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Building Clearwater’s Future
Welcome to the city of Clearwater's newsletter on downtown construction. This newsletter is designed to introduce you to current downtown projects and keep you updated on timelines, road closures, and impacts to public parking. Please read on, click the links for more information, and reach out to Al with any questions.
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Project Highlight
 North Ward School
After our first downtown construction newsletter, a reader asked via our Ask Al feature in this newsletter for an update on the North Ward School project. The city hired a team which includes architects and engineers to analyze the building and potential uses. That team will be providing the results of their work to the Clearwater City Council at the Aug. 18 1:30 p.m. work session. The Council will hear the report, ask questions of the consultants, and provide direction to staff on future uses, continued ownership and what improvements the city should make to the property. Tune in to hear the results of the study and the direction given for the site's future.
Thanks for the question and keep them coming!
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PSTA's Clearwater Station Breaks Ground Aug. 22
 In partnership with the city of Clearwater, Pinellas County, the Florida Department of Transportation, CSX, and with support from other organizations, the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority will break ground on a new state-of-the-art, sustainable transit center on Aug. 22. Located at 710 Court Street, the new Clearwater Station will replace the outdated and overcapacity facility, Park Street Terminal, currently serving downtown Clearwater. Adjacent to the new City Hall, the Clearwater Station will offer improved access to thousands of jobs and the scenic beaches of Pinellas County. The project is scheduled for completion by the winter of 2026.
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Downtown Palm Tree Removal
 An outside tree service will begin removing all palm trees in the Civic Gateway area of Coachman Park on Monday, Aug. 19, due to the presence of lethal bronzing disease. Unfortunately, nearly half of the existing palms have already succumbed to the disease or are at high risk. Other palms along Cleveland Street in the shopping and retail area may also be affected and will be inspected to determine whether they require removal.
To address this proactively, our Parks and Recreation team and City Management have approved a replanting plan that includes more resilient and aesthetically pleasing tree species. The palms will be replaced with:
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Foxtail Palms (more disease-resistant)
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Live Oak Trees (to provide shade)
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Flowering ornamentals such as Orange Geiger and White Crape Myrtles
During removal, approximately two feet of trunk above the root zone will remain to allow Parks and Beautification staff to safely extract the root balls shortly afterward. While the full replanting process will take time, efforts will begin as soon as the removal is complete.
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Upcoming Meetings
 The city of Clearwater is continuing to move forward with the Reimagine Clearwater Main Library initiative. As part of the process, a Review Committee is evaluating six proposals submitted in response to the city’s Call for Development Concepts to repurpose the 90,000-square-foot downtown library into a vibrant cultural destination.
This effort marks a significant milestone in the city’s vision to transform the Main Library into a hub for arts, culture, and community engagement. Selected applicants will advance to the next stage of the process based on the committee’s review.
Key Upcoming Dates:
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Aug. 15 at 10 a.m. – Presentations for Call for Development Concepts – Reimagine Clearwater Main Library No. 17-25 will take place from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. These presentations are closed to the public.
Immediately following the presentations at 1:30 p.m., a public meeting will be held to discuss the proposals and determine a recommendation to bring to the Clearwater City Council.
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Sept. 18 – City Council Meeting – The Review Committee will present its final recommendation.
Residents and stakeholders are encouraged to attend and stay engaged as Clearwater reimagines a cornerstone of its downtown landscape.
Aug. 26 - CRA Downtown Community Outreach Meeting
 The CRA will begin hosting monthly Community Outreach Meetings to share updates on CRA initiatives, resources, and revitalization efforts impacting downtown. These meetings are open to all residents, businesses, and community partners. During this meeting, city staff will give a special presentation on the multiple upcoming construction projects that will soon impact downtown. We invite you to join us for our first meeting:
CRA Community Outreach Meeting
Tuesday, Aug. 26
3 – 4 p.m.
Clearwater Main Library – 1st Floor Council Chambers
100 N Osceola Ave, Clearwater, FL
This is a great opportunity to learn more about the exciting changes coming and how to stay connected. Thank you for being an engaged member of our community.
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 Curious about what’s happening downtown? Our new interactive construction map makes it easy to stay informed on all ongoing and upcoming infrastructure and development projects in the heart of Clearwater.
As part of Clearwater’s downtown improvement projects, some roads and intersections will be temporarily closed or detoured. We’re working hard to minimize disruption, and to keep you informed every step of the way. There are currently no downtown road closures due to these construction projects.
Osceola Avenue
Southbound lanes on N. Osceola Avenue will shift to share the northbound N. Osceola Avenue lane just south of Drew Street, beginning Sept. 11, for construction of a new hotel and rental building.
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As downtown Clearwater undergoes improvements, some parking areas will be temporarily closed or relocated. There currently are no parking lot closures due to construction.
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Assistant City Manager Alfred G. Battle Jr. brings nearly 30 years of local government experience, including leadership roles in Jacksonville and Fort Lauderdale — and now, in Clearwater.
Al is eager to get to know Clearwater residents and businesses personally, ensuring your questions and concerns are heard and addressed throughout the downtown transformation.
“Ask Al” is your direct connection to the leadership behind these exciting projects. Whether you’re curious about timelines, traffic impacts, or design changes, Al is here to listen and keep you informed every step of the way.
Have a question? Submit it to askal@myclearwater.com.
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Stay connected with the latest news and developments across Clearwater. Click here to subscribe to city updates and never miss an important announcement.
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