“In an urban environment, one of the biggest deterrents of pedestrian traffic is a vacant lot,” says Jonathan Daou, owner of Eastman Equity, a commercial real estate investment firm.  Daou was able to recognize the EDGE District’s potential before its recent explosion in popularity. 

In 2014, he purchased a 1.5 acre plot of land at 930 Central Avenue for $1.7 million with the desire to renovate the vacant, dilapidated parcels and fill the empty lots that permeated the district.  Since then, Daou has amassed a significant portfolio of properties in the EDGE District with plans of turning the area into the most vibrant, pedestrian-friendly neighborhood in Downtown St. Pete.