A grocery store in downtown Bradenton? Manatee County has plan to make it happen
A new development could bring housing, more parking spaces and possibly a grocery store, to the heart of downtown Bradenton.
Manatee County recently opened an invitation to negotiate (ITN) for its cluster of downtown properties, including the seven-story public parking garage and the county employee fitness center. County officials are looking for a project that includes things like a grocery store, housing units, a new fitness center and the ability to integrate public transit.
Over the next several weeks, developers are asked to submit plans to purchase and redevelop the property with a mix of those requested features.
The properties up for negotiation total about 1.67 acres and include 414 10th St. W., 1002 Manatee Ave. W., 1007 Fourth Ave. W., 1009 Fourth Ave. W. and 1001 Fourth Ave. W. The county administration building is not included in the possible redevelopment.
“The project is designed to create a vibrant, integrated community space that combines parking, residential, commercial and recreational facilities,” the ITN states.
Manatee seeks garage redevelopment plan
Manatee County Commissioner Tal Siddique, whose district includes downtown Bradenton, said one of the main reasons behind the invitation is the condition of the parking garage, which was built in 1989.
“It’s not in any immediate danger of collapse,” he said. “But there are a lot of questions that we have to ask about the condition.”
According to the county’s capital improvement plan, the garage is “showing signs of deterioration due to aging and continuous water intrusion.” A 2023 cost estimate to replace the garage was around $84 million.
But now, Siddique said the county is open to exploring another option — selling the property to be redeveloped for downtown.
“I think it doesn’t make sense for the county to invest that much money for what is ultimately going to benefit the City of Bradenton,” Siddique said. “When I looked at this problem again, I thought we should go to the market and see what ideas come back.”
A parking garage would be required for any new development. The ITN says proposals must include at least 407 parking spaces for complex staff, 28 spaces for the Hampton Inn and 190 spaces for public use.
Overall, the county would prefer the redevelopment to include 2,000 parking spaces. The existing garage has 625 spaces, according to the ITN.
Redevelopment could draw Bradenton grocery store
The ITN will close on Oct. 9 and, until then, developers can submit proposals to the county. Siddique hopes the project can draw interest across the state and perhaps the country.
Siddique said the project presents a “unique redevelopment opportunity” with a location in the heart of downtown.
While housing is anticipated to be a main driver of the redevelopment, Siddique said he hopes proposals try to hit the “elusive target” of downtown Bradenton — a grocery store.
The county will likely collaborate with the City of Bradenton’s Community Redevelopment Agency, which offers incentives for redevelopers aiming to enhance the quality of life in Bradenton and bolster economic growth.
“We’re anxious to see what comes from the ITN when it all gets done,” Bradenton Mayor Gene Brown said.
Brown said a grocery store has been difficult to secure because there haven’t been enough people living in the downtown area to warrant one. However, he sees the demographic changing with new housing developments like the planned The Vias complex along the Manatee River and luxury apartments near Wares Creek on the horizon.
“With all the developments that are happening, they’re starting to get more numbers,” Brown said. “I think that’s going to be part of the component, because we do need a grocery store downtown somewhere.”
Siddique said he hopes the Board of County Commissioners and county staff can review proposals in late fall or early 2026.
