CLEARWATER, Fla. — Pinellas County’s plan to relocate government operations out of downtown Clearwater has entered its next phase.
The county launched its Request for Negotiations (RFN) process on June 16, giving interested developers 90 days to submit proposals for the properties being vacated as the county prepares to move to one consolidated location off Ulmerton Road by US-19.
As of late last week, no formal proposals had been submitted, according to Pinellas County Commissioner Chris Latvala.
A spokesperson for Pinellas County government said the county will not be releasing progress updates prior to the deadline that was provided to developers, which is September 18.
Pinellas County owns 17 properties encompassing 32 parcels and almost 25 acres. Latvala said this will be largest redevelopment opportunity in the history of the City of Clearwater, and the county’s goal is to select one experienced developer to lead the project.
Pinellas County is 1 week into the 90-day period they have allotted for developers to submit their proposals on plans for soon-to-be 17 vacant properties on 25 acres of prime real estate in downtown Clearwater.
The county is moving their operations out of Clearwater @BN9 pic.twitter.com/I2kDfafAYA
— Angie Angers (@angie_angers) June 23, 2026
“The market will dictate that process,” Latvala said. “If it’s not something that we’re interested in, we can always keep the property. So we’re going to let the market dictate what happens.”
According to information posted on Pinellas County’s website, leaders envision a walkable mixed-use district featuring residential, commercial, retail, hospitality, civic and public gathering spaces.
“The RFN process is designed to encourage competition, ensure transparency and protect the public interest while positioning the sites for thoughtful private investment,” the county stated in its redevelopment notice.
The future of the properties has caught the attention of many Clearwater residents. During a recent town hall meeting, residents packed the room to discuss the redevelopment plans, with some expressing concerns about the possibility of the Church of Scientology acquiring portions of the land.
“Usually this would be a win-win situation for the city and the county, but a lot of these people are here because they do not want our heritage erased by an organization that has both the money and the right kind of architects to do what they want to do,” Clearwater resident Michael Mastruserio said during the meeting.
The redevelopment effort stems from the county’s broader plan to consolidate operations into a new government center on Ulmerton Road near U.S. 19. Officials say many of the existing downtown buildings are aging and that a centralized campus will improve efficiency by bringing services currently spread across multiple properties into a single centralized location.