Florida Construction News staff writer
The City of Largo has issued a request for proposals for the redevelopment of its 201 Highland Ave. municipal campus, opening the door to a mixed-use project intended to reshape a key site in the city’s downtown core.
The 14-acre property has housed Largo City Hall, the Largo Police Department and the city’s Emergency Operations Center since 2000. City Hall is scheduled to relocate in spring 2026 to the new Horizon West Bay facility on West Bay Drive, leaving portions of the Highland Avenue site vacant and available for redevelopment.
City officials said the revised vision for the property emphasizes housing, public gathering spaces and retail uses along Highland Avenue, with the goal of creating a pedestrian-oriented district that supports downtown activity.
Under the city’s plan, redevelopment proposals may also incorporate the police department and emergency operations functions if a public-private partnership to relocate or reconfigure those facilities is proposed.
The RFP follows voter approval of a November 2024 referendum allowing the city to sell the property under specific conditions. The ballot language restricts development to a mixed-use project that may include residential, retail, restaurants, professional offices, public safety operations and recreational uses, as determined by the City Commission under Ordinance No. 2024-57.
According to the city, no concept plans have been approved, and proposers are encouraged to submit their own redevelopment approaches consistent with the voter-approved parameters.
Proposals may address redevelopment of the southern 7-acre portion of the site or present a comprehensive plan for the full 14-acre campus. The scope of work may include decommissioning of the existing City Hall facility, potential parcel splits, infrastructure upgrades to improve marketability, and improvements related to long-term police department operations.
The RFP is currently open, with proposals due by April 27, 2026. Submissions are being accepted through the DemandStar procurement platform.
City officials said the project represents a key step in Largo’s long-term downtown strategy as municipal functions transition to Horizon West Bay and redevelopment opportunities emerge at the Highland Avenue site.
