1st Ave S Retail

This quarter was packed full of groundbreakings!  After over a decade of planning, construction has finally commenced on the new St. Pete pier. Construction crews have started driving piles into Tampa Bay to support the over-water portion of the pier.  It will take 6 months to complete the pile driving process, however construction on the pier deck is scheduled to begin as early as October.

In other groundbreaking news, located on Fourth Avenue North between Third and Fourth streets, the Museum of the American Arts of Crafts Movement site was fenced off this quarter for site preparation.  The $70 million privately funded museum will occupy 137,000 square feet and stand 5 stories tall. The museum will include a 100-seat auditorium, a resource library, a children's education center, a 300-seat upscale restaurant, a cafe, retail store and event space. The expected opening date is May 2019.

The fourth quarter of 2016 saw an enormous amount of progress on many of Downtown St. Pete's active developments.  The demolition of the "cheese grater" building at 400 Central Ave concluded.  The Rowdies launched an official campaign to join the MLS, which included an expanded Al Lang Stadium.  A new site plan was approved for 801 Central, which now includes a 15 and 7-story apartment building and ground-level retail.

Also, a few projects broke ground including Bainbridge 930 Central Flats, and retail along 1st Ave S that will house an Orangetheory Fitness and a yet-to-be-determined restaurant.  

Additionally, AER Apartments and The Hermitage Apartment Homes started leasing, which helped to relieve the extremely low apartment occupancy rates that Downtown St. Pete has grown accustomed to over the past few years. 

Looking to the future, we should see the groundbreaking of a few notable projects this coming quarter including The Brownstones, 801 Conway, The District on 9th, and the Museum of the American Arts and Crafts Movement.

Lastly, be sure to check out Downtown St. Pete's first, second, and third quarter development updates of 2016 to see how your favorite projects have progressed!

Even through times of recession, when many storefronts became shuttered and vacant, Central Avenue has always been Downtown St. Pete’s major commercial corridor. However, in the wake of Downtown St. Pete’s economic renaissance, many new businesses have opened and flourished throughout downtown — most prominently along Central Avenue.

It’s simple supply and demand.  As more businesses continue to move into the neighborhood, that leaves less vacant space for future retail tenants.  As a result, retailers and restaurants are beginning to branch out from Central Ave and consider the streets adjacent to it.  One such street is 1st Avenue S.