September 15, 2021

The Metro, an all-studio apartment building, breaks ground in the EDGE District

September 15, 2021/ Samantha Flanagan

The Metro, a seven-story, 100-unit apartment complex featuring fully furnished studio apartments, broke ground last week in downtown St Pete’s highly walkable and in-demand EDGE District. The $9.5 million development at 1st Avenue North and 11th Street North will cater towards city-dwellers who want to be close to the action downtown, but don’t need an abundance of living space.

Studios at The Metro will start at $1,450 per month and will come furnished with a Murphy bed, sofa, coffee table, a wi-fi enabled TV, and a washer and a dryer. As of now, it will be the only fully furnished apartment community in downtown St. Pete.

St. Pete Rising first reported on The Metro in early 2021 after Michigan-based DevMar Development pivoted from their original plan to build an eleven-story Marriott hotel on the 0.44-acre vacant lot. DevMar cited both the challenge of getting hotel financing due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the opportunity to meet newly increasing demand for studio units and car-free living in this part of the city.

July 30, 2021

Revised plans for an expanded Dali Museum are revealed

July 30, 2021/ Samantha Flanagan

After failing to reach an agreement with certain stakeholders on its original plans for expansion, The Dali Museum has submitted a revised proposal to the city, which if approved, will appear as a referendum item on the November 2021 ballot. The entire project could have major impacts for the Center for the Arts Complex, including the Mahaffey Theater.

The Dali Museum’s new plan calls for the construction of a multi-level addition to the southwest side of the existing building that would include 40,000 square feet of expanded exhibit space, virtual reality and artificial intelligence displays, event space, and a full-service restaurant and terrace overlooking the downtown yacht basin. Unlike the original submission, it does not include a new parking garage.

June 30, 2021

20-story residential building planned for 17th Street moves forward

June 30, 2021/ Samantha Flanagan

A 20-story residential tower with retail space fronting the Pinellas Trail is coming to 17th Street South after the St Pete City Council voted unanimously to approve the project.

St Pete Rising first reported on plans for the mixed use development proposed by Mill Creek Residential Trust in March. The approved $80 million project will consist of a 20-story and an 8-story apartment building with 383 rental units, 15,316 square feet of commercial space, and a 475-space parking garage between the Pinellas Trail and 3rd Avenue South adjacent to I-275. The location is at the crossroads of the EDGE, Grand Central, and Warehouse Arts districts and it will be the tallest building in the western half of Downtown to date.

May 28, 2021

13-story mixed-use building planned for St. Pete's EDGE District moves forward

May 28, 2021/ Samantha Flanagan

A thirteen-story mixed-use high-rise that incorporates workforce housing and preserves a portion of the historic building that currently sits on site could soon be coming to 900 Central Avenue in the EDGE District. On Thursday the City streamline approved a Floor Area Ratio (FAR) bonus and a building height bonus which paves the way for the project to move forward.

Locals will recognize the brick building currently on site on the corner of Central Avenue and 1st Ave S as home to Anytime Fitness. Built in 1918, it is the EDGE District’s oldest remaining property and is credited with being pivotal in downtown St Pete’s westward development, but does not have Local Landmark Designation, and preliminary designs submitted to the City last October initially called for the demolition of the building.

May 07, 2021

15-story apartment tower proposed for 1st Avenue North gets approved

May 07, 2021/ Samantha Flanagan

The St Petersburg Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) voted unanimously on Thursday to approve a proposed 15-story development at the southwest corner of 1st Ave North and Dr. MLK Jr. Street in St Pete’s EDGE District, giving the final greenlight to an exciting Opportunity Zone project that has been in the works since late last year.

St. Pete Rising first reported on the proposed development by Belpointe, tentatively referred to as 1000 1st Avenue North, earlier this year.