July 09, 2021

La Segunda Bakery and Cafe to open in St. Petersburg after over a century in Ybor City

July 09, 2021/ Brian Zucker

After over 105 years in Ybor City, La Segunda Bakery and Café will open an outpost across the bay in St. Petersburg. The bakery, famous for their Cuban bread, will debut this fall at 2436 4th Street North.

At 1,820 square feet, the St. Pete location will be smaller than the Ybor City and South Tampa locations, but still have room for 40 seats inside and 40 seats outside. While the Ybor City location will continue to focus on wholesale baking and counter service, the St. Pete location will specialize in grab-and-go, delivery, and catering.

July 05, 2021

18-story expansion planned for downtown’s Camden Pier District Apartments

July 05, 2021/ Brian Zucker

One of downtown St. Pete’s most popular apartment complexes, Camden Pier District, is planning an expansion that will add an 18-story 95-unit tower to the existing 357-unit community.

“We are excited to expand Camden Pier District to provide additional high-quality housing to the St. Pete market,” said Ric Campo CEO of Camden Property Trust. “St. Pete is a great place to live, work, and play and we are glad to be part of this growing great city.”

Last Tuesday, Camden Property Trust paid $2.1 million for a 0.23-acre property located at 201 4th Avenue South on the southeastern corner of the existing development. The lot is currently home to a medical office and a single-family house. Both buildings will be demolished to make way for the new tower.

July 01, 2021

Marina Beach, a 400-unit residential building, is proposed for the Skyway Marina District

July 01, 2021/ Anthony Close

An underutilized shopping center at the southwest corner of 34th Street South and 42nd Avenue South is slated to become the latest new development in the Skyway Marina District.

Plans have been filed for a mixed-use project at 4311 34th Street South that will feature 400 residential units, a 95,000 square foot self-storage facility, a 2,400 square foot bank, and a 4,500 square foot restaurant. The project is expected to go before the Development Review Commission for site plan approval on July 7th.

June 30, 2021

20-story residential building planned for 17th Street moves forward

June 30, 2021/ Samantha Flanagan

A 20-story residential tower with retail space fronting the Pinellas Trail is coming to 17th Street South after the St Pete City Council voted unanimously to approve the project.

St Pete Rising first reported on plans for the mixed use development proposed by Mill Creek Residential Trust in March. The approved $80 million project will consist of a 20-story and an 8-story apartment building with 383 rental units, 15,316 square feet of commercial space, and a 475-space parking garage between the Pinellas Trail and 3rd Avenue South adjacent to I-275. The location is at the crossroads of the EDGE, Grand Central, and Warehouse Arts districts and it will be the tallest building in the western half of Downtown to date.

June 21, 2021

Pure Martini Bar is coming soon to the ground floor of Vantage

June 21, 2021/ Amy Kochek

Relax, eat, and sip is the motto of Pure Martini Bar, a new downtown restaurant and lounge concept coming this September to the ground floor of Vantage, a 211-unit apartment building at 160 16th Street North. EJ Barkett of Barkett Realty represented the landlord and De’Vone Brownlee of Stofel and Associates Realty represented the tenant in the transaction.

Pure Martini’s menu will feature crafted dry cocktails and martinis paired with delicious tapas.

All nine drinks on the menu have been designed with a unique spin with selections like the Tequila Tini, Strawlito Mojito, Pure Crush, and the Sanibal Sangria.

June 15, 2021

24-unit apartment building proposed for 3rd Avenue South in downtown St. Pete

June 15, 2021/ Anthony Close

Construction will soon begin on a 12-unit multi-family building at the southwest corner of 3rd Avenue South and 7th Street in downtown St. Pete. Last week, St. Pete’s Community Redevelopment Agency unanimously approved the three-story building which is being developed by Brad Campbell. Campbell is also developing a similar project at 357 5th Street South which will contain 25 units and ground floor retail space.

Like the development at 357 5th Street South, which is currently under construction, Campbell’s latest project will utilize recent changes to the City’s Land Development Regulations that eliminated the mandatory minimum parking requirements for multi-family developments in downtown.

June 04, 2021

Plant-based restaurant Freya’s Diner to debut Saturday in the Grand Central District

June 04, 2021/ Amy Kochek

Fresh, plant-based food is what’s on the menu at Freya’s Diner, a new restaurant opening this Saturday in the Grand Central District at 2462 Central Avenue. The space was formerly home to Lucy’s Vegan Corner, which permanently closed in April. Freya’s is the latest concept from Celine Duvoisin, who also owns the neighboring Valhalla Bakery, one of St. Pete’s most beloved vegan bakeries, and Valkyrie Donuts, which is set to debut nearby in a few short weeks.

Freya’s will be the perfect complement to Valhalla Bakery, taking the terms “fresh” and “plant-based” to a whole new level. A mid-sized garden bed on the right-hand side of the building will house herbs, microgreens, and veggies that will yield a harvest of produce to be incorporated into seasonal and year-round menu items. Most of the produce not grown in the side garden will be delivered the same day from local St. Pete distributors.

May 28, 2021

13-story mixed-use building planned for St. Pete's EDGE District moves forward

May 28, 2021/ Samantha Flanagan

A thirteen-story mixed-use high-rise that incorporates workforce housing and preserves a portion of the historic building that currently sits on site could soon be coming to 900 Central Avenue in the EDGE District. On Thursday the City streamline approved a Floor Area Ratio (FAR) bonus and a building height bonus which paves the way for the project to move forward.

Locals will recognize the brick building currently on site on the corner of Central Avenue and 1st Ave S as home to Anytime Fitness. Built in 1918, it is the EDGE District’s oldest remaining property and is credited with being pivotal in downtown St Pete’s westward development, but does not have Local Landmark Designation, and preliminary designs submitted to the City last October initially called for the demolition of the building.

May 21, 2021

Paradeco Coffee Roasters opens tomorrow in downtown St. Pete

May 21, 2021/ Brian Zucker

After over a year of planning, designing, permitting, and construction, Thomas Maloney and Sonya Sarkar are finally taking the wraps off of their new 1,700 square foot coffee bar in downtown St. Pete this weekend. Paradeco Coffee Roasters opens tomorrow at 111 2nd Avenue Northeast in the Plaza Tower & Courtyard Shops.

From the moment you step through the door, you’re greeted with tropical vibes. Sitting center stage is a custom La Marzocco KB90 espresso machine atop a turquoise-backed marble bar. A plant wall featuring 195 live plants is situated over a 70’s-style pink couch in the back of the shop. The various curves and archways exude an Art Deco design that inspired the name of the business – Paradeco.

May 19, 2021

24-unit townhome project proposed for the Grand Central District in St. Pete

May 19, 2021/ Anthony Close

Earlier this year, St. Pete Rising reported on the sale of a quarter-acre site at the corner of Central Avenue and 28th Street in the Grand Central District.

The lot was sold to ASH Developers who plans to construct a 5-story mixed-use building on the site. The project is expected to include 14 residential units and two retail units fronting Central Avenue.

Now, a nearly one-acre lot just south of that site has been sold to a national real estate developer who plans to build a townhome community. Vertica Founding Partners, T. Sean Lance and Max Boehmer, had the exclusive right to sell the property and represented the owners in the transaction. The 0.86-acre site was sold to David Weekley Homes for $1,750,000.