Controversial 60-unit residential development approved for church property in west St. Pete

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Controversial 60-unit residential development approved for church property in west St. Pete

After a four-hour discussion about a new residential development proposed for the quiet Old Pasadena neighborhood in west St. Pete, St. Petersburg City Council voted to approve the contentious project. 

During a Thursday meeting, the council members cast a 5-2 vote, approving the Pasadena Community Church's appeal of a prior denial to rezone the property at 6942 1st Avenue South. The rezoning will allow Indianapolis-based developer Onyx+East to build a 60-unit residential development containing 40 townhomes and 20 single-family homes on the site. 

Councilmembers Copley Gerdes and Councilmember Lisset Hanewicz cast the opposing votes. Councilmember John Muhammad was absent.

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Done Deals: Demolition commences on Coquina Key Plaza, Waterfront home sale sets record, Largo Golden Corral sells

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Done Deals: Demolition commences on Coquina Key Plaza, Waterfront home sale sets record, Largo Golden Corral sells

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.

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Moxy Hotel makes grand debut in the EDGE District of downtown St. Pete

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Moxy Hotel makes grand debut in the EDGE District of downtown St. Pete

The new Moxy Hotel by Marriott, St. Pete’s first lifestyle hotel that has been under construction in the EDGE District since 2022, is now ready to welcome guests.

Miami-based PTM Partners, the group behind the EDGE Collective development in downtown St. Pete, and joint venture partner DoveHill Capital Management have officially opened the 163-key hotel at 1234 Central Avenue.

“This is a one-of-a-kind lifestyle hotel that not only works within St. Pete’s local traditions and culture but also adds to the neighborhood,” said PTM Partners COO Nick Pantuliano.

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St. Pete's first cat-friendly co-working space Whiskers Workspace will open this summer

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St. Pete's first cat-friendly co-working space Whiskers Workspace will open this summer

Working the traditional nine-to-five job can be stressful, but what if your coworkers were cute cuddly cats instead of Bob and Joan from Accounting? 

Whiskers Workspace, St. Pete’s first-ever cat-friendly co-working space that lets you play with adoptable cats while you work, opens August 15th at 4699 Central Avenue.

"We cannot wait to introduce Whisker’s Workspace to the St. Pete community," said Diane Emery, who owns the two-story brick building alongside other partners.

Whiskers Workspace will have seven rooms, including the Whiskers Oasis room for the public to play with the feline friends. Visitors can reserve the room for $15 per hour for up to three hours. 

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Mexican-inspired No View Bar to replace Grillin N Chillin on St. Pete Beach 

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Mexican-inspired No View Bar to replace Grillin N Chillin on St. Pete Beach 

A pair of seasoned restaurateurs will be taking over the Grillin' N Chillin' space on St. Pete Beach with a new concept. 

Business partners Austin Forsythe and Devynn Maurer are planning to open No View Bar, a new Mexican-inspired restaurant and bar, at 6708 Gulf Boulevard. 

The duo is subleasing the building from Jay Bowrey, owner of Grillin’ N Chillin’, a barbeque joint that currently operates in the space. 

Beginning in September, No View Bar will share the kitchen and dining space with Grillin’ N Chillin’ before fully taking over the building when Bowrey's lease expires in early 2025. 

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St. Pete speakeasy The Saint to be replaced with new concept

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St. Pete speakeasy The Saint to be replaced with new concept

Upscale speakeasy The Saint, a nightlife hot spot in St. Pete's Grand Central District, will close and rebrand into a new concept.

Owner David Fischer, who founded a string of St. Pete LGBTQ-focused bars and destinations such as the Cocktail St. Pete nightclub and The Wet Spot pool bar, announced that after a four-year saga, The Saint will officially close its doors at 49 24th Street North later this year.

"Themed bars have become the norm in St. Petersburg and we wanted to make sure The Saint went out on top. The Saint is a completely unique place and the first speakeasy of its kind in St. Pete; we have so many amazing memories and moving on is bittersweet," Fischer wrote in a press release.

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Done Deals: Engineering firm to relocate HQ, Contractor selected for $110M airport expansion, 15-story apartment tower lists

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Done Deals: Engineering firm to relocate HQ, Contractor selected for $110M airport expansion, 15-story apartment tower lists

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.

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Historically St. Pete: The incredible history of St. Pete High, Florida’s first million dollar high school

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Historically St. Pete: The incredible history of St. Pete High, Florida’s first million dollar high school

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.

Follow us each month as we explore how these projects shaped St. Pete into the city we know and love today.

This month we delve into the incredible history of Florida’s first million dollar high school — St. Petersburg High’s 98-year-old campus on 5th Avenue North.

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Bar Mezzo, a new elevated cocktail bar concept from the owner of Intermezzo, to debut in the EDGE District 

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Bar Mezzo, a new elevated cocktail bar concept from the owner of Intermezzo, to debut in the EDGE District 

The owner behind Intermezzo Coffee and Cocktails is bringing a new sister concept to the bustling EDGE District in downtown St. Pete this summer. 

Owner Jarrett Sabatini is opening a new intimate cocktail bar named Bar Mezzo at 1049 Central Avenue, formerly home to Independent Bar and just steps away from Intermezzo.

"Intermezzo will still be that low-key neighborhood bar with drinks you might find in Rome - Spritz, Americano, Negroni - simple cocktails done very well,” Sabatini said in a conversation with St. Pete Rising. “Whereas, Bar Mezzo will be a sophisticated cocktail experience.”

"We want this location to be a go-to nightlife cocktail bar with live music and DJs playing on the weekends," added Sabatini. 

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Tampa Bay Rays win approval of Pinellas County funding for new $1.37 billion stadium in downtown St. Pete 

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Tampa Bay Rays win approval of Pinellas County funding for new $1.37 billion stadium in downtown St. Pete 

It's official - The Tampa Bay Rays have secured local government funding for a new $1.37 billion baseball stadium in a deal that will keep the team in St. Petersburg for decades to come.

In a 5-2 vote on Tuesday afternoon, Pinellas County Commissioners approved contributing $312.5 million of tourism tax revenue towards the construction of the stadium.

The tourism tax revenue is generated by a bed tax restricted to funding tourist-related development such as hotel expansions and other projects driving economic prosperity.  

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