Manatee County’s oldest city is making a significant bet on its own future, with a series of public and private investments aimed at transforming downtown Palmetto from a commuter corridor into a regional destination.
The Palmetto Community Redevelopment Agency is leading several projects to improve the downtown area and waterfront, encouraging more visitors and residents to spend time in the city. CRA Executive Director Rowena Young said the goal is to foster a livelier downtown while preserving the city’s historic character.
One of the newest developments broke ground Tuesday, an 8,000-square-foot retail space in front of the Palmetto Marriott Resort and Spa, set to open in December and expected to include a coffee shop, restaurant, and retail offerings to improve walkability for hotel guests near the Bradenton Area Convention Center.
Bradenton Area Tourism Director Elliott Falcione cited a $53 million investment tied to the convention center, projected to generate roughly $30 million annually in economic activity for the surrounding area.
Other projects underway or planned include $1.7 million in streetscape improvements along historic 10th Avenue West, a $4.4 million renovation of the nearly 100-year-old Palmetto Women’s Club, $170,000 in storefront upgrade grants for local businesses, redevelopment of Connor Park, and a new Gulf Islands Ferry stop with an adjacent tavern development.
Vice Mayor Sunshine Joiner pointed to a planned mixed-use riverfront development near Riverside as one of the most anticipated projects, describing it as a potential defining gateway into the city for anyone crossing the bridge into Palmetto.
City leaders say the investments are intended not only to draw tourists but to give residents a stronger sense of place in a city long known mainly as a pass-through on the way elsewhere.
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