Clearwater Will Vote on $7.5 Million Settlement

The Clearwater Community Redevelopment Agency will decide Monday on a settlement with FrankCrum over a burial site.

Updated on Oct. 8, 2026 in Commercial

Clearwater Will Vote on $7.5 Million Settlement

Live Poll

Will the Clearwater community see the proposed $7.5 million cemetery settlement approved this coming Monday?

The Clearwater Community Redevelopment Agency is scheduled to vote on a $7.5 million settlement with FrankCrum on October 12, 2026. This agreement would resolve a three-year legal dispute concerning a former cemetery site containing an estimated 500 graves.

Why it matters

FrankCrum initiated the lawsuit to compel the city to relocate graves found beneath its property at 100 S. Missouri Ave. and cover the associated costs. The company opted for this settlement, which is not an admission of fault, to avoid further delays in resolving the matter.

The proposed settlement involves a $7.5 million payment regarding a site at 100 S. Missouri Ave. where archaeologists estimated the presence of over 500 graves. The agreement concludes a lawsuit originally filed three years ago.

The players

FrankCrum

FrankCrum is a company that operates a campus located on a site formerly containing the St. Matthews Baptist Church Cemetery.

Clearwater Community Redevelopment Agency

This agency directs tax revenue to support revitalization efforts in the Downtown Clearwater Community Redevelopment Area.

Clearwater City Council

The council members act as the trustees for the local Community Redevelopment Agency.

The details

Clearwater City Council members serve as trustees of the agency, which directs tax revenue toward downtown revitalization efforts. Under the proposed terms, FrankCrum has already dropped the city as a defendant in the litigation.

The parties reached the settlement at the end of September 2026.
The city council is expected to vote on the agreement on Monday, October 12, 2026.
FrankCrum plans to develop a framework for next steps in the coming months.

Culture Shift

This settlement follows the pattern set by the Downtown Clearwater Community Redevelopment Area revitalization initiative. It reflects the administrative challenges local authorities face when development projects intersect with historic, unmarked burial sites.

The settlement allows FrankCrum to move forward with plans for its property while removing the city from active litigation. Residents can expect the company to begin outlining a framework for how to manage the burial site in the coming months.

The takeaway

This agreement highlights the complexities of balancing urban redevelopment with historical site preservation in aging city centers. It serves as a reminder for property owners to verify the historical usage of land before proceeding with large-scale development plans.