Community leaders bringing shipping container small business ‘village’ to Clearwater CRA
- Mark Parker
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
A nonprofit dedicated to uplifting a long-neglected, predominantly African American community in Clearwater has received the green light to create a culturally rooted economic engine out of shipping containers.
Tentatively dubbed The Village, the Clearwater Urban Leadership Coalition’s (CULC) forward-thinking project received unanimous and enthusiastic approval from the city’s Community Development Board on Tuesday. The overarching goal is to mitigate barriers that have historically sidelined local entrepreneurs.
The CULC will now transform a vacant .34-acre property within the North Greenwood Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) into a vibrant, mixed-use plaza. Executive director Gloria Campbell said the organization would have shipping containers on-site by the end of the year, with affordable storefronts opening at the underutilized intersection of N. Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue and Tangerine Street in early 2027.
“We actually have more people interested than we have spaces, which is a good thing,” Campbell said. “We’ll be building the infrastructure to bring some of those businesses along, so as tenants move to better, bigger facilities, we’ll be able to infill those with new tenants.”
Campbell said the CULC is finalizing agreements with 10 tenants, the maximum. Anticipated operations include 2,240 square feet of restaurant and bar space, 960 square feet of retail sales and services, and an 8,800-square-foot outdoor gathering area, according to city documents.
Six large tree planters and other landscaping along the site’s north and east boundaries will serve as a buffer. The project will feature a total of 14 shade or accent trees, several shrubs, and a 100-square-foot landscaped area on the property’s southwest corner.
The outdoor gathering space will include benches, tables, and a stage for live music, presentations, readings, displays, and exhibits. “Collectively, these enhancements will significantly improve the overall appearance of the site and contribute positively to the surrounding area,” wrote city staff.
According to the project website, utilizing shipping containers as storefronts will significantly reduce entry costs and development timelines. Sharing infrastructure, including utilities, seating, and technology, will decrease operational overhead for tenants.
“This is a branded village that celebrates legacy and neighborhood pride, creating a destination that is both economically productive and culturally meaningful,” the website states. “It creates a dedicated home for retail and food-service innovation, activates community gathering spaces, and strengthens the commercial identity of North Greenwood as a premier destination for commerce, culture, and connection.”
Development Board Member Michael Lucius and his colleagues expressed excitement to see the much-anticipated project come to fruition. “I’ve seen these in different parts of the country, from California to North Carolina,” he said.
“It’s nice to see them, because it does attract and bring people in as a gathering spot,” Lucius continued. “So, we wish you all the best success.”
City planner Ted Kozak noted that the unique project has been in development for several years. “It has been a lot of work - a lot of push, a lot of shove,” he said.
Over 20 community organizations and individuals joined forces to create the CULC. The coalition’s mission is to promote business development, wellness, self-sufficiency, literacy, education, and resilience in the North and South Greenwood CRAs, according to its website.
The CULC, which first proposed establishing the CRA, notes that historically, government funding “has not trickled down to the grass roots community where the difference can be recognized, impacted, and felt.” In February 2025, the city allocated $500,000 to the shipping container project, formerly known as The Grove @1105.
Campbell said on Monday that “The Village” will remain part of the project’s name. “What we use as a tag, we’re still deciding. We’re refining that now based on some recommendations from St. Petersburg College. They did a consulting project for us a few months ago.”
Pinellas County Economic Development (PCED) has also pledged to lend its “small business assistance expertise” to the project. Stakeholders expect it to create over 100 jobs, with an emphasis on youth and workforce development.
“This is the first new business facility to be built in the North Greenwood area in 50 years,” Campbell told PCED. “It was once a thriving black business hub, and our goal is to stimulate business growth in the area to become a beacon of hope for generations to come.”
The CULC has also launched a $100,000 capital fundraising campaign. “This is not charity; this is community ownership,” the website states. Campbell said on Tuesday that “you too can be part of the village” by supporting the cause.
A free “Taste of the Village” event is on Monday, June 15, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the North Greenwood Recreation Center. Attendees will receive a first look at what is coming to The Village.
For more information on the Clearwater Urban Leadership Coalition, visit the website here.
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