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New county complex leaves market scrambling for space

Mark Parker

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A vendor sells fresh fruit and vegetables at the Pinellas Farmer's and Flea Market in Largo. Photos provided.

The founder of a popular farmers and flea market must find a new home ahead of the sprawling site’s eventual transformation into a new Pinellas County government campus.

The Pinellas Farmers and Flea Market opened in March 2021 at 13600 Icot Blvd. in Largo. About 300 local vendors and between 3,000 and 5,000 people now attend the weekend events.

However, the county purchased the 21-acre property in November 2023, for $33.3 million. Officials have since taken a deliberate approach to building a more modern, efficient and accessible government headquarters at the centrally located site.

“We need to get out here by the end of March,” said Shawn Yang, operations manager. “They told me this is the end of the line. It doesn’t matter how much the market impacts the community.”

The farmers market is particularly popular among residents of Asian descent. It offers fresh fruit and vegetables and an international food court.

Shawn Yang said he began hosting the weekend events to fill a void left by the Wagon Wheel Flea Market’s closure.

Yang said he only charges vendors, who rely on the market to supplement their incomes, $20 daily. He pays for rent, portable restrooms and trash service.

Yang was forced to shutter the market from early October through mid-December 2024 when the county used the site to collect residential storm debris. The property was previously home to a car dealership and its expansive surface parking lots.

The county plans to build a streamlined 317,500-square-foot complex that accommodates new technologies and will host government operations for at least 50 years. Officials currently utilize 14 aging buildings scattered throughout downtown Clearwater that encompass 569,000 square feet.

In November 2023, Administrator Barry Burton said the county only needed eight of the Icot site’s 21 acres. “There’s a lot of open space here, and we want to make sure we have potential for future growth.”

That future does not include the market. Yang has pled with officials to extend his lease until they break ground on the new campus, to no avail.

He offered to increase his rent payment and noted volunteers clean the parking lots after every market. The county does not provide electric, sewer or water service.

“Most people don’t know we were there,” Yang said. “All you see is empty parking lots.”

He believes the market is a community benefit and contributes to the local economy. Yang also realizes it cannot stay indefinitely.

“They were nice enough to give us an extension and let us stay there,” he added. “We appreciate you extended that, but could you let us continue until you’re ready to break ground?”

The international food court is a market highlight.

The county’s response

Barbara Hernandez, director of communications for Pinellas, said construction will not commence at Icot until 2026. However, “some preliminary land prep activities are anticipated in 2025.”

Hernandez said the county had extended the market’s license three times after Yang could not find an affordable relocation site. After a third petition and subsequent agreement, he “indicated there would be no additional extension requests.”

“The most recent request is to continue occupancy until the commencement of construction of the new county campus,” Hernandez said. “However, that is incompatible with the anticipated work necessary to prepare the site for future construction.”

She also noted that the county has invested significant resources into helping the market find a new home. Hernandez said the economic development department and real property division have worked to identify alternate locations.

Staff provided Yang with a survey of available properties that met his criteria in September 2024. He questioned why the county did not use that land to store debris.

“Every piece of land they turn into residential apartments or townhomes,” Yang said. “They sell it to a developer to do all of that.”

Yang said he needs five to 10 acres, with or without a structure, for the market. He will provide generators, bathrooms and trash service.

“We just hate to close our door without any alternate location to go to,” Yang said. “We have established a source of income for mostly local residents, and then a … social hub. Give us a month.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

6 Comments

6 Comments

  1. Avatar

    Gary Hubbard

    February 6, 2025at1:50 pm

    The Clearwater Masonic Lodge 127, 705 Hercules Clearwater 33756 has a lot that can hold about 40-50 booths

  2. Avatar

    Harvey Landress

    February 5, 2025at4:40 pm

    What about the former Wagon Wheel Flea Market on Park Blvd. in Pinellas Park?

  3. Avatar

    Dina

    February 5, 2025at3:18 pm

    Interesting suggestion of a church parking lot. Grace Church on East Bay has a large lot and I’m not even certain if that lot is still occupied. Looks empty and vacant.

  4. Avatar

    OriginalJud

    February 4, 2025at10:03 pm

    Possibly a church would lend a parking lot or playground land for it.

  5. Avatar

    Natasha

    February 4, 2025at9:40 pm

    We do need the market!
    There are fresh produce, food, plants, many unique cultural dishes and their ingredients.
    Keep it going, please!

  6. Avatar

    Toni B Roiland

    February 4, 2025at4:16 pm

    Just a thought, but what about the old Wagon Wheel Flea Market property??!!!!

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