Tierra Verde Marina faces demolition for private boat club and expanded boat storage
/The tierra verde marina resort, which offer wet slips, dry storage, and other amenities | Greenleaf Capital documents
A retail plaza, home to several local businesses, and a boat yard located just beyond the Pinellas Bayway Bridge at the entrance to Tierra Verde may be demolished to make way for a private boat club and expanded boat storage.
On Monday, Michael Coffey, Executive Vice President of Greenleaf Capital, presented a preliminary redevelopment plan for the Tierra Verde Marina, located at 100 Pinellas Bayway South, during a Tierra Verde Community Association meeting.
Tampa-based Greenleaf Capital, the real estate division of HCI Group, Inc., purchased the seven-acre marina property for $5,000,100 in 2011.
Coffey outlined a phased plan to demolish the existing facilities and construct a larger boat storage facility, a modern boat club with a new restaurant, bar, and pool, as well as upgraded landscaping, security, and additional amenities.
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 marina currently features 64 wet slips, 314 high-and-dry racks within a 58,000-square-foot indoor storage complex, a 24,000-square-foot shopping center, and a gas station.
Current tenants in the shopping center include a restaurant, gym, laundry, bait shop, and salon.
During the first phase of construction, the existing dry storage building will remain operational to ensure marina services continue without interruption.
Phase one of the redevelopment involves demolishing the existing 24,000-square-foot shopping center and constructing a new clubhouse, a marina harbormaster office, and an additional 236 dry racks, bringing the total to 548. A surface parking lot with 119 spaces will also be added.
a rendering of phase two of the proposed redevelopment for the Tierra Verde Marina, featuring dry storage facilities, a marina club, and other amenities | greenleaf capital
The new three-story clubhouse, designed in a southern coastal style, will feature a lounge and kitchen on the first floor, a 2,581-square-foot restaurant with outdoor balcony seating on the second floor, and a 2,465-square-foot rooftop bar on the third floor.
The new harbormaster office will include 856 square feet of retail space, along with men's and women's locker rooms and restrooms.
Phase two of the redevelopment plan involves demolishing the current 58,000-square-foot dry storage facility and constructing a new high-and-dry facility, increasing storage capacity to 711 racks. A tractor barn will also be built.
No estimated construction timeline was provided during the meeting.
The plans are currently in the early design stage. The City of St. Petersburg must approve the site plan and issue building permits before construction can begin.
Greenleaf Capital’s presentation highlighted the positive impact the development would have on the community, emphasizing reduced traffic and noise, no random visitors, enhanced perimeter buffering with planters, improved security, and an updated architectural design that aligns with the character of Tierra Verde.
However, many residents of the small island community are not convinced.
On Thursday, the Tierra Verde Community Association (TVCA) sent a letter to the St. Petersburg City Council, strongly opposing the current redevelopment proposal.
The letter highlights three main concerns: the industrial-style design, which they say clashes with Tierra Verde’s natural beauty; the addition of 500+ boat storage units, which they say would worsen traffic congestion while mainly serving non-residents; and the loss of essential local businesses, which they say is especially concerning due to the island’s limited commercial space.
Despite its opposition to the current plan, the TVCA remains open to a thoughtful redevelopment of the marina property.
“While we are not against 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,” the letter states.
That same day, Natalie Winslow, owner of The Gym Tierra Verde which is currently located at Tierra Verde Marina, launched an online petition opposing the redevelopment. The petition echoes the TVCA’s concerns and, as of publication, had gathered 262 signatures.
