The rise of the MLK Business District and how to connect bifurcated St. Pete districts

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The rise of the MLK Business District and how to connect bifurcated St. Pete districts

The MLK Business District, particularly the stretch of MLK Jr. St. N between 5th Ave. and 7th Ave. N, is home to some of St. Pete’s favorite shops, restaurants, and places to spend an afternoon. However, it wasn’t always a bustling hub of activity—it’s taken over a decade of hard work from community leaders, business owners, and city officials to curate this district.

John Barkett, MAI, was one of the first business owners to join this area, and he has worked closely with public officials, business owners, and community organizations to curate a district that meets the needs of St. Pete’s residents—and continues to work to evolve the area.

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Belpointe proposes 15-story, 256-unit development for St. Pete’s EDGE District

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Belpointe proposes 15-story, 256-unit development for St. Pete’s EDGE District

A new multifamily building has been proposed for the EDGE District in downtown St. Pete.

In October 2020, Belpointe, which invests in opportunity zones, closed on 1.6 acres at 1000 1st Avenue North for $12 million. The site is currently home to two small vacant office buildings, two surface parking lots and the former Shirley Ann Hotel, which has been vacant for three years.

Belpointe has announced plans for a development tentatively being referred to as 1000 1st Avenue North featuring two, 11-story apartment towers with a combined 256 rental units. The residential buildings will sit atop a four-story, pedestrian base that features 23,000 square feet of ground floor retail and 4,400 square feet of space for a leasing office and two resident lobbies.

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Micromobility, a good fit for St Pete!

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Micromobility, a good fit for St Pete!

Love them or hate them, the scooters have arrived in downtown St. Pete! While it may be too early to say whether this new form of shared transportation is an amenity or a nuisance, they represent only one example of an emerging form of transportation known as micromobility. Cities around the world are scrambling to figure out how to accommodate this growing trend in mobility which has accelerated during the pandemic. Given our great weather and multiple downtown destinations, frequented by residents and tourists alike, St. Petersburg is a natural fit for micromobility. But to fully realize its potential, there is work to be done. We need to rethink and “tame” our car-dominated downtown streets so that all forms of mobility can share the road.

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Hatchet Hangout to bring 15 lanes of indoor axe throwing to the Grand Central District

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Hatchet Hangout to bring 15 lanes of indoor axe throwing to the Grand Central District

Calling all lumberjacks and lumberjills! Get ready to don your red and black flannels and pick up a throwing axe. A 15-lane axe throwing venue and lounge is coming soon to Central Avenue.

Hatchet Hangout will be located at 2360 Central Avenue in the Grand Central District. The 3,800 square foot building was formerly home to Shamie and Sons Auto Repair before it was purchased for $700,000 in June 2019 by Michael Andoniades. Andoniades also owns the Mari Jean Hotel across the street, which is home to Sophia's Cucina + Enoteca and The Saint, as well as the popular Hollander Hotel in downtown St. Pete.

Hatchet Hangout is being brought to the Sunshine City by Andrew Nawoichik, who also owns a variety of other Tampa Bay businesses including Central Avenue Vapors at 1610 Central Avenue. Nawoichik has commissioned local muralists, The Vitale Bros, who were hard at work last week painting the interior walls of the space.

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74-unit apartment building proposed for 17th Street in downtown St. Pete

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74-unit apartment building proposed for 17th Street in downtown St. Pete

Another infill apartment building that is seeking to take advantage of recent changes to the City’s parking code will go before Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) on January 7th.

Developer Tony Zhukovskyi is proposing a 74-unit development at 200 17th Street North. The building will be located less than a block away from the two other apartment buildings he recently proposed at 1750 2nd Avenue North and 1735 1st Avenue North.

In September 2019, St. Pete City Council approved a package of Land Development Regulation (LDR) changes in an effort to help reduce the cost of building housing in the city. The package of code changes was just one prong in a multifaceted approach to help address housing affordability in the Sunshine City.

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204-unit apartment building proposed for Central Avenue in west St. Pete

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204-unit apartment building proposed for Central Avenue in west St. Pete

When Gallery 3100, a 122-unit apartment building, broke ground earlier this year at 3100 Central Avenue, it marked the farthest west new multifamily development had reached since the revitalization of Central Avenue began. Located just a few blocks from 34th Street, many wondered if, or when, new development would leap over U.S. 19 and expand to west St. Petersburg. Well, it appears the westward spread will continue.

Local real estate firm DDA Development is proposing a four-story, 204-unit multifamily development on the 6000 block of Central Avenue in west St. Pete. DDA, which is led by Bowen Arnold and John Schilling, closed on the land last Friday in a $5.6 million purchase from local businessman Bill Edwards.

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36-story apartment and hotel tower prepares to break ground in downtown St. Pete

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36-story apartment and hotel tower prepares to break ground in downtown St. Pete

Ascent St. Petersburg, a 36-story mixed-use building planned for the northwest corner of 2nd Street and 1st Avenue North in downtown St. Pete, took a huge step forward last Friday. The developer of the project, Greystar Real Estate Partners, simultaneously closed on the land and two construction loans.

The 1.26-acre tract of land sold for just under $15.1 million, or about $12.0 million per acre. The transaction represents one of the highest prices per acre ever paid for land in downtown St. Pete.

The recent record price for land in downtown belongs to Kolter Group for their purchase of a parking lot next to the Hilton St. Petersburg Bayfront hotel. That sale, which occurred in October 2019, hit $12.2 million per acre. Saltaire, a 35-story condominium tower, is currently under construction on that site.

One day after Greystar closed on the land for Ascent, a fence was erected around the perimeter of the site, which is situated adjacent to the 16-story Duke Energy building and across the street from the Jannus Block, downtown’s hub for nightlife. Site preparations have already begun, and vertical construction is slated to ramp up in the new year.

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Seven new businesses opening up on 4th Street's Holiday Motel site

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Seven new businesses opening up on 4th Street's Holiday Motel site

Businesses are beginning to open at a new 15,000 square foot retail strip at 4th Street North and 24th Avenue that was recently constructed following the demolition of the former Holiday Motel. As of today, seven of the nine retail spaces are leased.

The Holiday Motel was built back in the 1940’s when Fourth Street was home to 95 roadside motels and known as “the longest motel street in the world.” At the time, before the construction of I-275, 4th Street was seen as the primary tourist route into downtown St. Pete.

However, as the motel owners dealt with the difficulty of operating the motels and battling crime the motels attracted, many owners decided to cash out and sell to developers. By 1985, about half of the motels were gone. Only a few still remain today with many catering to longtime residents instead of tourists.

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The Collective, a wellness studio, brings yoga and meditation to 4th Street

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The Collective, a wellness studio, brings yoga and meditation to 4th Street

A place to cultivate one’s inner zen might just be what 2020 ordered--and The Collective certainly delivers. For new yogis to seasoned experts alike, this space has something for everyone.

There’s something special about the Sunshine City--and Brittany George, co-owner of St. Pete’s newest wellness studio and gathering space, noticed. “The energy of the city was palpable,” George said. “There always seemed to be something going on and it felt like an inspiring place to be full time.”

After moving here nine years ago, George has certainly been busy, transforming from curious yoga student to resourceful wellness instructor. Add a certification in Ayurveda (traditional Indian medicine), and it’s clear she has an overarching goal in mind: connecting the mind, body, and spirit.

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Sorrento Sweets to bring Italian desserts and coffee to downtown St. Pete

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Sorrento Sweets to bring Italian desserts and coffee to downtown St. Pete

A haven for St. Pete sugar-lovers is coming soon to 667 Central Avenue—and it’s all thanks to Sorrento Sweets.

The space was formerly home to Brew D Licious, a beloved coffee shop and 600 block staple for nine years before their closure in April amid COVID-19 struggles. The owners of Sorrento Sweets realize they have big shoes to fill, but couldn’t be more excited to join the downtown St. Pete community.

"As a Tampa Bay local, I've always loved St. Pete’s passion for coffee and support of small businesses," says Managing Parter Joseph Kelly. “Sorrento Sweets is ecstatic about bringing its authentic Italian desserts and coffee to St. Petersburg after looking for over a year for the perfect location."

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