06/15/2026 Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes June 15, 2026
City of Clearwater
Main Library- Council Chambers
100 N. Osceola Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33755
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Meeting Minutes
Monday, June 15, 2026
1 :00 PM
Main Library - Council Chambers
Community Redevelopment Agency
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City of Clearwater
Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes June 15, 2026
Roll Call
Present 4 - Chair Bruce Rector, Trustee Michael Mannino, Trustee David Allbritton,
and Trustee Lina Teixeira
Absent 1 - Trustee Ryan Cotton
Also Present: Jennifer Poirrier— City Manager, Alfred Battle —Assistant City
Manager, Owen Kohler— Interim City Attorney, Rosemarie Call — City
Clerk, Nicole Sprague — Deputy City Clerk, and Jesus Nino — CRA
Executive Director
To provide continuity for research, items are listed in agenda order although not
necessarily discussed in that order.
1. Call to Order— Chair Rector
The meeting was called to order at 1:00 p.m.
2. Approval of Minutes
2.1 Approve the minutes of the May 18, 2026 CRA meeting as submitted in written
summation by the City Clerk.
Trustee Allbritton moved to approve the minutes of the May 18,
2026 CRA meeting as submitted in written summation by the City
Clerk. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
3. Citizens to be Heard Regarding Items Not on the Agenda — None.
4. New Business Items
4.1 Present Hatchet Hangout as the June 2026 winner of the Clearwater CRA Business
Spotlight Program.
Hatchet Hangout, located at 709 N. Myrtle Ave. in the North Greenwood CRA
district, is an indoor axe-throwing venue offering leagues, events, and group
experiences for residents and visitors. This recognition reflects Hatchet
Hangout's contribution to activity and business growth within the North
Greenwood CRA district.
This expanded version of the program directly supports the goals of both the
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City of Clearwater
Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes June 15, 2026
2018 Clearwater Downtown Redevelopment Plan and the 2023 North
Greenwood Community Redevelopment Area Plan, specifically:
2018 Clearwater Downtown Redevelopment Plan
•People Goals: Downtown shall be a place that attracts residents, visitors,
businesses, and their employees and enables the development of community.
The City shall encourage a vibrant and active public realm, recreation and
entertainment opportunities, and support neighborhoods.
•Objective 1 D: Encourage a variety of office-intensive businesses to relocate
and expand in Downtown to provide a stable employment center.
2023 North Greenwood CRA Plan
•Goal 5: Quality of Life: Sustain a high quality of life through community
engagement, access to recreational opportunities, celebrating the unique
culture of North Greenwood, improving public health, and protecting the
environment.
STRATEGIC PRIORITY:
2.1 Strengthen public-private initiatives that attract, develop, and retain
diversified business sectors.
3.1 Support neighborhood identity through services and programs that empower
community pride and belonging.
CRA Specialist Tasha Hadley provided a video presentation.
4.2 Approve the 2025 Annual Financial Statement.
Presentation of the fiscal year 2025 Annual Financial Statement by external
auditors.
STRATEGIC PRIORITY:
1.1 Provide evidence-based measurement tools to continually guide municipal
performance and promote accountable governance.
Auditor Lauren Strope provided a PowerPoint presentation.
Trustee Mannino moved to approve the 2025 Annual Financial
Statement. The motion was duly seconded and carried
unanimously.
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City of Clearwater
Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes June 15, 2026
4.3 Review evaluation committee results of the redevelopment proposals for seven
Community Redevelopment Agency-owned parcels Located between South Martin
Luther King Jr. Avenue and South Washington Avenue, North of Gould Street, and, if
deemed appropriate by the Community Redevelopment Agency Board of Trustees,
authorize staff to negotiate a development, purchase, and sale agreement.
On January 14, 2026, the City of Clearwater Community Redevelopment
Agency (CRA) issued a Request for Development Proposals (RFDP) for the
redevelopment of seven CRA-owned parcels located between South Martin
Luther King Jr. Avenue and South Washington Avenue, north of Gould Street,
within the Downtown Community Redevelopment Area (DTCRA). The subject
properties are located within the Prospect Lake District as identified in the
Downtown Community Redevelopment Area Plan (DTCRA Plan). Pursuant to
the RFDP, proposals were required to demonstrate consistency with the
DTCRA Plan and the redevelopment objectives of the CRA.
The subject parcels include (total combined 3.13 acres mol):
• 205 S Martin Luther King Jr. Ave (Parcel No. 15-29-15-65196-000-0030),
consisting of approximately 88,310 square feet.
• Washington Ave S (Parcel No. 15-29-15-65196-000-0035), consisting of
approximately 7,850 square feet.
• Washington Ave S (Parcel No. 15-29-15-65196-000-0034), consisting of
approximately 7,850 square feet.
• Pierce St (Parcel No. 15-29-15-65196-000-0060), consisting of
approximately 4,800 square feet.
• S Martin Luther King Jr. Ave (Parcel No. 15-29-15-65196-000-0061),
consisting of approximately 7,500 square feet.
• S Martin Luther King Jr. Ave (Parcel No. 15-29-15-65196-000-0062),
consisting of approximately 7,500 square feet.
• 1110 Gould St (Parcel No. 15-29-15-65196-000-0063), consisting of
approximately 23,550 square feet.
The RFDP sought proposals for the acquisition and redevelopment of all seven
parcels as a unified redevelopment site. Preference was given to proposals that
provided optimal community and economic benefit, competitive purchase offers
above the appraised value of$2,520,000, and projects containing commercial
uses such as retail, office, hospitality, or similar activating uses. The RFDP also
expressly provided that projects consisting of one hundred percent workforce or
affordable housing would be considered even if all preference factors were not
fully met.
In response to the RFDP, the CRA received five proposals from qualified
development teams:
1. Archway Partners, LLC
2. Newstar Development, LLC
3. Clearwater MLK Civic District Holdings, LLC
4. Velair Development Company
5. DW Development Group
On April 21, 2026, a multi departmental Proposal Evaluation Committee
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City of Clearwater
Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes June 15, 2026
convened to review and evaluate the submitted proposals based upon the
adopted evaluation criteria, including: community and economic benefit,
purchase price, project diversity, regulatory compliance, presentation
completeness, financial completeness, project feasibility, and developer
experience and capacity.
Based on the composite scoring of the individual evaluators, the proposals were
ranked as follows:
1. Archway Partners, LLC
2. Newstar Development, LLC
3. Clearwater MLK Civic District Holdings, LLC
4. Velair Development Company
5. DW Development Group
The CRA Board of Trustees retains full discretion regarding the consideration,
ranking, selection, rejection, negotiation, or disposition of the subject properties.
Archway Partners, LLC Proposal
The proposal submitted by Archway Partners, LLC, in partnership with the
Clearwater Housing Authority, proposes the development of"Washington
Commons," a mixed use, mixed income residential redevelopment consisting of
approximately 178 residential units within a five-story development constructed
in two phases. The proposal also includes approximately 3,000 square feet of
neighborhood serving ground floor commercial space intended to activate the
streetscape and support the surrounding area.
The proposed development includes a mix of one- and two-bedroom units
serving a range of income levels below 80 percent of Area Median Income.
Planned amenities include a fitness center, community and multipurpose room,
residential services space, rooftop solar infrastructure, electric vehicle charging
stations, and other sustainability features. The proposal incorporates urban infill
and pedestrian oriented design principles intended to enhance compatibility with
the surrounding downtown environment and the Prospect Lake District.
The project is proposed to be financed through a combination of public and
private funding sources, including competitive 9% Low Income Housing Tax
Credits and/or 4% Low Income Housing Tax Credits with tax exempt bonds, as
well as other state and local funding programs. The proposal includes a request
for approximately $1,220,000 in City housing funds, consisting of approximately
$610,000 per phase, to support the project's Low Income Housing Tax Credit
application process. Archway Partners also proposes entering into a purchase
and sale agreement to acquire all parcels included in RFDP No. 15-26 for the
full appraised value of$2,520,000.
The Archway proposal was forwarded to the Neighborhood and Affordable
Housing Advisory Board (NAHAB) for review on May 12, 2026, due to the
affordable and workforce housing components contained within the proposal.
The original RFDP was not limited to affordable housing proposals, but rather
sought redevelopment proposals consistent with the DTCRA Plan and the
redevelopment objectives of the CRA.
The proposed redevelopment generally advances several goals, objectives, and
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City of Clearwater
Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes June 15, 2026
policies contained within the DTCRA Plan, including, but not limited to:
• Encouraging redevelopment of underutilized and vacant properties
within the Prospect Lake District.
• Supporting mixed use and mixed income residential development.
• Increasing housing opportunities within Downtown Clearwater.
• Supporting pedestrian oriented urban infill development.
• Activating streetscapes and encouraging neighborhood serving
commercial uses.
• Leveraging public private partnerships and external funding sources.
• Supporting redevelopment consistent with the vision, goals, and policies
of the DTCRA Plan.
The proposal also generally supports the following DTCRA Plan goals
and objectives:
• People Goal - Downtown shall be a place that attracts residents,
visitors, businesses, and enables the development of community.
• Objective 1 F -Allow for a variety of residential densities and housing
types to provide for a range of affordability and mix of incomes.
• Objective 1 G - Continue to utilize incentives to encourage new
residential uses Downtown.
• Objective 2B - Strengthen pedestrian oriented streets and active ground
floor uses.
• Objective 3G - Create and activate spaces that promote economic
growth for Downtown.
• Objective 4A - Encourage redevelopment containing a variety of building
forms and styles.
• Objective 4B - Ensure redevelopment enhances the built environment.
• Policy 10 - The CRA may evaluate participation with the private sector in
land assembly to facilitate projects consistent with the DTCRA Plan.
• Policy 12 - Support affordable housing and redevelopment funding
opportunities.
• Policy 18 - Incorporate pedestrian scale elements that create an inviting
pedestrian environment.
• Prospect Lake District Vision - Encourage residential growth, mixed use
redevelopment, and reinvestment within the District.
STRATEGIC PRIORITY:
2.4 - Supports equitable housing programs that promote household stability and
reduce the incidence of homelessness within Clearwater.
2.1 - Strengthen public-private initiatives that attract, develop, and retain
diversified business sectors.
In response to questions, CRA Executive Director Jesus Nino said the
9% tax credit financing proposal will go away if Archway is not granted the
tax credit. He said Archway may also pursue the 4% low-income housing tax
creditor pivot and look elsewhere.
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City of Clearwater
Community Redevelopment Agency
Meeting Minutes June 15, 2026
Trustee Teixeira moved to direct staff to negotiate a development,
purchase, and sale agreement with Archway Partners, LLC. The motion
was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
4.4 Downtown Revitalization
A monthly opportunity for CRA Trustees to exchange ideas and address
downtown related topics and priorities.
STRATEGIC PRIORITY:
2.1 Strengthen public-private initiatives that attract, develop, and retain
diversified business sectors.
2.3 Promote Clearwater as a premier destination for entertainment, cultural
experience, tourism and national supporting events.
5. Director's Report
5.1 Director's Report for June 2026
CRA Executive Director Jesus Nino provided a PowerPoint presentation.
Discussion ensued with comments made that staff's robust efforts have
increased engagement in Downtown, North Greenwood and interest in the
Main Library.
Assistant City Manager Al Battle said a public meeting will be held on
June 30, 2026 to discuss land use and zoning in North Greenwood.
6. Board Members to be Heard — None.
7. Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at 1:38 p.m.
Attest
City Clerk
City of Clearwater
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