The Miramar Resort, built in 1953, was set to be completely demolished when the City of St. Pete Beach approved a $40 million redevelopment of the aging waterfront property in 2021; however, the owner is now scaling back those plans to save the 71-year-old buildings from the wrecking ball.

As the sun was setting Tuesday evening, Miramar Resort owner Kevin Bowden walked around the hotel property at 4200 Gulf Boulevard, pointing out to residents and community stakeholders where a new seven-story 30-unit building will rise just behind the towering dunes shielding the resort.

"Guests want new beds and bathrooms, but want the resort to still have that same historic feeling," said Bowden, who also owns the Cambria Hotel on Madeira Beach.

The haunting stories of the systematic murder of millions of Europe's Jews during the Second World War will continue to be shared on a larger scale thanks to an expansion of The Florida Holocaust Museum in St. Petersburg.

Friday morning, state legislators and supporters took turns signing a steel beam, symbolizing the topping-out of the first phase of construction that will bring a new entrance and exhibit space for the museum at 55 5th Street South in downtown St. Pete.

"The expansion project demonstrates that we are as strong as ever and expanding at a time when the lessons of the Holocaust have never been more important," Interim CEO Michael Igel said to attendees while standing at the active construction site.