Clearwater Development

At the edge of downtown Clearwater’s glittering waterfront, Holabird & Root is helping SROA Capital imagine a new kind of coastal urban district—one where architecture, landscape, and horizon line converge to create a modern community shaped by its views. Engaged by the multibillion-dollar investment group to re-envision three key sites—the Pierce Street block, the former City Hall property, and Harborview—the team proposed a comprehensive mixed-use strategy that strengthens housing, expands civic amenities, and transforms Clearwater into a destination. At Pierce Street and City Hall, the plan introduces 313 new market-rate residential units, the maximum permitted by zoning, along with a 274-key hotel positioned to take advantage of park and waterfront access. The architecturally significant former City Hall building is repurposed as an open-air pavilion with restaurant, bar, and convention spaces, becoming an activated civic anchor at the edge of the newly redeveloped “Imagine Clearwater” park. Across all sites, ground floors are envisioned as lively public frontages—hosting retail, restaurants, maker spaces, galleries, micro-business incubation, and a new welcome center—to strengthen the connection between downtown and the waterfront. A reduced-parking, future-forward mobility strategy includes underground parking with EV charging, car-sharing, and bike facilities, while all buildings are designed to pursue WELL Silver or higher and target LEED Platinum, creating a resilient, sustainable, and community-centered vision for Clearwater’s next chapter.