Trails Crossing, a new linear park under I-275 in downtown St. Pete, moves forward after City Council vote

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Trails Crossing, a new linear park under I-275 in downtown St. Pete, moves forward after City Council vote

Four blocks of underutilized space beneath Interstate 275 in downtown St. Pete could be transformed into a new linear park featuring public art and event spaces, creating a destination for pedestrians and cyclists.

In a 7-to-1 vote, City Council approved an agreement on Thursday to contribute $150,000 toward hiring Colorado-based LandDesign, Inc. to kick off the master planning process for Trails Crossing, a walkable, activated park under I-275 that will embrace micro-transit and connect urban neighborhoods—an idea that has been in discussion for years.

“For too long, our community has been physically, socially, and economically divided by infrastructure that was never designed with connectivity in mind,” said John Barkett, a local developer and co-founder of the nonprofit group Friends of Trails Crossing, during Thursday’s meeting.

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Local furniture store Gibson’s on Central opens in the Grand Central District

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Local furniture store Gibson’s on Central opens in the Grand Central District

St. Pete residents hunting for a new couch or dining set and resorting to shopping at giant retailers outside of the area now have a new local option.

With a keen eye for decor, flipping rooms into modern-style spaces with a blend of traditional architecture, local interior designer Tara Gibson has opened her own storefront selling furniture and home accessories in the Grand Central District.

Imported chairs and sofas, Himalayan blankets, rugs, and light fixtures fill the space at 2646 Central Avenue named Gibson's on Central.

The shop, currently open with a planned grand opening on March 8th, was formerly occupied by Salty Roots Salon and Boutique and is directly next to Bandit Coffee.

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Neighborhood Wine Shop to bring artisanal, small-batch wine to the Grand Central District

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Neighborhood Wine Shop to bring artisanal, small-batch wine to the Grand Central District

A new wine shop coming soon to St. Pete’s Grand Central District will offer a curated selection of unique, small-batch artisanal wines not available in big-box stores.

Simply named Neighborhood Wine Shop, the storefront is set to open this April in a 500-square-foot space at 2875 Central Avenue on the ground floor of the Driftwood on Central townhome community.

“St. Pete has plenty of bars but very few retail options for wine. We want to be the go-to shop for residents—whether they’re stopping by on their way home from work or picking up a bottle for a special occasion,” said owner Bryce Kennedy in a conversation with St. Pete Rising. “We’re bringing that hospitality-style service to retail to create a wonderful experience.”

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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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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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