Historic Vinoy Hotel Must Receive Voter Approval For Expansion Plans

Historic Vinoy Hotel Must Receive Voter Approval For Expansion Plans

There has been a lot of discussion recently surrounding St. Pete’s downtown waterfront, especially regarding the new St. Pete Pier and Pier District, which is set to begin construction next Wednesday June 28th. Because of the unique nature of St. Pete’s waterfront park system, there are protections in place to guarantee it remains an asset for generations. Specifically, there are certain restrictions and approvals required for new development along the waterfront.

One of the gems along our waterfront park system is the historic Vinoy Hotel, a pink Mediterranean Revival-style palace built in 1925 that has hosted celebrities such as Babe Ruth and Presidents such as Calvin Coolidge and Herbert Hoover. 

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Good Gravy! Maple Street Biscuit Co. Opening in Downtown St. Pete

Good Gravy! Maple Street Biscuit Co. Opening in Downtown St. Pete

Comfort food enthusiasts, rejoice — Maple Street Biscuit Co. has their sights set on Downtown St. Pete.  The popular biscuit joint plans to open around year’s end at 662 Central Avenue, currently home to The Local 662.

Earlier this week, a majority of the 600 block’s south side was acquired by Tricera Capital from Miami.  The new owners plan to make significant streetscape improvements to the building.  However, despite the promised upgrades, rising rents have some residents concerned that smaller businesses may be forced to move to other parts of town. Consequently, neighborhoods such as the Grand Central District and the Fringe District (located on 9th St) have recently exploded in popularity due to their affordability.

Maple Street is most known for their signature biscuit sandwiches, offering ten unique creations on their menu.  The most popular is The Squawking Goat, a flaky buttery biscuit sandwich with an all-natural fried chicken breast, a fried goat cheese medallion, and house-made pepper jelly. 

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New St. Pete Pier Moves Forward With Construction Set to Begin this Month

New St. Pete Pier Moves Forward With Construction Set to Begin this Month

Throughout St. Pete’s history, the public pier has always been a waterfront destination. From the “Railroad Pier” to the “Million Dollar Pier” and the famed “Inverted Pyramid”, the history of the pier runs nearly as deep as the city’s.

The most recent iteration of the St. Pete Pier, the Inverted Pyramid, closed its doors to the public for the last time on May 31, 2013. Since then, there has been a long, often controversial, pier replacement process that involved public forums and information sessions, a dramatic citizen referendum, and of course, a lot of emotion.

Now, exactly four years later, St. Pete enters a new chapter in its pier history. On Wednesday—May 31st, 2017—the city officially received a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to begin construction on the new St. Pete Pier.  This was the final permit needed before construction could begin.

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Check Us Out in Green Bench Monthly!

Check Us Out in Green Bench Monthly!

Whether it's the opening of a new restaurant or the announcement of another apartment tower, one thing is for certain -- Downtown St. Pete is constantly changing.  While we would love to provide in-depth coverage of everything that is on the horizon for our beautiful city, there is simply not enough time in the day! 

This is why we've decided to team up with our friends at Green Bench Monthly, St. Pete's direct-mail community magazine.  Starting with the May issue, we will publish a monthly column called Downtown Developments, highlighting all of the latest news that never made it onto our homepage.  Be the first to find out about future retail, restaurants, and real estate in Downtown St. Pete.

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11-Story Apartment Tower To Rise Near St. Pete’s EDGE District

11-Story Apartment Tower To Rise Near St. Pete’s EDGE District

A well-respected developer from Michigan has unveiled plans to build an 11-story apartment tower just outside of Downtown St. Pete’s trendy EDGE District.  DevMar Development is in the process of assembling 1.9 acres of land located at the corner of 16th Street and 1st Avenue North.  With the exception of a small car wash, a majority of the land has been sitting vacant for over a decade.

The mixed-use building, dubbed First North Lofts, is a collaboration between Mark DeMaria, CEO of DevMar Development, Jonathan Daou, a local real estate investor, the project’s architects, and local consultants.  DeMaria brings over 20 years of multi-family development expertise and Daou contributes his retail experience into this collaborative tailor-made project specifically designed for St. Pete.

The development will be perfectly flanked by two of St. Pete’s most desirable neighborhoods — the EDGE District and the Grand Central District.  In either direction, residents will be steps away from hundreds of restaurants, bars, art galleries, and coffee shops.  

However, if residents are so inclined, they wouldn’t really have to leave the property.  First North Lofts, which DeMaria describes as “an urban resort at an affordable cost”, will provide a wealth of attractive amenities.

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