February 21, 2025

21-story apartment tower approved near USFSP in downtown St. Pete

February 21, 2025/ Veronica Brezina

A 105-year-old commercial property that greets commuters as they enter the downtown St. Petersburg from I-175 may soon be demolished and redeveloped into a 21-story apartment tower.

On Thursday, the St. Petersburg City Council, meeting as the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), unanimously approved plans to redevelop the property at 446 4th Street South, which currently consists of a surface parking lot and a one-story, 4,984-square-foot office building occupied by Fresenius Kidney Care American Dialysis Center.

The proposed project includes a 21-story mixed-use building with 2,250 square feet of commercial space, 213 residential units, and a 230-space parking garage.

February 20, 2025

Pinellas tourism council supports funding for Morean Arts Center's Chihuly expansion, Palladium Theater renovation, and more

February 20, 2025/ Veronica Brezina

New seating and technology at Clearwater's national and state award-winning softball facility - the Eddie C. Moore Complex, a renovated Palladium Theater in St. Pete, and a new building housing St. Pete's Morean Arts Center and the Chihuly Collection are among the projects vying to receive millions of dollars in tourism funding.

During a Wednesday Pinellas Tourist Development Council (TDC) meeting, members reviewed new proposed projects from some of the most notable cultural and sports tourism destinations competing for funding through the TDC's Capital Project Funding Program.

February 19, 2025

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

February 19, 2025/ Veronica Brezina

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.

February 18, 2025

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

February 18, 2025/ Veronica Brezina

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.

February 14, 2025

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

February 14, 2025/ Veronica Brezina

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.