Clearwater Downtown Development Board
Keanan G. Kintzel of Buzzazz Digital Services
I want to thank the stake holders in the Clearwater Downtown Development Board (DDB) district that voted for my election in 2019. Third times a charm…just ask Abe Lincoln – Ha!
The Downtown Development Board (DDB) was established in 1971 as an independent elected body sanctioned by the state of Florida with the purpose to create and utilize a small extra property tax paid by property owners in the downtown district to help reduce downtown commercial blight. It was composed of seven elected – non paid – officials who utilize this funding as an aid to help with these matters. Many years later, an interlocal agreement was created between the DDB and the Cities first CRA (Clearwater Redevelopment Agency) to help administrate the funds, meetings and elections. DDB tax fund money was utilized to compensate city CRA staff.
The Board assists in preparing and maintaining an analysis of the economic condition and changes; assists in formulating short and long-range plans for improving and developing Clearwater Downtown and advises on policies and procedures which succeed in bringing business and residents into the downtown district, improving its tax base and overall economic condition.
This relationship helped fund events and activities that were deemed beyond the cities purview. Millions of dollars were collected and allocated to help the downtown improve over the fifty plus years without no known written complaints from property owners. During that same period, shopping malls and our Clearwater Beach and the US 19 corridor along with the population expanded across the area. Moving the Cleveland Street automotive traffic to Gulf to Bay with the newly built Freedom Bridge (which replaced the old draw bridge) was a necessary vital city and citizen tax funded decision that has and will continue to help folks get back and forth to our world class beach in a much better manner. The closing and redesign work of Cleveland Street that has been under construction since the early 2000’s and continues through the Gateway today, has been another great long term collaboration between the city and her tax base. Now nearly completed, Cleveland Street – accompanied with the recent 100 million tax funded Coachman Park plus Amphitheater renovations – will offer untold commercial opportunities for the rest of this century and beyond.
It was a lot of fun working with CRA staff and my fellow board members over the past five years. We were able to utilize the special tax fund that only the downtown stake holders pay into for a lot of wonderful downtown events and business grants. And, during COVID, this money came in very handy as we funded several hundred thousand dollars worth of promotional and entertainment activities to keep Cleveland Street alive. The DDB supported the cities COVID plan to temporarily close down the 400 and 500 blocks of Cleveland Street while lockdowns were in place. As the streetscape upgrades through the Gateway are finished and the street opens back up, there will once again be more and more opportunities to have events and parties on Cleveland Street. With the Cleveland Street Alliance pouring millions of dollars into further historic building renovations – more upgraded retail and entertainment will soon follow.
I am grateful for becoming part of this wonderful DDB Team. I believe the more people of good will that are involved within any community, the better chances it has for continued betterment. I love living and working in Clearwater and will continue to do my best to help Clearwater achieve it’s main objectives.
I moved my family and company to Clearwater in 2005 from the snowy Midwest, near Chicago. My brother/partner and I have been in business together since 1987. Our company, Buzzazz Business Solutions, is located across from the post office on Cleveland Street. I have lived and worked downtown over these past years and love being part of the Clearwater renaissance we are all creating.
I grew up in a small Indiana farm town and migrated west to study aviation in Arizona at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and ASU. Our first business in 1987 was selling airplanes in Southern California with our former “Top Gun” Vietnam jet fighter pilot father. We have enjoyed a strong career in direct sales and I’ve always had a passion to help philanthropically too.
Since moving here, I have been active with numerous charities, my church, several Chambers, the DCMA, the Wabamm activity website, St. Pete Sunscreen film festival, the Community Service Foundation, and GoingHomeClearwater.org, a charity coalition that has evolved a new successful homeless reduction program for our city.
With all the development underway, towers filled with successful commercial enterprises (Unicorn KNOWB4 included), numerous brand new residential complexes (Waters Edge, SkyView, Apex, Nolan, Station Square & more on the near horizon), there are now thousands of folks living and working and playing in the downtown area. This is a view hundreds of miles away from the day in 2005 when I actually witnessed tumbleweed blowing down the closed empty dirt corridor of Cleveland street. Our collective future is most definitely, endlessly bright.
Best regards,
Keanan G. Kintzel
President