Florida Construction News staff writer
Clearwater City Council has voted to advance an unsolicited $180 million proposal to build a sports and entertainment complex at the city-owned Landings Golf Course, opening a 30-day window for competing developers to submit proposals.
While the vote does not approve construction or authorize a lease with Sunshine Recreational and Entertainment LLC, which submitted the proposal, council agreed to treat Sunshine’s unsolicited proposal as a qualifying public-private partnership submission, allowing the city to begin a competitive process.
Other developers will have 30 days to submit competing proposals for the redevelopment of the city-owned property at 1875 Airport Drive. After the submission period closes, city staff will evaluate any proposals and return to council with its findings. Additional public meetings would be required before the city could enter formal negotiations with a developer.
“This creates an opportunity to address legacy environmental issues rather than simply leaving them in place,” the developer representative said in his presentation to council.
Councilman David Allbritton supports the plan.
“Most people see The Landings golf course as a pristine, green aquifer instead of a grassed-over garbage dump. This project should, or would, remediate the buried trash and make the water quality that flows into Stevenson Creek clean again,” Allbritton said.
Sunshine is proposing to transform the existing golf course into a sports, recreation and entertainment complex with 13 multipurpose sports fields for soccer, lacrosse, football and other sports. The plan also calls for pickleball and sand volleyball courts, restaurants, a water attraction, fitness facilities and walking and biking trails.
The developer estimates the project would cost about $180 million to build. Its proposed financing package includes about $108 million in private debt and $26.9 million in equity, along with about $45 million it hopes to secure through Pinellas County tourist development taxes.
Sunshine is proposing a long-term ground lease or similar agreement under which it would design, finance, construct and operate the complex. The public-private partnership would allow Clearwater to use private capital and expertise while retaining oversight of the property.
Sunshine has modified its proposal in response to some neighborhood concerns,eliminating regular vehicle access from Airport Drive, removing paid parking, adding 24-hour security and covering the pickleball courts.