Tampa-based developer Greenleaf Capital has refined its plans to transform the ageing seven-acre Tierra Verde Marina property, adding new public amenities and retail while addressing concerns from nearby residents.
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Since the proposal was first introduced in March, Greenleaf Capital has made several key revisions to its $33 million USD, two-phase redevelopment at 100 Pinellas Bayway South. The project, which was originally slated to go before the St Petersburg Development Review Commission in October, has been rescheduled for December to allow for additional design work and a traffic analysis.
Phase 1 will begin with the demolition of the existing retail plaza and the construction of the three-storey Harbour House, which will feature a first-floor lounge and kitchen, a 240-square-metre dining room with balcony seating on the second floor, and a 229-square-metre third-storey bar overlooking the marina. A new harbour master’s office will include locker rooms and restrooms.
The first phase also includes a new surface car park with 149 spaces and expanded landscaping. A new 27-metre-tall rack system will create 236 additional dry racks, bringing the total to 548. Phase 2 will replace the current 5,388-square-metre storage facility with a larger, more modern structure housing up to 711 racks, making it the second-largest storage facility in Florida.
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.
Community concerns
One of the community’s main concerns was losing the existing retail space at the marina. In response, the developer has added 223 square metres 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 emphasised that the Harbour House restaurant and third-storey bar will be open to the public, with only the pool deck adjacent to Harbour House being reserved for members renting boat storage space.
“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.”
“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.”
According to Greenleaf, the marina has averaged 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.
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 minimises hazards at the entrance to our tranquil community,” said Anne Norungolo, TVCA board director, in an emailed statement to the local outlet St Pete Rising in September.
“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.”
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 pick-up and drop-off reservations once the new facilities open.
