Inside The Nolen, a 23-story luxury condo tower, as it nears completion in downtown St. Pete

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Inside The Nolen, a 23-story luxury condo tower, as it nears completion in downtown St. Pete

Soaring 23 stories above downtown St. Pete, The Nolen is putting the final polish on its exclusive collection of 31 high-end condominiums.

The development team is preparing to welcome its first wave of residents by the end of May.

The Nolen, located at 126 4th Avenue Northeast, is being developed by Tampa-based DDA Development—led by Bowen Arnold and John Schilling—and St. Pete-based Backstreets Capital, led by Will Conroy.

“We’re working through our punch list with the crew, architects, and engineers. Once that’s complete, we’ll issue buyers a 10-day closing notice and conduct walk-throughs with them. We expect to close on about three units per day,” said Bowen Arnold, principal at DDA Development, in a conversation with St. Pete Rising.

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Slim Charmer, a new martini bar from the owners of Wild Child, opens in the Grand Central District

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Slim Charmer, a new martini bar from the owners of Wild Child, opens in the Grand Central District

Nestled in a charming 1940s building, a New York–style cocktail parlor and tasting room has arrived in St. Petersburg, offering martinis and eclectic small plates.

From Matt Kaye and Rob Reinsmith—the duo behind the popular Wild Child restaurant—comes Slim Charmer, an intimate, 26-seat martini lounge located next to Wild Child’s patio at 2706 Central Avenue in the Grand Central District.

Kaye hopes the 800-square-foot space, named after a former nickname for his wife, will stand out as an innovative destination where guests can savor the unexpected and explore flavors not found elsewhere.

Both the food and drink menu will rotate frequently based on the season and available ingredients.

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144-unit affordable apartment community proposed for Largo

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144-unit affordable apartment community proposed for Largo

A Santa Monica, CA-based developer plans to convert a vacant site in Largo's Pinellas Groves community into a 144-unit affordable apartment complex.

Named Olea on 126, the project will include three four-story residential buildings at 6727 126th Avenue North, with units designated for residents earning between 40% and 80% of the area median income (AMI).

The community will offer surface parking and amenities such as a clubhouse, park area, and covered patio.

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Inside Elliott Aster, The Vinoy’s new signature restaurant opening mid-May

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Inside Elliott Aster, The Vinoy’s new signature restaurant opening mid-May

The Vinoy Resort & Golf Club, a landmark on downtown St. Petersburg’s waterfront, is set to unveil its new signature restaurant, Elliott Aster, in mid-May. This opening marks the completion of the first phase of an extensive renovation of the historic hotel.

Located at 501 5th Avenue Northeast, The Vinoy has been a defining feature of downtown St. Petersburg since its construction in 1925. Owned by Bryan and Shanna Glazer—who also own the Tampa Bay Buccaneers—the hotel has undergone a comprehensive renovation aimed at modernizing its amenities while preserving its historic charm.

The Glazers purchased the property for $188.5 million in 2018 and embarked on a transformation that included updates to the hotel’s veranda, porte-cochère, lobby, guest rooms, spa, and restaurants. Additionally, The Vinoy was rebranded as part of the Marriott Autograph Collection.

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St. Pete approves $22.5 million to repair Tropicana Field roof

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St. Pete approves $22.5 million to repair Tropicana Field roof

The City of St. Petersburg is moving forward with extensive renovations and repairs to make Tropicana Field playable for the Tampa Bay Rays in 2026.

In October 2024, Hurricane Milton's powerful winds shredded the stadium's fabric roof, allowing rain to pour into the venue. As a result, the stadium sustained significant water and wind damage, rendering it unusable.

In addition to damaging the roof, the storm also compromised critical infrastructure, audiovisual equipment, and the turf field.

Due to the extent of the damage, the Tampa Bay Rays will play their 2025 season at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa.

City officials are hoping to have Tropicana Field ready for baseball in time for the 2026 season. In the meantime, due to the extent of the damage to the Trop, the Tampa Bay Rays will play their 2025 season at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa.

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