March 30, 2021

Orlando-based Foxtail Coffee is coming soon to 4th Street in St. Pete

March 30, 2021/ Brian Zucker

In the not-too-distant past, the only place to get a cup of coffee in St. Pete was from one of the big national chains. Today, it seems like there is a coffee shop on every block. Not only is the Sunshine City home to mass-produced drive-thru coffee for when you need a quick early morning jolt, but St. Pete also has carefully roasted small batch coffee for when you want to appreciate every nuance of this incredible caffeinated bean.

In a few short months, another coffee shop will be joining the fray. Orlando-based Foxtail Coffee Co. recently signed a lease at 730 4th Street North. The space was previously occupied by Mini Doughnut Factory, which closed its doors in early 2019.

March 25, 2021

Local developer proposes 20-story condo tower on 4th Street in downtown St. Pete

March 25, 2021/ Samantha Flanagan

A mixed-use high-rise outfitted with smart technology is coming soon to Downtown St Pete. The Blake, which aims to be LEED Silver certified, will feature advanced energy and safety innovations designed to appeal to working professional home-owners in a post-Covid world and will replace the former Masonic Temple building at 114 4th Street South.

The $40,000,000 project, developed by Blake Investment Partners and designed by architects Antunovich Associates, will consist of 20 floors, including 16 residential floors above a four-floor base that includes three levels of parking, commercial space, and lobby on the ground floor.

March 24, 2021

21-story residential building planned for 17th Street in downtown St. Pete

March 24, 2021/ Anthony Close

In a sign of confidence in the future of downtown St. Pete, a 21-story residential building has been proposed for the western edge of downtown. Mill Creek Residential Trust, a Boca Raton-based real estate developer, is planning to build a multifamily project on 17th Street South between the Pinellas Trail and 3rd Avenue South.

Mill Creek, which previously developed Modera Prime 235, now known as Cottonwood Bayview, at 235 3rd Avenue North, has generally built high-rise apartment towers under its “Modera” brand.

According to the company’s website, the buildings in the Modera brand offer a “premier location, gorgeous design, luxe finishes, spectacular amenities and innovative, make-your-life-easier services.” The company is current building Modera Tampa, a 353-unit apartment building which will feature approximately 13,000 square feet of ground floor retail, in downtown Tampa.

March 23, 2021

26-unit townhome community to be built just north of the EDGE District

March 23, 2021/ Brian Zucker

Indianapolis-based developer Onyx+East is proposing a new townhome community located just steps away from the EDGE District in Methodist Town.

The 26-unit project, dubbed “Alante”, will be built on 1.1 acres of land at 302 15th Street North, which was formerly home to the St. Pete Eco-Village. The property was sold to Onyx+East in January for $850,000.

This will be Onyx+East’s second project in St. Petersburg. Their first development, Six Point Row, is currently under construction at 2611 1st Avenue North in the Grand Central District. The 19-unit townhome project sold out in February.

March 19, 2021

5-story mixed-use development proposed for the Grand Central District

March 19, 2021/ Anthony Close

St. Pete’s Grand Central District continues to attract new businesses and pique developer interest as demand for commercial space and new housing radiates from the downtown core. A recent land sale in the heart of the neighborhood will pave the way for the District’s next mixed-use development.

Vertica Commercial Advisors, a subsidiary of Vertica Partners, a Tampa-based real estate advisory and investment firm, has announced the sale of a parcel at the southwest corner of Central Avenue and 28th Street to ASH Developers. The site is nearly a quarter acre and sits in an Opportunity Zone – it sold for $740,000, or $70 per square foot.

March 16, 2021

Innovative shipping container apartments coming soon to downtown St. Pete

March 16, 2021/ Brian Zucker

Shipping container construction has been on the rise lately. Whether being used for hydroponic farming, a drive-in movie theater, an outdoor market, or housing, there seems to be no limit to what can be done with these steel boxes.

Although the idea of building with repurposed shipping containers was conceived decades ago, the trend didn’t start to gain steam until the mid-2000s. Container homes are generally built off-site, which increases construction speed, and their modular design makes them more efficient and durable. These benefits, along with a smaller floorplan, allow for lower rents when used to create housing.

Recently, St. Pete-based Path Communities announced plans for a 31-unit micro-apartment project built entirely out of shipping containers. The development, titled Path Communities at Booker Creek, will be located at the southwest corner of Burlington Avenue and 17th Street North.

March 12, 2021

St. Pete’s newest boutique hotel bar, The Scott, to offer coffee and cocktails

March 12, 2021/ Amy Kochek

Escape into the world of old Hollywood during the roaring 1920’s with a unique celebration of historic St. Pete at The Scott, a new downtown destination featuring expertly crafted drinks and locally roasted coffee, located in The Cordova Inn at 253 2nd Avenue North.

Set to open in April 2021, The Scott will be on spotlight in the recently upgraded lobby of The Cordova, which sits only a few blocks from the new St. Pete Pier, The Mall at Sundial, and is next door to the soon-to-open American craft beer tap house, Hops 2.0.

The Scott’s craft coffee bar will be open daily between 8am-3pm serving signature java drinks. The bar is partnering with Hogg Batch Coffee, owned by St. Pete locals Duane and David Hogg, who recently found a home for their roastery on the 2300 block of Central Avenue in the Grand Central District.

March 10, 2021

The Blend Coffee & Wine opens third location on 34th Street North

March 10, 2021/ Amy Kochek

If you’ve been looking for delicious, local coffee you can enjoy without getting out of your car, your search can end here.

The Blend Coffee & Wine has opened its third location at 2760 34th Street North, which was previously home to a stand-alone Jimmy Johns.

This will be the first location to feature a drive-thru, along with indoor seating.The Blend’s other two outposts are located at 1211 4th Street North and 490 1st Avenue South inside the Tampa Bay Times building.

The indoor seating area at the new 1,860 square foot coffee shop will bring the same vibe and style to North St. Pete that the other two Blend locations have offered in downtown St. Pete since 2019.

March 09, 2021

A 179-car drive-in movie theater is coming soon to St. Pete

March 09, 2021/ Stephanie Stott

If watching your favorite film with St. Pete as your backdrop sounds like a dream come true, you’re in luck. A 179-car drive-in theater courtesy of Rooftop Cinema Club is coming soon to 2100 3rd Ave South in the Warehouse Arts District of St. Pete.

While the pandemic made movie-going nearly obsolete, drive-ins are, by nature, social-distancing friendly. Add online ticket ordering and contactless concessions, and you have a recipe for a safe, entertaining night—all in the glow of a 64 ft. cinema screen.

What’s movie night without popcorn? That buttery goodness will be available on-site, as well as soda and prepackaged candy. For even more dining options, RCC hopes to partner with a local food vendor and eventually operate a bar.

March 08, 2021

24-story high-rise apartment tower breaks ground in downtown St. Pete

March 08, 2021/ Anthony Close

Downtown St. Pete is set to add another apartment tower to its skyline with the recent groundbreaking of a 24-story building at 334 2nd Avenue South. The site was previously home to the troubled Onyx Premium Nightclub which was demolished in late 2019.

Led by Miami-based American Land Ventures, the building will be named “334” and is slated to have 220 apartments along with 14,348 square feet of ground floor retail space, which will front 2nd Avenue South and 3rd Street South. Parking for the property will be provided by an adjoining seven floor parking garage with 295 spaces.