August 07, 2018

A 25-story residential tower is proposed for 2nd Street in Downtown St. Pete

August 07, 2018/ Anthony Close

It’s getting difficult to keep up with all of the new development happening in Downtown St. Petersburg, FL. From new residential projects being announced to new dessert eateries opening, there’s never a shortage of exciting news about the future of our downtown.

Yesterday we reported on a conceptual plan for a 150,000 square foot office development which could potentially bring 300 new jobs to Downtown St. Petersburg and transform the 800 block of 1st Avenue South. And just last week it was announced that ONE St. Petersburg, a 41-story condo building under construction at 100 1st Avenue North, has sold out -- six months before completion.

Building off of ONE St. Petersburg’s success, a new residential tower could soon rise less than a half mile away at the corner of 3rd Avenue North and 2nd Street North where the Sundial valet parking lot and retailer Fit 2 Run currently sits.

August 06, 2018

Downtown St. Pete may see its first significant office development in 12 years

August 06, 2018/ Anthony Close

Downtown St. Pete may get its first new office building in nearly three decades if the city accepts an offer from UPC Insurance to expand it’s headquarter’s to a lot along 1st Avenue South. The city has long discussed offering Jabil this site in an attempt to lure them into building a new corporate headquarters in Downtown St. Pete. However, when Jabil ultimately chose to rebuild and expand its existing office complex in North St. Pete, UPC took notice and began exploring plans of their own.

On July 19, 2018, the City of St. Pete received a letter from UPC Insurance stating their desire and intent to acquire the entire 800 block of 1st Avenue South for the purposes of constructing and occupying a new corporate headquarters.

UPC Insurance currently owns a 42,000 square foot building across the street at 800 2nd Avenue South, which formerly housed the Downtown St. Pete AAA office, as well as a smaller 8,000 square foot building at 724 2nd Avenue South. They also currently lease a parking lot from the city which is adjacent to their 800 2nd Avenue South building.

July 17, 2018

Nitally’s Thai-Mex finds a new home…and it’s not in St. Pete

July 17, 2018/ Brian Zucker

Back in May, the owners of Nitally’s took to Facebook to announce the closure of their popular Thai-Mex fusion restaurant at 2462 Central Avenue in Downtown St. Pete. News traveled quickly thanks to Nitally’s cult-like following. After all, where else in town can you go to get a green curry burrito or panang mole?

Owners Nit Jintaseranee and Ally Valdez have spent the last 10 years building an audience for their own brand of cuisine. But unfortunately for them, the decision to shut down was out of their hands. Their building had been sold and the new owners chose to go in a different direction.

June 05, 2018

Ice Cream and Booze Collide at Beans and Barlour, Coming to Downtown St Pete

June 05, 2018/ Brian Zucker

I might be in trouble. Two of my favorite indulgences are about to make a head-on collision — ice cream and alcohol. In a first for Tampa Bay, a brand new craft coffee bar and dessert lounge is bringing alcohol-infused ice cream to Downtown St Pete’s Central Arts District.

Beans & Barlour (yes, Barlour) will be located at 538 1st Avenue North, flanked by St. Pete Brewing Company and Angelo’s Grill and Bar. The new restaurant concept is being brought to life by Story Stuart, former owner of Story Brooke Craft Coffee Bar in the Old Southeast, and business partner Steve Bliven.

“The food scene downtown is booming right now with new restaurants opening on what seems like a weekly basis,” says Stuart. “We saw a huge opportunity to compliment them with a dessert concept that is brand new to the Tampa Bay Area.”

May 15, 2018

St. Pete’s Coast Bike Share Gains Momentum In Year Two

May 15, 2018/ Anthony Close

In 2015, St. Pete had a vision to bring bike share to downtown and nearly two years later, in February 2017, a blue fleet of 300 bikes launched at over 30 stations. But seeing bike share come to fruition was no easy feat. It took months of outreach and hours of public input to develop a system that was right for St. Pete.

Now, with one year of service under its belt, Coast is moving full steam ahead, and is using data from its first year of operations to improve and better serve the community. Last week, Coast presented its One Year Report to City Council and revealed some of the numbers behind the operation.