The City of Tarpon Springs, a historic waterfront community in Pinellas County, initiated a comprehensive refresh of its downtown planning efforts to better coordinate growth, reinvestment, and regulatory guidance. With several existing plans and zoning tools influencing downtown redevelopment, the City recognized the need for a clearer and more unified vision. Downtown Tarpon Springs, including the Sponge Docks and Greektown neighborhoods, is a major cultural and economic asset, and recent planning work highlighted the importance of aligning land use policy, infrastructure planning, and placemaking initiatives to support long term vitality and community character.

Inspire Placemaking Collective led a coordinated planning and urban design process focused on consolidating multiple efforts into a single, actionable plan. The team worked closely with City staff and stakeholders to identify priority infrastructure, infill development, and beautification projects while updating the Downtown Special Area Plan and transforming the existing Smart Code into a clearer Form Based Code. The process also incorporated relevant recommendations from the Sponge Docks and Greektown Placemaking Plan and established a clear project implementation strategy. Form-based regulatory updates were created to support predictable development and high-quality urban design throughout the area.

The final plan provides Tarpon Springs with a clear roadmap for downtown’s future and a stronger foundation for implementation. By aligning policies, regulations, and capital priorities, the City is better positioned to guide redevelopment while reinforcing the unique character of its downtown districts. The plan also lays the groundwork for a potential ten-year extension of the Downtown Community Redevelopment Area, supporting continued reinvestment, walkability, and economic resilience across downtown, the Sponge Docks, and Greektown.