{"id":522,"date":"2026-05-14T12:34:50","date_gmt":"2026-05-14T12:34:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tampamovingjournal.com\/?p=522"},"modified":"2026-05-14T12:34:50","modified_gmt":"2026-05-14T12:34:50","slug":"taxpayers-on-the-hook-85m-florida-city-hall-opens-after-delays-surprise-500k-fix","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tampamovingjournal.com\/?p=522","title":{"rendered":"Taxpayers on the hook? $85M Florida city hall opens after delays, surprise $500K fix"},"content":{"rendered":"

LARGO, Fla.<\/strong> – <\/span>After more than a year of delays and mounting frustration from city leaders, Largo\u2019s new City Hall is now set to open to the public next week.<\/p>

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The building, part of the $85 million Horizon West Bay development, will officially open its doors at 8 a.m. on May 19, bringing city services into a new downtown location.<\/p>

The opening follows months of setbacks, including a controversial $500,000 change order approved in March to fix basic code compliance issues required for the building to open.<\/p>

What we know:<\/p>

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City officials said the last-minute fixes were needed to meet occupancy requirements, including changes to fire systems and emergency signage.<\/p>

Those issues sparked sharp criticism during a city commission meeting on March 3, where some leaders questioned how such fundamental safety items were missed so late in construction.<\/p>

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City staff said the problems surfaced during final inspections and had to be addressed before the building could open.<\/p>

Without the fixes, officials said, the building would not have been cleared for occupancy.<\/p>

The project\u2019s opening has been pushed back more than a year due to construction challenges and hurricane-related delays.<\/p>

What Will Be At The New Town Hall?<\/h2>

The new City Hall is part of a larger mixed-use development designed to anchor downtown Largo.<\/p>

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The 87,000-square-foot facility will house key city services, including building, permitting and planning.<\/p>

The site also includes:<\/p>