Council declares Armory surplus and transfers 706 N. Missouri to redevelopment agency amid resident appeals

Staff asked the council to declare city‑owned property at 706 North Missouri Avenue (referred to in the meeting as the Armory) surplus and to authorize its transfer to the City of Clearwater Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA). Staff reported that a letter of interest arrived the morning after the work session and offered the council the choice to continue the item for additional review or to proceed with the transfer.

Councilmembers debated whether to allow staff time to review the late submittal or to transfer the property to the CRA now. Councilman Roberts urged transferring the property to the CRA to enable the CRA to consider dispositions and next steps while preserving flexibility; other councilmembers supported continuing for more information but the motion to transfer was adopted by the council.

Residents voiced concerns about community involvement and the Armory’s history. Ladrilla Jenkins, who identified herself as having grown up in the neighborhood and as a former Head Start director, urged the council to give North Greenwood residents a chance to collaborate on the site’s future and to preserve the community’s memories associated with the Armory. Staff said they would follow CRA procedures for disposition and noted the CRA is a separate legal entity that would govern future use under the Community Redevelopment Act.

The council approved declaring the property surplus and transferring it to the CRA; the motion passed unanimously.