Developers pitch ideas to transform two sites in Downtown St. Pete

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Developers pitch ideas to transform two sites in Downtown St. Pete

Over the past few months, several groups have been in the running to redevelop two centrally located city-owned properties in Downtown St. Pete. The first lies directly on Central Avenue at the northeast corner of 4th Street while the second sits on 2nd Avenue North between 4th Street and 5th Street. The property at Central Avenue and 4th Street is currently home to the City of St. Petersburg’s Municipal Services Center (MSC), an 11-story office building which contains city services such as the planning department, code enforcement, and parking management, among others.

The existing MSC has outstanding deferred maintenance and late last year the City received an unsolicited proposal from Property Markets Group (PMG) to buy the Central Avenue property for $13M. Pursuant to Florida law, the City cannot sell City-owned property without first soliciting offers from other potential buyers.

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LALA's to bring private karaoke experience to Downtown St. Pete

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LALA's to bring private karaoke experience to Downtown St. Pete

Karaoke night will soon be every night at LALA St. Pete, a new restaurant, bar, and karaoke box opening at 2324 Central Avenue in the Grand Central District of St. Petersburg.

The 4,500 square foot concept will feature two floors of restaurant space with an indoor capacity of 175 seats. There will also be seven private karaoke rooms, a rooftop bar, and courtyard space which will be shared with the neighboring Grand Central Brewhouse.

Karaoke rooms, or karaoke boxes, got their start in Japan in the 1980’s. Instead of singing in a public space, such as a crowded bar, friends convened in private rooms to belt out their favorite hits. Private karaoke rooms are still most popular in Asian countries, but have recently started to gain popularity in Canada, Europe and the United States.

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What can Downtown St. Pete learn from European cities?

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What can Downtown St. Pete learn from European cities?

St. Petersburg seems to be getting a lot of attention these days. And why shouldn’t it? We live in a city with good parks and trails, easy access to water, a bayfront downtown, and funky Central Avenue to tie it all together. And all of this without much traffic thanks to the well-connected street grid. Even though the city, and especially the downtown and Central Avenue, have made great strides in the last 5-10 years (as the long-time locals keep reminding me), the urban planner in me is always looking for ways to make a good thing better. And while some hesitate to look across the Atlantic for inspiration, I find there is much to learn from European cities and their immersive urban environments, especially as it relates to the downtown area.

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Owner of The Bends opening new restaurant in the Grand Central District

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Owner of The Bends opening new restaurant in the Grand Central District

The Grand Central District continues to be one of the fastest growing neighborhoods in St. Petersburg. It seems like each week we are hearing about a new restaurant, bar, or apartment community coming soon to the district which is located just west of downtown.

Earlier this week, we spoke with Matt Kaye, lifelong local and owner of the classiest dive bar in St. Pete -- The Bends. After eight years of being a bar owner, he has teamed up with the former Executive Chef of Noble Crust, Rob Reinsmith, to launch Wild Child, a vibrant neighborhood bistro built on seasonal ingredients and warm hospitality.

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Proposed zoning changes in the Warehouse Arts District could spur redevelopment

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Proposed zoning changes in the Warehouse Arts District could spur redevelopment

Each neighborhood in St. Petersburg has its own unique identity and vibe. From Beach Drive and the downtown core to the Grand Central District, Warehouse Arts District, and the Deuces – each area has its own personality and is in a different stage of revitalization. Many of these districts depend on their connection to other neighborhoods to prosper.

This is why place making is so important and why the City of St. Pete has spent so much time and money creating master plans for many of our neighborhoods.

Back in 2018, the City and a number of other community partners developed the Warehouse Arts District / Deuces Live Joint Action Plan.

This plan largely focused on the 22nd Street South Corridor and the plan’s recommendations included streetscaping improvements, activating the Pinellas Trail, and incorporating more art in the district.

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Dry cleaning is coming soon to Central Ave and why you should be thrilled

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Dry cleaning is coming soon to Central Ave and why you should be thrilled

I have really exciting news to report. Central Cleaners is coming soon to 790 Central Avenue, which was formerly home to the St. Pete Sculpture Experience. They’ll be offering dry cleaning services with reasonable rates, pick-up and drop-off services, alterations, shoe repair, and retail items such as clothing and shoe-related maintenance items.

Wait a second…you aren’t as excited as I am about a dry cleaner coming soon? I guess I’m not surprised, but let me explain why I think you should be just as thrilled.

There’s a concept called ‘placemaking’. Simply put, placemaking is an urban design approach that puts the community front and center. It’s the idea that a successful downtown should blend residential, commercial, office, cultural and civic uses. The most well known neighborhoods around the world utilize aspects of the placemaking approach to make their communities prosper.

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Doormét to bring delivery-focused gourmet cuisine to Downtown St. Pete

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Doormét to bring delivery-focused gourmet cuisine to Downtown St. Pete

For as long as I can remember, the 600 block of Central Avenue has been a destination. Years ago, the block was home to a crowd of grungy bars and music venues. Today it’s become more of a foodie destination, with recent additions like Pacific Counter, Maple Street Biscuit Company, and Brass Bowl.

Earlier this week, we learned of another food concept that cannot wait to join the 600 block food scene. Doormét, a delivery-focused gourmet café, recently signed a lease at 681 Central Avenue, formerly home to Amigos Tortilla Bar. Joe Esposito of KW Realty St. Pete was the tenant representative in the deal.

Doormét (a portmanteau of ‘door’ and ‘gourmet’) has been a staple in Tampa for over 10 years and owner Jim Huss has finally decided to bring the beloved restaurant across the pond to St. Pete.

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PSTA reveals name for St. Pete's bus rapid transit project

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PSTA reveals name for St. Pete's bus rapid transit project

A planned bus rapid transit (BRT) project, which will link Downtown St. Petersburg and St. Pete Beach, is taking another step forward with the reveal of branding and a catchy name inspired by the areas it will connect. Dubbed the “SunRunner,” the project will be the first bus rapid transit line in the Tampa Bay region and is also the first local project to receive funding from the federal Capital Investment Grant (CIG) program.

Bus rapid transit is a form of bus service that features limited stops and more frequent service. The SunRunner BRT line will travel in semi-dedicated lanes and will have signal priority at certain intersections. A trip from Downtown St. Pete to the beach is expected to take under 35 minutes.

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The 26-acre St Pete Pier district opens with restaurants and activities abound

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The 26-acre St Pete Pier district opens with restaurants and activities abound

It’s fascinating to think about how long the new St. Pete Pier has been in discussion. The first conversations began way back in 2004, when the City of St. Petersburg found that the pier structure’s upkeep cost too much and could no longer be funded. As a result, a new pier would have to replace the existing inverted pyramid pier.

Do you remember where you were in 2004? The President of the United States was George W. Bush and Barack Obama was still a little-known State Senator from Illinois. The top grossing movie of 2004 was Shrek 2. The top song of the year was Usher’s “Yeah!” featuring Lil Jon and Ludacris. And the founder of St. Pete Rising, Anthony Close, was in 5th grade.

Downtown St. Petersburg has also a changed significantly since 2004. Many of Beach Drive’s soaring condo towers hadn’t been erected yet, including Ovation, Parkshore Plaza, 400 Beach, and Signature Place. The Chihuly Experience wouldn’t open for another six years, The Dali Museum for another seven.

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Driftwood on Central to bring mixed-use townhomes to St. Pete's Grand Central District

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Driftwood on Central to bring mixed-use townhomes to St. Pete's Grand Central District

There was a time not too long ago that the Grand Central District was largely known for legacy shops like Haslam’s Book Store and antique stores. While great, many people, including some locals, considered the Grand Central District an afterthought behind the bustling downtown core. But a lot has changed in the past few years, and recently, new businesses have brought new energy to the area.

While the district is still much quieter than the downtown core, the Grand Central District has come into an identity of its own with trendy coffee shops like Black Crow and Bandit, and unique bars like Trophy Fish and Dog Bar. Bolstered by a demand of retail space, the district has also seen an increase in new residential and commercial development. In essence, the Grand Central District has become a destination in its own right.

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