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Toy Town youth sports proposal advances; staff seeks $250,000 subsurface investigation before developer proposal
Summary
County and Visit St. Pete–Clearwater briefed commissioners on a proposed public–private youth sports complex at the former Toy Town landfill, said the RFP yielded one qualified respondent, and requested a $250,000 budget amendment to pay for subsurface investigation required before final developer proposals and FDEP grant initiation.
County staff and Visit St. Pete–Clearwater summarized progress on the Toy Town Youth Sports Project and asked commissioners to approve a subsurface investigation so developer proposals can be finalized.
Brian Lowack, president and CEO of Visit St. Pete–Clearwater, said the two-phase RFP found a qualified respondent but the developer needs additional subsurface data to prepare a definitive pro forma, site layout and estimate of private versus public investment. Lowack said the project team worked with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and that FDEP’s remediation grant program will not cover the subsurface investigatory costs; staff placed the investigative scope and cost at approximately $250,000 and proposed paying it from Tourism Development Council capital funds.
Staff presented a timeline: if the board approves a budget amendment at the next Tuesday meeting, subsurface work would occur in January–March, deliverables would be provided to the RFP respondent, and the respondent would submit a final proposal by June 30, 2026. Commissioners pressed on buildable acreage (cited at ~275 acres total with roughly 95 acres initially estimated as buildable) and the substantially higher cost of any vertical development over landfill; staff said the investigation will inform what parts of the site can support various development types and that vertical development is what would attract private investment.
Next steps: staff asked for a budget amendment on the next Tuesday agenda to fund the subsurface work (~$250,000) from TDC capital funds so the grant application and developer negotiations can proceed.
