While this mixed-use development never materialized, many local residents support the addition of boat slips | the denunzio group

A 4.6-acre vacant waterfront property at the entrance to Madeira Beach could become a new public asset. The city is beginning to gather ideas from the community on how the land should be used.

An expanded marina, a parking garage, restaurants, and a public park were among the ideas residents suggested during a town hall meeting on Tuesday night regarding the future of the property at 555 150th Avenue in Madeira Beach, located just off the Tom Stuart Causeway.

The site has remained vacant for nearly a decade following the demolition of the Leverock’s restaurant, which closed in 2000.

A previously approved mixed-use proposal by The DeNunzio Group included a 130-room Hilton hotel, 31 residential units, a restaurant, and a 100-slip marina. However, plans ultimately never materialized.

In October 2025, the city acquired the property for $18 million, a price well below independent appraisals that valued the site upwards of $25 million. Using cash reserves, City Commissioner Eddie McGeehen described the strategic purchase as “a great investment for the city.”

The site is designated C-4 Marina Coastal zoning, which prioritizes marine-oriented uses while allowing a range of complementary commercial uses, including boat storage and repair, retail, hotel, and residential units above commercial space.

In November 2025, Madeira Beach hosted its first round of town hall meetings to solicit public input on development concepts that could serve as a welcoming gateway to the city while delivering public benefits consistent with the site’s zoning.

Mayor Anne Marie Brooks supported an expanded community engagement effort, resulting in the scheduling of two additional town hall meetings.

The public recommended the city to take advantage of the water access by adding boat slips and dry storage, since the municipal marina’s current slips typically remain full.

Madeira beach purchased the property at 555 150th Avenue for $18 million last year | Pinellas County

Finance Director Andrew Laflin previously noted that marina expansion could help offset overall development costs.

Alternatively, many John’s Pass business owners supported the idea of building a long-discussed municipal parking garage at the site. While the city charges $4 an hour for its parking, private lot operators charge a flat rate of $75 during peak times.

“It is killing John’s Pass, crippling business, and it is harmful to our city and our future,” Captain Dylan Hubbard of Hubbard’s Marina previously told commissioners.

Other ideas were floated, such as reimagining the property as a shopping and dining destination.

Public Works Director Megan Wepfer said it is too early to determine the city’s procurement process or whether the project would be developed in phases by multiple developers or overseen by a single entity.

“To give you a rough estimate, I don’t see us breaking ground on this project within a five-year period,” Wepfer told St. Pete Rising during the town hall meeting.

Interested residents can attend the second town hall meeting on Saturday, February 7th, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Madeira Beach City Hall, located at 300 Municipal Drive.

Following this week’s second public input event, this same topic will be discussed at the Madeira Beach City Commission Workshop in March.