Harborview Demolition Ceremony To Kick Off Clearwater Revival

CLEARWATER, FL -- Two years in the planning, the demolition of the city-owned Harborview Center in Clearwater is scheduled for March 29, kicking off what the Clearwater City Council hopes will be a catalyst for the redevelopment of the city's waterfront.

To mark the occasion, the city will host a celebration on March 29 at 5 p.m. at the northwest corner of Cleveland Street and Osceola Avenue.

The community celebration will coincide with Blast Friday, a free food and craft festival featuring live music that occurs on the last Friday of every month in the Cleveland Street District of downtown Clearwater.

Tonight's Blast Friday will feature The Rippingtons with special guests Shaun Hopper & The Sun Kings and Gloria West & The Gents. The music starts at 5:30 p.m.

Food trucks and vendors will serve a variety of specialty food and beer, wine and non-alcoholic beverages. Concert goers are welcome to bring their lawn chairs to watch the concert.

The demolition of the Harborview Center in downtown Clearwater began in January 2019 following approval of a $1.9 million contract with Biltmore Construction Co. The firm had to remove asbestos before demolition could begin.

Approximately 40 percent of the building has been demolished so far. The demolition is expected to be completed by early August.

The Harborview Center's demolition and the removal of its adjacent surface parking is part of the implementation of the first phase of the "Imagine Clearwater" Master Plan, approved in January 2017. The plan envisions creating a city gateway, amphitheater and spur commercial and residential development along the waterfront.

Except for public parking, the 5,000-square-foot Harborview Center was no longer being used. It sits on top of a bluff at 800 Cleveland St., overlooking Clearwater Harbor and Coachman Park.

Those attending tonight's ceremony can take a piece of concrete from the Harborview demolition to turn into an project at Second Century Studios, 331 Cleveland St.

Those attending are also invited to visit the free Dreams of Dal Virtual Reality Experience, and get a poem on demand by local poet Gio.