed? Unanimous. Agenda Item 4.4. Approve the downtown community redevelopment area fiscal year 2025 through 2026 fourth quarter budget amendment and adopt resolution 26-07. Again, Ann Lopez, CRA Assistant Director. This item is a budget transfer to transfer out $381,555 from CRA project R2002 community engagement and be transferred into the general fund admin line to reimburse the legal fees that were just approved in the last item. This adjustment is just a reallocation of funds and does not increase the overall budget for the downtown CRA. There is a resolution. I'd be happy to answer any questions. Anyone here from the public today desire to speak to this agenda item? I'm seeing none. Is there any trustees discussion? If not, is there a motion? Can I read the resolution? Oh, yes. Resolution number 26-07, Resolution of the Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Clearwater, Florida, adopting the fourth quarter amendments to the downtown CRA fiscal year 2025-2026, annual operating budget, providing an effective date. Okay. Now, anyone here from public desire to speak to this agenda item? And I see none of the trustees discussion. If not, is there a motion? Move to approve agenda item 4.4. Second. All those in favor? Aye. Opposed? Unanimous. In item 5.1. CRA Director's Report for September. Thank you. Good afternoon again. Jesus Nino, CRA Executive Director. This is the Director's Report for September 2026. So, CRA, we continue to have a lot of activity throughout the North Greenwood and the downtown, which we're very proud of. These are some of the updates for the public here for the downtown. So, our next meeting is September 29th for our community outreach meeting. We have these every month here, and anyone from the community is invited to attend. Right here at the library, so the next one is September 29th, which is tomorrow, from 3 to 4 p.m. So, come down here and listen to all the great stuff that's going on in the downtown. So, the Cleveland Street, we hired AECOM to come in and help us with designs for the 400 and 500 blocks. So, we have a few community workshops with them, and we're going to have a few more. Now that we're going to include the Cleveland Street Alliance into that discussion as well. So, as far as construction for the Osceola Garage, that's continuing to go up. So, if you drive down, anyone from the public hasn't seen it yet. It's very interesting, the construction that's going on there right now. Then, as far as 50 North Osceola Avenue, with the Denunzio Group, that's continuing to also go vertical. That's for the 158 Key Hotel. Then, for 150 South Osceola Avenue, with the Gotham Group, that's also continuing to go smoothly and on schedule, from what I understand. Then, the Osceola Avenue corridor improvements, our public works did put out a request for proposals for, sorry, request for a contractor, and that deadline has closed September the 9th. Then, the 600 block of Cleveland Street, anyone drives down the 600 block, you see there's a lot of demolition and construction activity there. As far as our downtown commercial grants, we have Ms. Ann Lopez there. It's one of the stars of the pictures there. This is for the Bulletproof Athletics. This is a new business that came into 628 Cleveland Street, Suite 2C, and talking to our staff, they indicated that without our grant, it would be extremely difficult for them to open their business. The reimagined Clearwater Main Library, cultural destination, we continue to work with potential individuals that are putting together proposals. Hopefully, they submit something soon, but we're continuing to meet with others as well that might have interest. So, the Clearwater Gardens, the affordable housing project that happened down the street here on Cleveland Street, is part of their deal with us, was for them to put together an art piece, and they've already installed that art piece there. It's called Leaf Light Heaven by Ken McCall. It's a beautiful little piece of public art. It's not little, it's actually a pretty big size of a tree. And Ms. Amber Bryce, she's our arts coordinator for the city. She has a call for artists out that closes on September 30th of 2026. It has a budget of anywhere from $200,000 to $250,000. Hopefully, it's much less than that. For North Greenwood, a lot of activity is going on there as well. So, we had our CAC, our Community Advisory Committee, that last met September the 2nd, and the next meeting is scheduled for December the 2nd, 2026, and the guest speaker is the property appraiser. This is also something new that we have. CRA staff now has open hours at the North Greenwood Recreation Center, so our staff goes down there and meets with the community. Anyone that wants to come and meet with us as far as grants or just information in general, that's from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., the days are, every Tuesday. Our residential grants, we're continuing to work with applicants out there to improve their homes with commercial grants or residential grants. Same thing with our murals. We're continuing to expand our mural program in North Greenwood just to beautify some of the walls and buildings, some more murals, very beautiful. Then, as far as our North Greenwood Planned Redevelopment District, we're continuing to work with planning and development as far as any type of community meeting where they need our CRA staff assistance. And property disposition, we do have two properties, two sets of properties that are out for, that have already been noticed. One is the 618 Drew Street. That's composed of three properties or the Creative Contractor Building there on Drew Street. So those have, that closed on September the 16th, 2026. So if anyone out there is watching, if you're interested in submitting a proposal, we're open to accept proposals. Same thing with 115 South MLK Jr. That is two properties. One currently has a structure on it, and then the contiguous property to the right is vacant. That notice for disposition closes on September the 16th, 2026. So Pinellas County is their downtown properties that they have here. That RFN has closed. It closed on September the 18th. So any next steps, that information will come out from Pinellas County. So this one, I'm going to turn it over to Mr. Christopher Edwards. He's our Economic Development and Housing Director to talk about something wonderful with the Clearwater Urban Renaissance. Good afternoon, Mr. Mayor, our council members, city managers, assistant city managers, of the respective members of the dais. I do want to say today I'm very pleased to present a visualization project that brings downtown Clearwater's transformation, really, into life. The city worked exclusively with the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council, which did a phenomenal job of helping us to produce a 3-D animated video that offers a snapshot of downtown today and look at what will become as current projects take shape in the future, development opportunities reach their full potential. I want to also acknowledge economic development manager, Audra Aja, for her leadership on this particular project with Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council. And Sarah Vitale cannot be remiss if I did not mention her. She did a fantastic job on this video. And the visualization overall will take you through the downtown corridor. It will highlight various different projects. Along the way, you will see the transformation of many areas and streets that are familiar. For the investors, developers, commercial real estate professionals, and commercial leaders who are here in the room or are listening, our message is simple, now is the time to take notice of downtown Clearwater's urban renaissance. And so without further ado, and that picture, by the way, was from Invest Tampa Bay. So that's an opportunity for us, and we received rave reviews from the private developer in that community. So without further ado. Spence is building here. Guys, that's not it, by the way. We're not allowed to advertise, too. There we go. On Florida's Gulf Coast, at the heart of the Tampa Bay region, lies the city of Clearwater, connected by US-19 and Gulf-de-Bay Boulevard, and minutes from two international airports, home to the Philadelphia Phillies spring training, thriving commercial and industrial corridors, and America's top-rated beaches. Clearwater sits at the center of one of the nation's fastest-growing markets, and at its core is downtown Clearwater. Guided by Clearwater's downtown development code and a vision for a walkable, mixed-use urban center, downtown Clearwater is experiencing unprecedented public and private investment. At the center of this transformation is one of the largest redevelopment opportunities in Clearwater's history. Pinellas County is advancing a mixed-use redevelopment across 34 parcels, totaling approximately 24 1⁄2 acres in the heart of downtown, a rare opportunity to create a connected, walkable, urban district that integrates residential, commercial, hospitality, civic, and public space uses. Supporting this vertical growth is major public infrastructure investment. The Osceola Avenue Improvements Project will modernize utilities, enhance sidewalks, and add new landscaping, safer pedestrian crossings, and on-street parking, strengthening connectivity throughout the district. Supporting downtown's growth is the new Osceola Parking Garage. More than a parking solution, the project introduces nearly 12,000 square feet of prime, ground-floor commercial space between Coachman Park and a future residential development, ideal for restaurants, specialty retail, and neighborhood-serving businesses. Adjacent to the garage will become one of downtown's most significant residential investments, a 28-story luxury tower with 400 units and approximately 620,000 square feet of development on the former City Hall site. Overlooking Coachman Park, the project will include retail, structured parking, and sustainable design, expanding downtown's residential base and supporting year-round economic activity. And that momentum is spreading. A transformation is underway along Cleveland Street. Through the Cleveland Street Alliance-led development, historic properties are being restored, and new experiences are taking shape, introducing more retail, dining, and entertainment to the district. Evo Entertainment is developing an 83,000-square-foot family entertainment center featuring a seven-theater multiplex. Its centerpiece will be a seven-story tall, 131-foot-wide cinema screen with every auditorium delivering an immersive, movie-going experience unlike anything currently available in the market. Continuing north, the Ballad Hotel will establish a new hospitality destination in the downtown core. The Hilton-branded 158-room hotel will feature a restaurant, rooftop bar, meeting spaces, and more than 21,000 square feet of ground-floor retail, all overlooking Coachman Park, a 19-acre waterfront destination that recently underwent an $84 million renovation. Coachman Park offers vibrant green spaces, scenic views, and activities for all ages. Visitors enjoy year-round community events, including the popular Market Marie, live entertainment, festivals, and more. It's also home to the Baycare Sound, a 9,000-capacity amphitheater, ranked number two in the United States and number three in the world by Polestar Magazine for amphitheaters of its size. Together with Clearwater Harbor and nearby Clearwater Beach, these amenities create a waterfront experience few downtowns can offer. Just across the corridor, the city is exploring opportunities to transform the Clearwater Main Library into a cultural destination and community-gathering place that adds to the energy of the district. Clearwater's story also includes opportunities to celebrate its history. The historic North Ward Elementary School, originally constructed in 1915 and expanded in 1926, sits less than one mile from the downtown core and presents a unique adaptive reuse opportunity, blending historic preservation, private investment, and neighborhood revitalization. Together, these featured public investments and redevelopment projects are fueling downtown Clearwater's urban renaissance, a vibrant, mixed-use destination where residents, businesses, and visitors can live, work, stay, and shop. To learn more about development opportunities throughout the city, including opportunities involving city and CRA-owned properties, contact Chris Edwards. So, Superior Council, stand ready for any questions or comments you may have. Well, one comment I have is thank you to Audra because that video folks came up to me at the Invest Tampa Bay and a couple of them said, wow, you know, I don't know how much money you all spent on that video, but it was worth every penny. The perception is that, and Audra helped us do that at very low cost in the city, so thank you for that because it does look like, you know, it was quite the production, and it's a very impressive video, so thank you for that. Vice Mayor? Yeah, I'll be brief. Thank you very much for sharing that. You know, when you all put it on the CRA's social media page, it was the first time I saw it, and it gives you goosebumps because of what will be. You know, it's not what could be, it's what's happening, and then the continuation of what can continue with down here. So, very exciting what the horizon and the future is for Clearwater, and I'm happy to be a part of it. So, thank you, thank your team, and thank everybody else behind getting that done. Thank you. Customer Tashida? I think everyone would agree that this was a great job. Thank you so much. And I also want to take this moment to thank the TVRPC for, you know, being a partner and helping us with this. I've enjoyed being a member of that board, and this is proof that they're doing good work. Mayor Menino? Thank you, Mayor. We so often use descriptive words of hope and optimism and momentum, but they're just words. And when you bring a beautiful video like that and allow us and our citizens to truly see that vision that we know is unfolding before us daily, that's exciting. I think your exact words were, now's the time, right? I don't think anybody in here would disagree with you. That was awesome. It was a pleasure to be there in person with staff. Assistant City Manager did a great job on his presentation. He killed it on stage, so congratulations, Mr. Battle. That was a great presentation. But thank you to you and staff and all the leadership that continues to make all these visions hopefully become a reality if we just had that easy button to hit a little quicker. But love the video. Thank you. Thank you. Anything else? Thank you for that. Mr. Nino, too, I want to, because you talked about the Osceola garage, some of us have probably seen it, too. It's amazing how fast those go up. When they bring in these bits, it's like putting a puzzle together. But that thing has really progressed just in the last seven to 14 days, and it's exciting to see that come along as quickly as it is as well. Okay. Anything else? That does conclude the director's report, by the way. Okay. Thank you. All right. I need board members to be heard. Nothing. We'll adjourn the CRA meeting for September 28, 2026, and we'll take just a five-minute recess before we reconvene the work session. Thank you.