Local developer Backstreets Capital is proceeding forward with plans to preserve a historically significant property and build a new luxury condo building fronting Mirror Lake in downtown St. Pete.

During a Development Review Commission (DRC) meeting on Wednesday, members unanimously approved a setback variance request for the new project at 250 Mirror Lake Drive North.

The 0.47-acre site is currently home to an 87-year-old building that will be restored into a single-family home. Additionally, a new two-story residence will be built on the northeast corner of the property and an 18-unit condo building will be constructed on the west side of the property on what is currently a vacant lot.

To make the project a reality, Backstreets Capital requested a variance for reduced setbacks on the west and north side of the condominium building above 62 feet. The developer says the variances are needed to preserve the existing historic building on the site.

For the past four years, Backstreets Capital has operated out of a 1920’s-era building across the street from the site at 248 Mirror Lake Drive.

"I've spent the last good portion of the four years staring at the site trying to figure out what to do with it. This is our first time preserving a structure - we have not done this before. The rest of our developments are typically ground up," Backstreets Capital Founder and President Will Conroy said at the meeting.

"This site is like a Rubix's Cube, it's fascinating. Every square foot of the site matters, but we are really proud and happy about [the redevelopment plan]," he said, noting how the team hosted a series of community outreach events and met with preservationists and stakeholders.

Manny Leto, Executive Director of Preserve the Burg, who penned a letter of support for the variance request and spoke at the DRC meeting, said there's been a tremendous amount of growth that has changed the character of Mirror Lake.

"250 Mirror Lake has an active demolition permit...The application before you could look very different, but instead, Backstreets Capital met with city staff, neighbors, preservation architects, and they have crafted a project that not just fits the parcel, but the neighborhood," Leto said.

"This project shows it is possible to develop new and exciting projects in historic neighborhoods .... and create something new while not just honoring the past with a mural or marker, but incorporating the past to create a compelling new development."

The existing two-story 1937-built building, while not listed on the local or national register of historic places, is adorned with a bronze plaque noting the building as being a “contributing structure of the downtown historic district.”

The building was constructed by prominent St. Pete homebuilder Cade Allen, who is most widely known for his stone-clad houses most prominently located in St. Petersburg’s Allendale neighborhood.

The 4,000-square-foot structure is currently used as an office building but was originally built as a single-family home. Backstreets plans on converting it back to residential use as a single-family home. 

Just north of the Cade Allen home, Backstreets plans to build a new two-story detached single-family home inspired by Allen's architectural design.

To make way for the new 2,800-square-foot home, Backstreets plans on demolishing an existing two-story garage and will salvage materials from the garage, including the Cade Allen stone veneer and clay barrel roof tiles, into the construction of the new home. 

Both single-family homes will have separate two-car garages with alley access.

The restoration of the Cade Allen house will begin as soon as possible, likely in early 2025, and will coincide with the construction of the adjacent single-family home.

Pricing for the homes has not been announced but will, according to the developer, reflect the uniqueness of the property.

West of the two single-family homes, there are preliminary plans for a seven-story condominium building named The Cade, paying homage to the work of Cade Allen.

The 18-unit condominium building will be the second phase of the development. Backstreets Capital says the timeline for the building is likely two to four years out and there are no immediate plans to launch sales or break ground.

The proposed building will embody a contemporary architectural style and incorporate Mediterranean Revival elements inspired by the nearby Tomlinson Adult Education Center and BridgePoint Church at the Mirror Lake Lyceum.

The residential building, designed by St. Pete-based Place Architecture, will front Burlington Avenue North and the ground floor will consist of a residential lobby, parking garage, and utility spaces.

In total, the project will have 29 parking spaces and 18 bicycle parking spaces. Additionally, there will be no curb cuts on Mirror Lake Drive or Burlington Avenue North and all parking will be accessed via the alley.

The property is zoned Downtown Center-2 (DC-2) and the project will have a Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 2.8 – below the allowable base FAR of 3.0.

Following the variance approval, Development Review Commission member Todd Reed commended Backstreets Capital for the preservation of the structure and reuse of some of the existing materials for the new home build.