For months, we've been following the proposal to redevelop The Landings Golf Club into a large sports, recreation and entertainment complex.

Now, things are moving quickly.

Clearwater City Council will begin discussing the proposal during a Work Session on Monday, August 3, followed by a City Council Meeting on Thursday, August 6, where residents will have an opportunity to speak before council members decide whether to move forward with negotiations.

No final approval is expected next week. However, council members will decide whether city staff should continue negotiating with Porter Development, making these meetings an important opportunity for residents to have their voices heard.

The current proposal would transform the city-owned, 77-acre golf course into a destination featuring:

⚽ 13 soccer fields

🏟️ A 5,000-seat arena

💦 A water park

🚗 Nearly 2,000 parking spaces

Developer Les Porter says the project could generate approximately $566 million in direct and indirect economic impact over the next 10 years, modernize aging stormwater infrastructure, and create a regional destination for sports and entertainment. The development team has also indicated it plans to seek approximately $45 million in Tourist Development Tax funding toward the estimated $180 million project.

Many nearby residents, however, remain concerned about traffic, flooding, stormwater runoff, environmental impacts, and the loss of one of Clearwater's largest remaining green spaces.

Those concerns have led to the continued efforts of Keep Keene Green, a community organization originally formed in 2020 after an earlier development proposal for The Landings. The group is encouraging residents to attend next week's meetings and make their opinions known.

Whether you support the proposal, oppose it, or simply believe more information is needed before moving forward, next week marks an important milestone in the future of this property.

📅 Upcoming Meetings

🌳 City Council Work Session

Monday, August 3

📍 Clearwater Main Library

🪧 Community sign-waving: 12:30 p.m. to 1:15 p.m.

🏛️ Work Session begins: 1:30 p.m.

🏛️ City Council Meeting

Thursday, August 6

📍 Clearwater Main Library

🚪 Doors typically open 30 to 45 minutes before the meeting.

🕕 Meeting begins at 6:00 p.m.

Residents wishing to speak are encouraged to arrive early.

If you cannot attend in person, meeting agendas and live streaming information are available through the City of Clearwater's website.

📝 Editor's Note

Whether you're for the project, against it, or still undecided, this proposal involves 77 acres of publicly owned land that will shape Clearwater for decades.

Take a few minutes to learn about the proposal, ask questions, and, if you have an opinion, let your elected officials hear it.

That's how local government is supposed to work.

Downtown Clearwater is about to get a flavorful new addition.

Streetlight Taco, the South Tampa restaurant that earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand designation just months after opening, is expanding into downtown Clearwater with its first location outside Tampa.

The new restaurant will occupy the ground floor of the beautifully restored Peoples Bank Building at the corner of Cleveland Street and Fort Harrison Avenue, becoming the building's signature dining destination.

If you haven't been to Streetlight Taco before, don't expect typical fast-food tacos.

The restaurant is known for making its tortillas from heirloom Mexican corn that is cooked and milled in-house into fresh masa. Meats are slow-braised or cooked over a wood fire, while salsas, sauces and condiments are all made from scratch.

Its menu features tacos, burritos, bowls, tostadas, chips and dips, plus desserts like flan and tres leches alongside craft cocktails.

Restaurant officials say the restored Peoples Bank Building was a perfect fit for the concept, describing the future space as a lively Mexican bodega with a central bar, warm wood finishes and inspiration drawn from traditional Mexican markets.

The announcement comes just days after thousands of people gathered downtown to celebrate the completion of the Peoples Bank Building restoration and the return of its historic clock.

Streetlight Taco also becomes the second restaurant announced for downtown Clearwater by Tastes Pretty Good Hospitality, joining Rippers, a hot dog and burger concept planned for the restored Telephone Building.

An opening date has not yet been announced.

Before you load up the car, take a peek at the live beach cam to see exactly how busy it is out there. Sometimes the smartest move is knowing when to go and when to enjoy our little slice of paradise another day.

Check current water temperatures and conditions Here

Watch the live Clearwater Beach Cam Here

Our pets aren't just animals - they're family. If you've seen any of the pets below please email us at [email protected] and we will connect you directly with their families. One share could bring someone's baby home.

Zena has been missing for over 140 days from the Seville Condo area near Clearwater Costco. Her heartbroken family will not give up searching

LEARN MORE →

Leah has been missing since April 28th from the King Arthur Court in Dunedin. Her Mom has owned her since she was a puppy.

LEARN MORE →

Lobo has been missing since May 11th from Gladden Park in St. Petersburg. Her Mom has owned her since she was a puppy.

LEARN MORE →

River is a one-year-old male tabby (brown, white, and gray) who slipped out the front door on May 30th, and last seen near 134th Ave and Trotter Rd in Largo.

LEARN MORE →

Mama Kitty is a 15 year old black cat with with a clipped left ear that went missing on June 4th, and last seen near Druid and Belcher in Clearwater.

LEARN MORE →

🎸 Bus Stop Friday July 31st - FREE - 7:00 pm Whiskey Wings Countryside Clearwater, FL INFO→

🎸 Darrell Sikes Garth Brooks Tribute Band Friday July 31st AT 6:00 pm OCC Roadhouse Clearwater, FL TICKETS & INFO→

🎸 Zach Seufert Firday July 31st - FREE - 5:00 pm Crabby’s Dockside Clearwater, FL INFO→

🎤 😂 Clearwater Comedy Club - Nik Macik - Friday & Saturday 8:30 pm 483 Mandalay Ave, Clearwater INFO & TICKETS→

🎤 😂 Clearwater Comedy Club - The Dark & Dirty Comedy Show - Friday & Saturday 10:30 pm 483 Mandalay Ave, Clearwater INFO & TICKETS→

🎸 Magic Band Saturday July 25th - FREE - 7:00 pm Whiskey Wings Countryside Clearwater, FL INFO→

🌳 The Landings - City Council Work Session Monday, August 3 at 1:30 pm at the Clearwater Main Library 100 N. Osceola Ave Clearwater

📍 Clearwater Main Library MAP→

🪧 Community sign-waving: 12:30 p.m. to 1:15 p.m.

🏛️ Work Session begins: 1:30 p.m.

READ MORE →

🚶Indoor Walking at the Countryside Mall: Beat the heat and rain with some indoor walking, grab a bite to eat, browse the shops, or catch a movie…all while letting the mall’s A/C do the heavy lifting. MAP →

If you must be out in nature, please don’t forget to bring water

🌳🥾 Beat the Heat: Peaceful Nature Parks Looking to escape the crowds and cool off in the shade this weekend? Tampa Bay is loaded with hidden natural gems, all free to explore:

🦅 Moccasin Lake Nature Park (Clearwater) — A peaceful 51-acre preserve with shaded oak trails, boardwalks over the lake, and a wildlife rehabilitation sanctuary where you can see rescued eagles, hawks, and falcons.

⛵ Clearwater Community Sailing Center A nonprofit sailing center at 1001 Gulf Blvd offering boat rentals, sailing lessons for all ages, and Summer Camp. Open Tuesday through Sunday 9am to 5pm. LEARN MORE →

🏓 Pickleball Court Locations: Here is the easiest way to find Pickleball courts near you with an interactive map. LEARN MORE →

🏖️ Near the Beach

🏙️ Inland

⚠️ Trivia nights and schedules can change. We recommend confirming directly with the venue before heading out. Know of a change or a new spot? Tell Scout →

Thanks for reading My Clearwater Scoop today. If you found something useful, please share it with someone that you think would enjoy it.

Until next time,

Stan, Scoop and Scout