DUNEDIN — The Douglas Parking Center, at 968 Douglas Ave., the first phase of the Main Street Exchange project, received unanimous approval from the Local Planning Agency to change its zoning from Downtown Industrial to Downtown Core, enabling it to include 25,000 to 30,000 square feet of retail and commercial in its ground floor.
The recommendation of approval will now move on to the City Commission for final approval.
The four-story parking garage, designed to provide approximately 309 parking spaces to serve the Main Street Exchange project and downtown is scheduled to open in 2027, according to the Mazas Development webpage.
The 1.07-acre property is located on the west side of Douglas Avenue, about 150 feet south of Skinner Boulevard. It is sandwiched between Douglas Avenue to the east and the Pinellas Trail to the west.
George Kinney, director of Community Development, told LPA members, “because the current Downtown Industrial zoning designation does not permit retail and similar commercial uses, the applicant is requesting a rezoning to Downtown Core, which allows for a broader mix of commercial and retail activities consistent with the proposed redevelopment program.”
Kinney advised, “after this there is only one Downtown Industrial parcel left, immediately to the north, closest to Skinner Boulevard.” Kinney advised when that property develops it will “likely go to Downtown Core as well.”
Bob Ironsmith, economic development and CRA director, told the LPA, “this is consistent with what our vision was many years ago. Douglas for a long period of time was something that was not an activity center.”
“The whole corridor has changed,” Ironsmith explained. “Our goal always was not to be just very long and linear, east and west, we wanted to go north and south.”
“This is kind of a great piece for us,” he said. “If you remember for a long period of time it was just storage of boats, cars, RVs. We did something creative, we at least got some cultural aspect to it with the artist aspect. But that time kind of ran its day, and we were very happy that Bill Mazas purchased this piece of property, and of course he was always looking at the garage. We did encourage him, we’d like to see some retail, we want an activity engine, as well as just parking.”
Ironsmith observed, “in the Artisan we have some retail and some different businesses there. This will be another area right to the north and really kind of fulfills what we always expected Douglas to be—it’s a part of Main Street.”
“As you see over time we worked with Mr. Kokolakis on the south to do angle parking, we created that vision,” Ironsmith noted. “This is another very, very important piece. From a CRA perspective, we’re very, very supportive of having this changed into retail. 30,000 square feet of retail, it’s another place for people to go and have a good time.”
According to the developer’s webpage, the latest construction dates, provided by Hawkins Construction, are contingent on weather and logistics. “From late August through late October 2026, crews will erect the precast concrete structure of the Douglas Parking Center. Most of the work happens entirely on our property; The first six and a half weeks — from crane arrival on Aug. 24 through Oct. 9 — require no road or lane closure of any kind.”
“Erection begins Aug. 31, building the West and Center bays — the two farthest from the road — north to south,” according to the developer’s planning schedule. “The crane and all delivery trucks operate inside the property limits; both lanes of Douglas Avenue remain open for this entire stretch, the longest phase of the job. All work runs Monday through Friday with no weekend activity, and no precast deliveries on Saturdays or Sundays at any point in the program.”
The developer’s timetable notes for 10 working days, from Monday, Oct. 12, to Friday, Oct. 23, “the final bay sits along Douglas Avenue, so the crane needs the near lane. Barricades shift out to close one lane, and traffic alternates through the remaining 11-foot lane under certified flaggers — the road stays open in both directions, with brief waits during active picks, deliveries, and concrete pours. The closure runs 10 working days, Monday through Friday only — deliberately starting the Monday after the Art & Craft festival weekend of Oct. 10-11. The festival sees no construction activity, delivery traffic, or lane closure of any kind, and the lane is restored as soon as the frontage bay is complete. Work zone speed is 15 mph, the sidewalk on the project side closes with marked crossings to the east side, and all deliveries end by 3 p.m. daily.”
Crane demobilization will take two days, Oct. 26 and Oct 27. “Taking the crane down requires the full width of Douglas Avenue (to be closed) for public safety; The only full closure of the entire project, scheduled for two days midweek.” A detour will route traffic via Skinner Boulevard, Broadway, and Main Street, “pedestrian routing is maintained, and emergency services are coordinated in advance. In coordination with the city, it is deliberately placed on Monday and Tuesday — the quietest downtown days — avoiding Fridays and weekends entirely, with both lanes fully reopened by Wednesday morning, October 28.”
The developer advises the project will not impact the Pinellas Trail. “The site’s western edge runs along the Pinellas Trail. Trail access and the existing trail connection are maintained throughout construction, with protective fencing separating trail users from the work. No crane picks will be made over the trail while it’s open to the public.”
The Douglas Parking Center is the first phase of a two-phase investment in downtown Dunedin that will culminate with construction of the Main Street Exchange.
According to the developer, the garage will be “built first, on purpose, so the parking arrives before everything else does. Phase 2, the Main Street Exchange, follows just down the block at 830 Douglas Ave.”
“Main Street Exchange will include: an 89-room boutique hotel with a rooftop terrace and bar; food hall and marketplace featuring local operators, plus a 280-seat theater and event venue. Other plans include a speakeasy, signature restaurant, small-format retail, and public green spaces. The Exchange is scheduled to open 2029,” according to the website.