Largo Seeks Commercial Leasing Representative For New City Hall

LARGO, FL — The city of Largo has released a Request for Proposal for landlord representation for commercial real estate leasing for the new mixed-use city hall that will be developed on the northern 400 block of West Bay Drive in downtown Largo.

The new city hall complex will feature 100,385 square feet of facility space. The five-story complex will include a five-story parking structure with 308 parking spaces, wrapped with 13,965 square feet of ground floor mixed-use commercial space and a second floor terrace that could be used for al fresco dining or other options.

The second building on the property will feature the city hall with a portion dedicated to a ground floor lobby and the remaining space will be used for 4,000 square feet of mixed-use space.

In addition to the parking garage, the property will have a surface lot with 23 spaces, 12 parallel parking spaces directly on West Bay Drive, a public plaza that will have opportunities for outdoor dining space, public restrooms and flexible indoor and outdoor event spaces.

The downtown mixed-use city hall is an opportunity for new retail and mixed uses to locate in the heart of Largo’s West Bay Drive Community Redevelopment District. The property is located on a busy corridor near downtown amenities such as shopping, dining and recreational and entertainment facilities.

The city has heavily invested into the downtown Largo area in terms of branding and gateway signage, infrastructure, streetscaping, midblock crossings and other pedestrian safety improvements, lighting, stormwater, a new trailhead at the Pinellas Trail and upgraded parks.

The site is located directly between 1st Avenue Northwest and north of West Bay Drive, between 4th Street Northwest and 5th Street Northwest.

The location is within walking distance of major retailers such as Publix, Sunshine Ace Hardware, Walgreens and CVS.

The site is also conveniently located a short distance from Largo Central Park and the Largo Central Park Performing Arts Center, major shopping destinations such as Largo Mall, Missouri Plaza, Largo Tri City Plaza and destinations in Belleair, Belleair Bluffs and Indian Rocks Beach.

This multi-million dollar investment into the new city hall will provide new retail and commercial space to accommodate the needs of local businesses and residents. The downtown has major employers nearby such as the Pinellas County School Board, HCA Largo Medical Center and other medical facilities in the Medical Arts District.

In 2019, the city of Largo began efforts to develop a new city hall. The current building on Highland Avenue is no longer suitable due to the need for costly repairs, lack of resistance to storm damage and flooding and limitations for projected growth.

Those interested in the Request for Proposal must submit questions no later than Friday, July 2 by contacting Joan Wheaton, procurement analyst in the Office of Performance and Budget, at 727-587-6727 or jwheaton@largo.com.

Proposals will be accepted until July 23 at 3 p.m.

Largo Reveals City Hall Design

The new city hall project is currently underway with concept design by ASD/Sky architects and site selection complete. Groundbreaking is set to start in 2022 and the city hopes to open the doors in late 2023 or early 2024.

The relocation of a new city hall is part of the city's investment in the redevelopment of the West Bay Drive downtown corridor. This new central facility is intended to promote downtown development and increase sustainability and community pride.

Features of the design were developed with input from stakeholders including team members, residents, businesses and community groups.

An online survey and multiple focus groups were held to set priorities for specific design features and public use elements. Much of the information shared by the community complemented previous community feedback expressing a desire for an active and interconnected downtown that is welcoming, family-friendly and safe while preserving and incorporating natural elements and green space.

West Bay Drive Redevelopment District

The West Bay Drive District contains the historic downtown and is the heart of the city. In 2009 a new plan was produced to meet the community's vision for this area.

Major goals of the plan include: a walkable downtown with mixed-use development neighborhood preservation and revitalization; and the creation of a livable downtown where families of different incomes can live, work, shop and play.

This included putting together a list of redevelopment incentives to entice businesses to locate in the West Bay Drive District.

The Largo Community Redevelopment Agency recently completed a 15-year review of the West Bay Drive Community Redevelopment District Trust Fund. The report covers the performance of the Tax Increment Financing revenues used between 2000 and 2015 the implement the original 1997 plan and the 2009 updated plan. Largo's West Bay Drive Community Redevelopment Plans from 1997 and updated Plan from 2009.

Trail Head Improvement At West Bay Drive

The city of Largo is making improvements to the West Bay Drive trail head to enhance the overall aesthetics of the trail and surrounding amenities, enhance connectivity and access at several locations between Washington Avenue and 4th Avenue Northwest, and take advantage of the proximity between Downtown Largo with the Pinellas Trail overpass.

The West Bay Drive Complete Streets Plan focuses on a 2-mile area of West Bay Drive between Clearwater-Largo Road in Largo and the Belleair Causeway Bridge in Belleair Bluffs. The goal is to connect the Pinellas Trail and Largo’s Medical Arts District to the Belleair Causeway Bridge and beach communities.

This project includes multimodal transportation and aesthetic improvements such as monument signs and way-finding amenities, as well as repair and rehabilitation of existing transportation infrastructure, such as mid-block crossings, sidewalks and curb ramps.

Complete Streets are designed, operated and maintained for all users of all ages and abilities, whether they commute in their car, ride the bus or explore the city by bicycle.

See related stories:

• City Of Largo Releases Vision For 2020
• Next Phase Of West Bay Drive Improvements Get Underway
• Open House Set On Plans To Revitalize Downtown Largo