Clearwater promotes US 19 as prime development corridor

Clearwater is sending a clear message to developers: Take advantage of a seven-mile stretch of the US 19 Highway corridor that can be transformed into an economically vibrant destination.

This week, the Clearwater Economic Development and Housing Department released a video and renderings promoting the area, which is comprised of three subdistricts and has a development code that allows flexibility for commercial, multifamily, light manufacturing, retail, health care and other uses, according to a press release.

“It is well known the city has a bold vision and has invested in our downtown waterfront with Imagine Clearwater, and equally as important is our commitment to the development and employment growth of the US 19 corridor,” Clearwater Mayor Frank Hibbard said in the announcement. “We are implementing creative strategies to illustrate its potential and believe once our vision resonates with the development and investment community, there will be catalytic change along this corridor.”

The city commissioned the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council to create renderings and produce the video that showcases several potential concepts along the corridor using 3D animated renderings. The quadrants it highlights include:

• Northeast quadrant on State Road 60 and Gulf to Bay Boulevard: The quadrant has 5.5 acres, a Floor Area Ratio (FAR) limit of 2.5 and a maximum building height of 150 feet. A rendering shows 450,000 square feet of office development.
• Southeast quadrant on Drew Street: The quadrant has 17 acres, a 2.5 FAR limit and a maximum building height of 150 feet. The video image depicts 940,000 square feet of office development.
• Northwest quadrant on Drew Street: The quadrant has 16.7 acres, a 2.5 FAR limit and a maximum building height of 150 feet. Renderings show a mix of uses near the existing Philadelphia Phillies stadium.
• Northeast quadrant on Countryside Boulevard to Southeast SR 580: The quadrant has 61.8 acres, a 2.5 FAR limit and a maximum building height of 150 feet. Renderings also show a mix of uses.

“We have a vision for this area of the city as a place for employment-intensive uses in industries, such as software, finance and insurance, emerging technologies, corporate headquarters and others well-suited for the region’s skilled and talented labor force,” Denise Sanderson, Clearwater economic development and housing director, said in the release. “With office-intensive and mixed-used concepts depicted in the video, we hope to inspire site selectors, brokers, developers and CEOs to explore the development opportunities the corridor provides.”

The video comes after the city of Clearwater rezoned approximately 4,000 parcels along the stretch of U.S. 19 several years ago.