Downtown Clearwater Development Board

May 3, 2000

Two out of town developers pitched the citizens of Clearwater a proposal to revitalize the nearly vacant downtown.  The developers felt the key to the plan was to have people living downtown in the new apartments and condos.  Without a strong base of people living in the area, the plan would fail.

The proposal was voted down in July, 2000. A poll taken by the St. Petersburg Times two days before the vote showed that 67% of the citizens felt that the development would only benefit Scientology and nearly 100% said that they would refuse to come downtown even if it was redeveloped.

The fallout from this failed vote drove Mike Roberto, the City Manager, to resign from his post and the developers

The Board Meeting

Bennetta Slaughter