February 10, 2025

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

February 10, 2025/ Veronica Brezina

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.

January 08, 2025

Local hotelier buys Old Florida hotel property on St. Pete Beach

January 08, 2025/ Veronica Brezina

The 18-key Beach Haven Villas hotel, located on the picturesque shores of St. Pete Beach, now has a new owner—a prominent and well-established local hotelier.

Kevin Bowden, owner of St. Pete Beach's Miramar Resort and Cambria Hotel on Madeira Beach, purchased the Art Deco-styled hotel at 4980 Gulf Boulevard from Beach Haven LLC in a roughly $6.24 million deal. Beach Haven LLC is a local small business whose President is Carolyn Thatcher.

Bowden took out a $4.65 million mortgage loan from St. Pete-based real estate specialty finance firm Directed Capital in the transaction.

December 10, 2024

Upscale rooftop bar and restaurant Sparrow sets opening date in the EDGE District

December 10, 2024/ Veronica Brezina

An expansive new rooftop bar and Asian-fusion restaurant with a 1960s retro vibe is making its debut at the newly opened Moxy Hotel by Marriott in St. Pete's EDGE District.

The 4,000-square-foot Sparrow is nestled on the top of the boutique hotel at 1234 Central Avenue, will open to the public on Friday December 20th.

Jake Wurzak, president of Wurzak Hotel Group, which manages the 163-key Moxy Hotel, describes Sparrow as an upscale bar “but not a velvet-rope kind of vibe,” adding, “we are bringing it to St. Pete because it has been so successful in Fort Lauderdale. And we think a lot of what we did in Fort Lauderdale will do fantastic in St. Pete. We're making some additional enhancements, as well.”

November 25, 2024

13-story hotel and apartment building proposed for St. Pete's Grand Central District

November 25, 2024/ Veronica Brezina

A 13-story building featuring 60 apartments and 60 short-term rentals is slated for the 10,000-square-foot property at 1663 1st Avenue South in downtown St. Pete.

The St. Petersburg City Council, meeting as the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), unanimously approved the plans on Thursday, finding it consistent with the Intown West Redevelopment Plan (IWRP).

The plan will go before the Development Review Commission on December 4th.

The property is currently developed with a commercial building that was previously the home of Sunshine Kitty Catfe, Tampa Bay’s first cat café which debuted in 2019, and the Dolman Law Group, which has an office in Clearwater.