SUBJECT/RECOMMENDATION:
Title
Recommend approval to the City of Clearwater’s Community Redevelopment Agency’s Board of Trustees a proposal for the redevelopment of CRA owned parcels located within Downtown Clearwater and authorize CRA staff to negotiate an agreement for development, purchase and sale of property with said entity.
Body
SUMMARY:
The City of Clearwater Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) issued a Request for Development Proposals (RFDP) for the redevelopment of CRA owned property located at the northwest quadrant of Gould St and S MLK JR Ave on January 14th, 2026. The property consists of 7 parcels, all of which are currently vacant.
Parcels:
• 205 S Martin Luther King Jr. Ave (Parcel No. 15-29-15-65196-000-0030), consisting of 88,310 square feet.
• Washington Ave S (Parcel No. 15-29-15-65196-000-0035), consisting of 7,850 square feet.
• Washington Ave S (Parcel No. 15-29-15-65196-000-0034), consisting of 7,850 square feet.
• Pierce St (Parcel No. 15-29-15-65196-000-0060), consisting of 4,800 square feet.
• S Martin Luther King Jr. Ave (Parcel No. 15-29-15-65196-000-0061), consisting of 7,500 square feet.
• S Martin Luther King Jr. Ave (Parcel No. 15-29-15-65196-000-0062), consisting of 7,500 square feet.
• 1110 Gould St (Parcel No. 15-29-15-65196-000-0063), consisting of 23,550 square feet.
In response, the CRA received five (5) submissions from qualified development teams.
A Technical Review Committee convened on April 21st, 2026, to evaluate and score the proposals based on established criteria, including development experience, financial capacity, project feasibility and alignment with the CRA’s redevelopment and affordable housing goals.
Following evaluation, the proposal submitted by Archway Partners, LLC received the highest overall ranking.
Archway Partners, in partnership with the Clearwater Housing Authority, proposes the development of Washington Commons, a mixed-use, mixed income residential community. The project consists of approximately 178 units, five-story development constructed in two phases.
The development will include a mix of one- and two-bedroom units designed to serve a range of income levels under 80% of area median income. The project will incorporate approximately 3000 square feet of ground floor retail space intended to support neighborhood serving businesses and activate the streetscape.
Planned amenities include a fitness center, community/multipurpose room, and residential services space. The development will be designed using urban infill principles, emphasizing pedestrian connectivity, compatibility with the surrounding downtown environment, and integration of parking to support the site.
The project is expected to be financed through a combination of public and private sources, including low-income housing tax credits, tax exempt bonds and other state and local funding. Specifically, Archway is requesting $1,220,000 ($610,000 per phase) from the City’s housing funds to act as the local match to support their low-income housing tax credit application. Further, the developer has offered appraised value in the amount of $2,520,000 for the parcel.
The Archway proposal advances key City and CRA objectives by increasing the supply of affordable housing units, activating underutilized property with high quality mixed-use development, supporting economic development through new retail opportunities and increased residential density and leveraging public/private partnerships and external funding sources. Additionally, Archway Partners demonstrates significant experience in developing similar developments throughout Florida, including prior successful projects within the City of Clearwater.
Staff recommend that the CRA Board of Trustees authorize staff to enter into negotiations with Archway Partners, LLC for the purchase and redevelopment of MLK and Gould.
Staff requests that the NAHAB provide their recommendation to the CRA board.
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.
