CLEARWATER, Fla. — Pinellas County commissioners heard from the community last night about redevelopment of nearly 25 acres of county property.

Seventeen properties in downtown Clearwater are being consolidated into one near US 19 and Ulmerton Road.

The existing properties, the county said, are old and too large. 

By moving out of those buildings, Pinellas estimates that will save $150 million in maintenance costs over the next 50 years.

The town hall meeting was a packed house.

“I understand a lot of the buildings are not attractive on the outside, but that’s also part of their character,” said Allison Dolan of the Pinellas County Historic Preservation Board.

Dolan attended the meeting to make sure that the historic preservation board is part of the redevelopment process because the Pinellas County Courthouse is on the National Register of Historic Places.

“The details you’re not going to see in the new building. They can make them, but they are not going to be the real ones that were there,” Dolan said.

Many other community members raised concerns that Scientology will expand the number of properties it owns in downtown Clearwater.

Pinellas County’s government operations are moving out of Clearwater, leaving nearly 25 acres of prime real estate available. The county is consolidating what is currently 17 properties in Clearwater into one location at US-19 and Ulmerton Road. https://t.co/6ZTOiFxkhZ pic.twitter.com/LmWUvsBY6S

— Spectrum Bay News 9 (@BN9) April 29, 2026

“I think we all know what’s going to happen. The buyer is going to be one entity, it’s going to be Scientology and the story that we’ve been through for many years will just continue to repeat itself,” said an unnamed audience member who spoke at the meeting.

County Commissioner Chris Latvala said the courthouse could be repurposed, but it will stay put. 

And as for the resident’s concerns around Scientology, he said the board of commissioners will hear from a wide range of developers, but the final decision will be up to the board.

“My goal is to have something that I’m proud of as a Clearwater resident. Once my political career is over, I’m still going to live in Clearwater and so I want to have something that I can look back, 10, 20, 30 years from now and be proud of,” said Chris Latvala, Pinellas County Commissioner.

And that’s something there was a lot of support for. Many residents are looking for a vibrant downtown with places to hang out with friends and family, and they are hoping that this project will bring that.

“You have the number one beach out there, and these building are empty at night and weekends, so to have them activated would be really wonderful,” Dolan said.

The Board of County Commissioners will speak about this at their regular meeting on Tuesday.

The timeline for this project is long, with the county planning to issue a request for negotiations with developers in June 2026. 

After that, there will be an additional town hall in early 2027.

The final decision will take more than a year.