September 24, 2024

Historically St. Pete: The amazing history of the iconic Skyline Building on Dr. MLK Jr. Street North

September 24, 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.

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

This month we explore the amazing history of one of the first towers constructed on Dr. MLK Jr. Street North — the Skyline Building.

September 23, 2024

Inside Reflection, the newly completed 18-story condo tower soaring above Mirror Lake

September 23, 2024/ Veronica Brezina

Soaring 18 stories above Mirror Lake, the newly-completed Reflection condominium tower has started welcoming its first wave of residents.

At 200 feet tall, Reflection is the tallest building in the Mirror Lake neighborhood with 88 condominium residences, a rooftop pool and entertainment area, and 2,800 square feet of retail space at 777 3rd Avenue North in downtown St. Petersburg.

"We just received our Certificate of Occupancy [CO] for the full tower and clearance for the rooftop pool," HP Capital Principal Fred Hemmer said to St. Pete Rising while doing a walkthrough tour of the luxury tower.

September 23, 2024

Fresh-cut fruit cart serving Mexican-style fruit cups coming to downtown St. Pete

September 23, 2024/ Veronica Brezina

Spend any amount of time in a big city and you’ll notice an array of street vendors selling everything from hot dogs to snow cones, knock-off watches to fake handbags.

One of the most ubiquitous street vendors are fruit stands (or fruteros) serving fresh-cut fruit cups sometimes garnished with toppings and spices.

The fruit stands have become a civic symbol of cities like Los Angeles and New York City. Every morning, thousands of carts fan out across the city and become part of the urban landscape.

In a few short weeks, The Little Fruit Cart will wheel its way into downtown St. Pete. It’s the first of its kind in the Sunshine City and owners Jen and Charles Little hope it’ll be a hit with residents, workers, and visitors wanting a refreshing, healthy, quick, and affordable snack.

September 20, 2024

Done Deals: New sports bar debuts on 4th Street, Industrial center sells for $27.2M, Horizon West Bay secures first tenant

September 20, 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.

September 20, 2024

St. Pete releases tool to help homeowners build accessory dwelling units

September 20, 2024/ Anthony Close

The City of St. Petersburg has launched a new tool to assist homeowners in determining if they can build an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) on their property.

The initiative aims to increase awareness about ADUs and ultimately boost their numbers, thereby expanding the city’s housing supply.

ADUs are independent living spaces located on the same property as a primary residence. These units can vary in form and size, including garage apartments, granny flats, pool houses, backyard cottages, and more.

The size of an ADUs can range from small efficiencies to two-bedroom units, which may be either owner-occupied or rented. In St. Petersburg, ADUs are restricted to 800 square feet or 67% of the primary home’s size, whichever is smaller.

September 19, 2024

Warehouse Arts District upzoning approved, paves way for new development

September 19, 2024/ Veronica Brezina

A major zoning overhaul in the Warehouse Arts District is expected to spark a flurry of new development in the historically industrial neighborhood near downtown St. Pete.

Last week, after years of planning and debate, St. Petersburg City Council unanimously voted to adopt the SunRunner Target Employment Center (TEC) Local Overlay, which encompasses 58 acres generally located south of 1st Avenue South, east of 24th Street South, and north and west of Interstate 275.

The Warehouse Arts District houses many of St. Pete’s most popular businesses such as 3 Daughters Brewery, Urban Stillhouse, Morean Center for Clay, and the Duncan McClellan Gallery.

The zoning change is designed to boost housing, job creation, and commercial opportunities around the SunRunner Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) station at 22nd Street by allowing non-industrial uses to develop alongside small-scale fabrication, makers, and arts spaces when performance measures are met.

September 17, 2024

Five-unit modern craftsman-style townhomes to be built in Kenwood

September 17, 2024/ Veronica Brezina

Five modern craftsman-style townhomes are coming soon to St. Pete's Kenwood neighborhood.

Husband-and-wife team Max and Kaitlin Vollmer, who are actively working on multiple residential projects in St. Petersburg, are on the cusp of demolishing a 70-year-old seven-room assisted living building at 2168 9th Avenue North for their new townhome development dubbed Historic Kenwood Townhomes.

The property sits directly between a medical office and a retail plaza housing several local businesses, including Simply Delicious, a hidden gem known for their Cuban sandwich, and The Violet Stone, a Philadelphia-style pizzeria that's relocating to Crescent Heights.

September 17, 2024

Michelin-starred chef to debut new restaurant at The Vinoy in downtown St. Pete

September 17, 2024/ Veronica Brezina

A Michelin-starred chef will open a new sophisticated steak and seafood restaurant at the historic Vinoy Resort and Golf Club along St. Pete's downtown waterfront in early 2025.

Elliot Aster, the new restaurant debuting at 501 5th Avenue Northeast inside the Vinoy, is a concept from Boka Restaurant Group and Chef Lee Wolen, who is behind Chicago Michelin-award-winning Boka restaurant, Italian eatery Alla Vita, and GG's Chicken Shop.

The new restaurant, named after a native Florida wildflower and pays homage to the real estate developer Gene Elliott who named the Vinoy after owner Aymer Vinoy Laughner, will replace Marchand's Bar & Grill, which has been closed since 2020.

September 16, 2024

St. Pete speakeasy The Saint to be transformed into The Ball, a pop-art-inspired bar and lounge

September 16, 2024/ Veronica Brezina

The Saint, a St. Pete speakeasy known for its moody dark red lighting and intimate atmosphere, will reopen as a new vibrant upscale cocktail lounge this winter.

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, unveiled details this week of the new rebrand for The Saint at 49 24th Street North in the Grand Central District.

Parent company Pour Behavior and ZaZoo’d, Fischer's interior design team behind The Saint and other concepts, will transform the space into a new pop-art-inspired bar and lounge dubbed "The Ball," celebrating the symbolism behind the iconic disco ball.

September 16, 2024

46-story 400 Central tower nears vertical completion in downtown St. Pete

September 16, 2024/ Veronica Brezina

Vertical construction is nearly complete for Red Apple’s 46-story condominium tower, The Residences at 400 Central, as crews have reached the 43rd floor with a new floor being added every six days.

New York billionaire John Catsimatidis Sr., founder of Red Apple Group, and select media members gathered at the tower site on Monday morning for a ceremonial topping out celebration.

“I wanted to build something in honor of Margo’s parents who’ve been coming to St. Pete for 40 years,” said Catsimatidis Sr. “My only regret is that I did not invest sooner.”