After more than a year of construction delays, Largo’s new City Hall is set to open to the public Monday, May 19, though the project has drawn scrutiny over a $500,000 last-minute repair bill and lingering questions about accountability.
The building is part of the $85 million Horizon West Bay development and will begin welcoming residents at 8 a.m. Monday. The 87,000-square-foot facility will house key city services, including building, permitting, and planning departments. The site also includes a public parking garage with more than 350 spaces and a community event space.
The opening comes after a change order approved in March to correct code compliance problems discovered during final inspections — including issues with fire systems and emergency signage — that had to be resolved before the building could receive occupancy clearance. The additional costs sparked criticism at a March 3 city commission meeting, where some officials questioned how fundamental safety items were missed so late in the construction process.
City officials have not yet said who is responsible for the problems. A final project audit is underway that could determine whether the issues stemmed from design errors, construction mistakes, or other factors. There is also no clear timeline for when the retail and restaurant spaces within the broader Horizon West Bay development will be occupied.
The project, which was also set back by hurricane-related delays, is intended to anchor a revitalized downtown Largo and replace the city’s aging former City Hall.
The first City Commission meeting inside the new building is scheduled for Monday evening. A formal ribbon-cutting ceremony is planned for June 2.
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