Revised plan approved for apartment tower on Mirror Lake in downtown St. Pete

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Revised plan approved for apartment tower on Mirror Lake in downtown St. Pete

A planned apartment tower on the southwest edge of downtown St. Pete’s Mirror Lake neighborhood has been approved for increased height and additional units.

The initial plan, which was approved by the Development Review Commission in January 2023, called for a 21-story 200-unit apartment tower with 10,843 square feet of retail space and a 264-space parking garage at 699 1st Avenue North.

The new proposal is for a 23-story, 218-unit apartment tower with 11,193 square feet of retail space and a 274-space parking garage.

The properties, which Gravel Road Partners purchased in March 2022 for $6.4 million, include the parcels at 685, 694, and 699 1st Avenue North and are currently occupied by two vacant office buildings, a vacant triplex, and a surface parking lot.  

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Downtown St. Pete sports bar The Avenue to close after 13 years

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Downtown St. Pete sports bar The Avenue to close after 13 years

Beloved downtown St. Pete restaurant and bar The Avenue will permanently close its doors this weekend after 13 years in business.

In a conversation with St. Pete Rising, owner Stephen Schrutt says his lease at 330 1st Avenue South is ending soon and he was not able to come to terms on a new lease with his landlord. The Avenue will not relocate.

The downtown neighborhood burger joint and sports bar will host a “Last Call” party on Saturday, February 22nd, for customers to raise a glass one last time before the final goodbye.

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Sales launch for Clemmons Court, a luxury single-family home community in St. Pete's Grand Central District

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Sales launch for Clemmons Court, a luxury single-family home community in St. Pete's Grand Central District

Sales have launched for an urban enclave of four luxury single family homes coming soon to the Grand Central District.

Clemmons Court will soon rise at 2550 1st Avenue North within just steps away from Central Avenue and within walking distance of popular St. Pete businesses such as Pete’s Bagels, Bandit Coffee, Pin on Grand, Wild Child, Baba, and Casita Taqueria.

The project is being brought to life by an all-local team led by Will Conroy of Backstreets Capital, who has enlisted the help of Tim Clemmons of Place Architecture, Fox Building Group, and local real estate agent Tess Mullinax of Compass.

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Parisian-style bistro Cognac opens in downtown St. Pete, serving classic French fare

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Parisian-style bistro Cognac opens in downtown St. Pete, serving classic French fare

The owners behind the upscale Bacchus Wine Bistro near Beach Drive, Christophe Guillot and Philippe Challeau, have debuted their newest dining destination in downtown St. Pete — Cognac.

The Parisian-style bistro opened earlier this month at 201 2nd Avenue North, occupying the space formerly home to Dirty Shirley, which closed less than a year after opening in 2023.

Cognac offers a menu inspired by traditional French cuisine, featuring dishes such as caviar and Croque Madame, along with a bar specializing in craft cocktails.

“Cognac will be like walking into a bistro in Paris. People can enjoy traditional dishes such as steak frites, escargot, and different cognac selections,” Guillot said in a previous conversation with St. Pete Rising.

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13-story hybrid hotel and apartment project approved for downtown St. Pete

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13-story hybrid hotel and apartment project approved for downtown St. Pete

A 13-story building featuring 60 apartments and 60 hotel rooms has been approved for downtown St. Pete’s Grand Central District despite concerns.

Last week, the St. Petersburg Development Review Commission unanimously approved a site plan for the $22 million project expected to rise at 1663 1st Avenue South.

The property is currently developed with a commercial building that was previously home to Sunshine Kitty Catfe, Tampa Bay’s first cat café which closed in 2023, and Dolman Law Group.

The new project, proposed by Tampa-based BendinRoad Development in partnership with Landings Real Estate Group, is a significant shift from the developer’s initial vision to create an 8-story 97-unit apartment building, which was previously approved in 2023.

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