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Voters may rule on renewal project

City officials are preparing a referendum to allow voters to decide whether a developer can use the City Hall site.

By AARON SHAROCKMAN
Published February 16, 2005

CLEARWATER - For the third time since 2000, city officials are preparing for a referendum aimed at rejuvenating downtown.

This one will decide the fate of City Hall.

Officials are preparing for a November election to decide on a developer's plan to turn the site of City Hall into part of a mixed-use neighborhood.

Opus South, the company with a contract to purchase the downtown Calvary Baptist properties, is also interested in redeveloping the City Hall site, which sits between the church properties at Pierce Street and Osceola Avenue.

Officials from the company said they are still working out the specifics of the proposal. Generally they say it includes a mix of office, residential and retail spaces.

But while they work out project details, city officials are preparing for an election.

The city charter requires voters to approve the sale of City Hall or any city-owned property between Drew and Pierce streets west of Osceola Avenue, not including the Harborview Center.

City Council members must approve any referendum, which they have not yet done, but officials have already discussed Nov. 1 and 8 as possible days to hold the vote.

"This is probably the earliest that we could consider a referendum," City Manager Bill Horne said.

A special election would cost $50,000, said City Clerk Cyndie Goudeau.

Opus real estate manager William West said company officials have had several meetings with city officials to discuss potential opportunities for the downtown site, which overlooks Clearwater Harbor. West said more specifics may be unveiled in the next few weeks, but that one plan includes building a new city hall on the site as part of the development.

"So far there's been some positive energy in the air as we've been moving forward," West said. "We're close to having more details soon as far as a general concept of where we're headed. We are looking forward to hearing some of the feedback and responses."

Mayor Frank Hibbard has met with Opus officials but does not know the details of their proposal.

"We haven't had the luxury of seeing the final plans," Hibbard said.

A November vote could put Opus South in a pinch. The company signed a contract to purchase the church properties for $15-million in October.

As part of that agreement, the closing is scheduled to occur between October 24-28, according to the church.

That means Opus may have to purchase the church properties before knowing if the City Hall site could be included in any development.

Twice before, downtown redevelopment referendums have failed. In 2000, voters rejected a $200-million plan. In March, a less ambitious proposal was rejected.

Headquartered in Tampa, Opus South is an offshoot of Opus Corp., a national builder that reported $1.1-billion in revenues in 2003.

The company is building Parkshore Plaza, a 29-story luxury condominium tower near St. Petersburg's waterfront.

It's also planning another high-rise condominium, 400 Beach Drive, nearby.

"I don't think there's any question regarding the company's ability to produce the product that we'd like to see there, whatever that turns out to be," Horne said.

Aaron Sharockman can be reached at 727 445-4160 or asharockman@sptimes.com

[Last modified February 16, 2005, 01:25:03]