LARGO — The city’s long wait for its new mixed-use complex downtown is nearly over.
Horizon West Bay, the $85 million-plus development anchored by a new Largo City Hall, will open Tuesday, May 19, more than a year after its original opening date. The complex features 20,000 square feet of restaurant and retail space.
“The city of Largo is ready to welcome the community to its new City Hall at Horizon West Bay, located at 440 West Bay Drive,” read a May 1 statement, which noted doors will officially open May 19 at 8 a.m. with building, permitting and planning services available to the public.
“This milestone marks an exciting new chapter for the community and for downtown Largo,” the release stated. “As the city prepares to open its doors, residents and businesses are invited to come experience the new space and reconnect in the heart of the city.”
Commercial tenants, which include Parlor Doughnuts, Strachan’s Ice Cream, The Tox beauty studio and Louis Pappas Fresh Greek restaurant, will open later.
The project, which broke ground in 2022, experienced several delays tied to the 2024 hurricane season, with storm recovery efforts and associated costs compounding the setbacks. Cost overruns and change orders also added to the delays, including a $500,000 change order that drew sharp criticism from city officials in March.
But with the current City Hall at 201 Highland Ave. recently closing for more than a week due to a sewage leak, news of Horizon’s impending opening came as music to the ears of Mayor Woody Brown.
During a visit to the site May 4, Brown offered a glimpse of the sleek, modern 87,000-square-foot facility that spans a full city block on West Bay Drive. The complex also includes an event space and 350 parking spaces, including a public garage. City Hall is scheduled to host its first Largo City Commission meeting Tuesday, June 2, an hour after a 5 p.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony.
“I knew it was coming soon,” Brown said as employees scrambled to find new workstations during a transition accelerated by the sewage leak, which he said was caused by a giant mass of sanitary wipes. “I met with City Manager John Curp here last week, and we’ve got IT making sure everything is right. I’m excited for everyone to move in.”
Asked about the commission’s frustrations with cost overruns and late change orders from contractor Biltmore Construction Co., Brown said the city is “working through some of that, working with Biltmore, but it will take time. Right now, we’re focused on the task at hand, and that’s getting everyone settled into the new building.”
The Highland Avenue building reopened to the public April 20, but the city’s building, planning and permitting services remain at the Largo Community Center, 400 Alt. 19.
The old building will close to the public at 8 a.m. Friday, May 15, officials said. On Monday, May 18, services will be available online only as staff transition to the new facility. Online services will remain available at Largo.com/ServiceRequest, and inspections will continue without interruption. Staff can be reached at 727-587-6700 during business hours.
For more information on the Horizon West Bay complex, including a project timeline and FAQs, visit downtownlargo.com/projects/horizonwestbay.