An aerial of the tierra verde marina as it exists today | Greenleaf Capital documents

A Tampa-based developer has refined its plans to transform the aging seven-acre Tierra Verde Marina property, adding new public amenities and retail while addressing concerns from nearby residents.

Since the proposal was first introduced in March, Greenleaf Capital has made several key revisions to its $33 million, two-phase redevelopment at 100 Pinellas Bayway South.

The project, which was originally slated to go before St. Pete’s Development Review Commission (DRC) in October, has been rescheduled to December to accommodate additional design and a traffic analysis.

One of the community’s main concerns was losing the existing retail space at the marina. In response, the developer has added 2,400 square feet of new retail space to the latest plan, which could be divided into up to three storefronts and will be included in Phase 1 of construction.

Greenleaf has also emphasized that the Harbor House restaurant and rooftop bar will be open to the public. Despite comments from the community, the company clarified that only the pool deck adjacent to Harbor House will be private, reserved exclusively for members renting boat storage space.

Tierra Verde Marina is located at 100 Pinellas Bayway South just beyond the Pinellas Bayway Bridge at the entrance to Tierra Verde | Google Maps

“The retail, restaurant, and bar are all publicly accessible,” said Greenleaf spokesperson and former St. Petersburg mayor Rick Kriseman. “We want this to be a destination that both boaters and locals can enjoy.”

Traffic impact has also been a key point of contention since the initial presentation.

However, a recent study by the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) found that the redevelopment, which is centered primarily on marina-related uses rather than retail, would generate less vehicular traffic than the current mix of uses, which includes a gas station and shopping center.

According to GreenLeaf, the marina has averaged just 13 boat launches per day over the past three years, with summer weekends averaging 30 and peak holidays reaching 50. By comparison, weekday activity typically drops to about 10 launches daily.

“Without a major retail component and given how few boats launch on a typical day, the impact on local traffic will be minimal,” Kriseman said. “We’ve also improved circulation within the site and made it safer for pedestrians.”

Phase 1 of the Tierra Verde Marina redevelopment

Phase 1 will begin with the demolition of the existing retail plaza and the construction of the three-story Harbor House, which will feature a first-floor lounge and kitchen, a 2,581-square-foot dining room with balcony seating on the second floor, and a 2,465-square-foot rooftop bar overlooking the marina.

A new harbormaster office will include locker rooms and restrooms.

The first phase also includes a new surface parking lot with 117 spaces, expanded landscaping, and 236 additional dry racks, bringing the total to 548, with a new 90-foot-tall rack system.

Phase 2 will replace the current 58,000-square-foot storage facility with a larger, more modern structure housing up to 711 racks.

The updated design includes coastal architectural elements such as shutters and decorative detailing to reduce the industrial appearance of earlier versions of the plan.

Phase 2 of the Tierra Verde Marina redevelopment

Construction on Phase 1 is expected to begin in late 2026 and take about 18 months to complete. Phase 2 would follow roughly two years later.

Greenleaf representatives have met with board members of the Tierra Verde Community Association (TVCA) and are coordinating a future meeting with Tierra Verde Next, a local civic group.

“While we are not opposed to the redevelopment of this property, we advocate for an alternative plan that preserves retail options, maintains the aesthetic integrity of our island’s natural beauty, and minimizes hazards at the entrance to our tranquil community,” said Anne Norungolo, TVCA board director, in an emailed statement to St. Pete Rising in September.

The redevelopment team includes RWA Engineering, Halff Associates Inc., and Arehna Engineering Inc.

The marina remains operational daily, with plans to eventually introduce a digital scheduling app for boat pickup and drop-off reservations once the new facilities open.

“We’ve listened carefully to residents and made substantial changes,” Kriseman said. “From enhanced landscaping to new retail and public gathering spaces, this project now reflects both community feedback and Tierra Verde’s character.”

Once both phases are complete, Tierra Verde Marina will be able to accommodate up to 711 boats and would be the second largest storage facility in Florida.