CLEARWATER — The plans are in, and the city is ready for you to see them.
City officials will present early design plans for the ambitious downtown waterfront redevelopment project known as Imagine Clearwater at a series of public meetings beginning next week. The meetings will give citizens a chance to offer public officials their feedback on the $64 million remake of Coachman Park and some surrounding city-owned land.
The meetings will be held:
Tuesday, Dec. 3, 6-8 p.m. at Clearwater Main Library, 100 N Osceola Ave. in downtown Clearwater
Wednesday, Dec. 4, 6-8 p.m. at Countryside Library, 2642 Sabal Springs Drive, Clearwater
Saturday, Dec. 7, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at Countryside Mall, 27001 US Hwy 19 N, Clearwater
Tuesday, Dec. 10, 6-8 p.m. at North Greenwood Recreation Center, 900 N Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Clearwater
Those events, which have also been publicized on Facebook and Eventbrite, won’t be residents’ only opportunities to weigh in on Imagine Clearwater. The city also plans to hold public feedback sessions after it finalizes 60 percent and 90 percent design plans next year.
“The ’30-60-90′ design development process is common across many design industries. Design plans are provided to the project site owner at 30 percent, 60 percent and 90 percent completion. At each stage of the design process, the plan sets become more complex and technical,” the city’s news release noted.
Clearwater has also started a website dedicated to Imagine Clearwater, imagineclearwater.com, where residents can offer their feedback on the design plans starting Dec. 3.
The plans for Imagine Clearwater include a shaded bluff walk, new gardens and a scenic lake in the transformed park, a new event space at Cleveland Street and Osceola Avenue, a $6 million remake of the Clearwater Main Library, and shiny new developments at the city-owned former Harborview and City Hall sites. The city also plans to build a boutique, $14 million, 4,000-seat outdoor amphitheater in the new downtown park.
To read more about Imagine Clearwater, check out some of our past coverage:
Is Imagine Clearwater a park first, or a concert venue?
Imagine Clearwater is taking shape. Here’s the latest on the $60 million-plus downtown waterfront.
Clearwater wants residents downtown. This study shows why that’s not happening.
Scientology’s top donor pitches a museum for Clearwater City Hall
One giant leap for Imagine Clearwater: council votes for $30 million bond measure