December 19, 2023

ARK Innovation Center completion marks new era for St. Pete’s entrepreneurial scene

December 19, 2023/ Guest

The long-awaited ARK Innovation Center will officially open next month - creating a first-of-its-kind entrepreneurial hub in Pinellas County.

ARK Invest founder Cathie Wood, St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch, Pinellas County Economic Development Director Cynthia Johnson, among leaders from the Tampa Bay Innovation Center, cut a ribbon Monday morning, celebrating the completion of the 45,000-square-foot facility at 1101 4th Street South.

In the coming months, engineers, data scientists and entrepreneurs will fill the center's empty suites, conference rooms, and 3D-printing, and prototyping studios.

February 23, 2023

Opinion: It’s time to advocate for missing middle zoning

February 23, 2023/ Guest

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, Jillian Bandes, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of St. Pete Rising.

For several years now, we have followed the implementation of NTM-1, a zoning designation that would legalize the construction of two, three, and four-family homes along certain transit corridors.

St. Pete City Staff has started the process of getting approval to apply NTM-1 to the fronts of major corridors. This would affect a small number of parcels – about 3,000.

January 11, 2021

The rise of the MLK Business District and how to connect bifurcated St. Pete districts

January 11, 2021/ Guest

The MLK Business District, particularly the stretch of MLK Jr. St. N between 5th Ave. and 7th Ave. N, is home to some of St. Pete’s favorite shops, restaurants, and places to spend an afternoon. However, it wasn’t always a bustling hub of activity—it’s taken over a decade of hard work from community leaders, business owners, and city officials to curate this district.

John Barkett, MAI, was one of the first business owners to join this area, and he has worked closely with public officials, business owners, and community organizations to curate a district that meets the needs of St. Pete’s residents—and continues to work to evolve the area.

January 06, 2021

Micromobility, a good fit for St Pete!

January 06, 2021/ Guest

Love them or hate them, the scooters have arrived in downtown St. Pete! While it may be too early to say whether this new form of shared transportation is an amenity or a nuisance, they represent only one example of an emerging form of transportation known as micromobility. Cities around the world are scrambling to figure out how to accommodate this growing trend in mobility which has accelerated during the pandemic. Given our great weather and multiple downtown destinations, frequented by residents and tourists alike, St. Petersburg is a natural fit for micromobility. But to fully realize its potential, there is work to be done. We need to rethink and “tame” our car-dominated downtown streets so that all forms of mobility can share the road.

October 13, 2020

How to keep St. Pete local and navigate retail leasing in a post-COVID world

October 13, 2020/ Guest

When thinking about how to continue to support St. Pete’s small businesses during the economic tough times in the aftermath of COVID-19, the average consumer repeats to themselves the phrase we hear so often: ”Shop Local.”

John Barkett, owner of Barkett Realty, a local real estate brokerage firm, has been involved in some of St. Pete’s most successful neighborhoods like The EDGE, Grand Central, and MLK Districts. Barkett has worked hard to ensure their continued success through the pandemic. In order to help keep the vibrancy of these neighborhoods alive, Barkett shares a few words of advice for landlords, brokers, and small business owners who may be dealing with uncertainty during COVID-19.