May 15, 2024

Historically St. Pete: The fascinating history of St. Pete’s 100-year-old Princess Martha hotel

May 15, 2024/ Rui Farias

At St. Pete Rising, we are constantly providing comprehensive coverage on everything new and coming soon to the Sunshine City, but we think it’s also important to take a look back at our city's rich history.

Introducing Historically St. Pete, a new monthly column on St. Pete Rising written by Rui Farias, Executive Director of the St. Petersburg Museum of History, which will cover everything from the legend of underground mobster tunnels to the buildings and people that created the Sunshine City.

This month we explore the history of the 100-year-old Princess Martha, one of the city’s first luxury hotels.

May 15, 2024

8-unit townhome community planned for 14th Street in downtown St. Pete

May 15, 2024/ Veronica Brezina

Local developer Jeff Craft with Tampa Bay City Living has cleared multiple parcels near St. Pete's EDGE District for his latest project - a new upscale townhome community.

Amid a spur of new developments breaking ground on the 14th Street corridor, Craft plans to build an eight-unit townhome complex at 364 14th Street North.

"This is what we do - we follow certain developments happening in these pocket areas and build townhomes speculatively," Craft said to St. Pete Rising.

Craft, who resides in the Crescent Heights neighborhood with his wife, has developed over 700 townhomes in Tampa Bay, including the newly built townhome community, The District on 9th.

May 14, 2024

39-acre youth sports park to undergo $23.5 million transformation in Pinellas Park

May 14, 2024/ Veronica Brezina

The aging athletic facilities and fields at Pinellas Park's youth sports center will be completely removed and a new upgraded sports campus will take its place.

A newly filed stormwater application permit calls for demolition of the existing 39-acre youth park site at 4100 66th Avenue North located just off U.S. Highway 19 and Interstate 275.

The park currently consists of three natural grass baseball fields, a tennis court, a roller hockey rink, visitor seating, and parking.

May 13, 2024

Rays and Hines inch closer to striking deal with city on Gas Plant development agreement

May 13, 2024/ Veronica Brezina

A nine-hour discussion ensued Thursday as St. Pete City Council members meticulously combed through the Tampa Bay Rays and Hines' 183-page development agreement for the Historic Gas Plant District.

It took over a decade and countless hours of negotiations to reach this milestone conversation about the $6.5 billion development that will transform 86 acres in the heart of downtown St. Pete into an 8-million-square-foot mixed-use district anchored by a new ballpark - becoming the largest project to ever commence in Tampa Bay.

If ultimately approved, the new 30,000-seat enclosed stadium will open in 2028 as part of the first phase of the 30-year planned development.

May 10, 2024

Done Deals: Leasing launches for Arya, Military defense company opens in EDGE District, The Saint Hotel sells

May 10, 2024/ Veronica Brezina

Done Deals is a weekly column by St. Pete Rising spotlighting recent real estate market insight and significant deals happening in the Sunshine City and beyond. The following information is sourced from public records and trusted intel.

Have real estate news to share? Send us an email at hello@stpeterising.com.

May 10, 2024

15-story apartment buildings on 1st Avenue North top out in downtown St. Pete

May 10, 2024/ Anthony Close

Reaching a height of 150 feet, local general contractor JE Dunn Construction has topped out the 15-story Viv apartments in St. Pete’s EDGE District.

“Today’s milestone recognizes the collaborative efforts of the entire project team in bringing Viv to life,” said Dan Frazier, project director of Tampa-based JE Dunn Construction. “We couldn’t be more excited to be part of such a significant development in St. Pete’s EDGE District.”

Viv is being developed by Belpointe OZ on a 1.6-acre site at 1000 1st Avenue North near MLK Street. The development includes a pair of 15-story towers with 269 apartments consisting of studio, one, two, and three-bedroom units and a 355-space parking garage.

May 09, 2024

Rays and Hines release new renderings of Gas Plant District redevelopment

May 09, 2024/ Veronica Brezina

New renderings released today by the Tampa Bay Rays and Hines reveal an activated Booker Creek, Class A office space, and an art installation that will pay homage to the history of the Historic Gas Plant District.

The detailed renderings were unveiled during a Committee of the Whole meeting as councilmembers were beginning to examine and inquire about the terms and language of the draft development agreement with the joint venture partners.

In total, the project will include nearly 8 million square feet of mixed-use development and cost north of $6.5 billion over 20 years.

It will be the largest mixed-use development project in Tampa Bay history.

May 09, 2024

Postcard Inn proposes new five-story, 87-room expansion on St. Pete Beach

May 09, 2024/ Veronica Brezina

The nostalgic Postcard Inn on St. Pete Beach - one of the first hotels developed in the city - may undergo a significant renovation and expansion.

The owners of the 196-key beachfront resort are seeking a conditional use permit (CUP) from the City of St. Pete Beach for the renovation of the resort, built in 1957 at 6300 Gulf Boulevard, and the construction of a new five-story 87-room hotel on the property.

The new building would be constructed on an existing surface parking lot.

"Here at Postcard Inn on St. Pete Beach, we're not just renovating; we're reinvesting in the heartbeat of our community. Our upcoming renovation isn't just about improving our space; it's about giving back to the very community that has given us so much," General Manager Jeremy DaSilva said in a prepared statement to St. Pete Rising.

May 08, 2024

New details revealed for massive five-story food hall coming to downtown St. Pete

May 08, 2024/ Veronica Brezina

Construction is progressing on the long-awaited five-story Central Park food hall in the heart of downtown St. Pete.

Hi Hospitality Group has been working on transforming the nearly 28,000-square-foot space at 551 Central Avenue, formerly the Dome Grill. The highly anticipated venue will feature a variety of cuisines, price points, experiences and live events that will offer the community endless possibilities within the space.

"We are creating all of the concepts internally, with Culinary Director Chef Hart Lowry at the helm of recipe development” said Natalia Levey, founder at Hi Hospitality Group, in a conversation with St. Pete Rising.

“People have high expectations, and we are committed to bringing the same level of quality to Central Park St. Pete as we have to our other restaurants, and also create a seamless dining experience," added Levey.

May 07, 2024

St. Pete Beach's Grove Surf and Coffee to open new cafe on Indian Rocks Beach

May 07, 2024/ Veronica Brezina

Riding a wave of growth, the owners behind the popular retail surf shop and specialty coffee bar Grove Surf + Coffee in St. Pete Beach are expanding into Indian Rocks Beach with an entirely new concept.

Unlike its sister shop, which only serves coffee, pastries, and baked goods, the new Grove Surf Cafe will be equipped with a full commercial kitchen, offering a full food and drink menu when it opens this Wednesday at 1309 Gulf Boulevard on Indian Rocks Beach.

The space previously housed Salt Public House and shares the same building with the Nekton Surf Shop.

"Indian Rocks Beach is our home. We always said if we were going to expand, we would do it here," founder Lindsey Gottschling said to St. Pete Rising.