Revised plan approved for apartment tower on Mirror Lake in downtown St. Pete

Revised plan approved for apartment tower on Mirror Lake in downtown St. Pete

A planned apartment tower on the southwest edge of downtown St. Pete’s Mirror Lake neighborhood has been approved for increased height and additional units.

The initial plan, which was approved by the Development Review Commission in January 2023, called for a 21-story 200-unit apartment tower with 10,843 square feet of retail space and a 264-space parking garage at 699 1st Avenue North.

The new proposal is for a 23-story, 218-unit apartment tower with 11,193 square feet of retail space and a 274-space parking garage.

The properties, which Gravel Road Partners purchased in March 2022 for $6.4 million, include the parcels at 685, 694, and 699 1st Avenue North and are currently occupied by two vacant office buildings, a vacant triplex, and a surface parking lot.  

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Renderings revealed for 162-unit condo development proposed for Corey Avenue in St. Pete Beach

Renderings revealed for 162-unit condo development proposed for Corey Avenue in St. Pete Beach

A prime waterfront parcel in St. Pete Beach may become a new mixed-use condominium development with restaurants, retail, and public green space.

Delray Beach-based real estate developer Kolter Urban unveiled its vision for a property located at the east end Corey Avenue during a Monday evening community meeting at the Sirata Beach Resort.

During the meeting, Kolter showed renderings and a site plan for a 162-unit luxury condo development with 4,000 square feet of restaurant space, 8,540 square feet of retail space, 39 boat slips, and public amenities, such as a park, plaza, and promenade.

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Downtown St. Pete sports bar The Avenue to close after 13 years

Downtown St. Pete sports bar The Avenue to close after 13 years

Beloved downtown St. Pete restaurant and bar The Avenue will permanently close its doors this weekend after 13 years in business.

In a conversation with St. Pete Rising, owner Stephen Schrutt says his lease at 330 1st Avenue South is ending soon and he was not able to come to terms on a new lease with his landlord. The Avenue will not relocate.

The downtown neighborhood burger joint and sports bar will host a “Last Call” party on Saturday, February 22nd, for customers to raise a glass one last time before the final goodbye.

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Children's bookstore The Story Garden to debut next month in Historic Uptown

Children's bookstore The Story Garden to debut next month in Historic Uptown

Big news for little readers! A new children’s bookstore is opening its doors next month in Historic Uptown.

The Story Garden will bring a world of stories, adventure, and imagination to St. Pete on March 1st when it debuts at 832 14th Street North.

Founder and owner Megan Kotsko recently gave St. Pete Rising a tour of the store, which is largely retail with a dedicated space reserved for weekly events.

The shop will carry over 1,500 titles for babies, toddlers, early readers, middle grades, young adults, and parents.

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Sales launch for Clemmons Court, a luxury single-family home community in St. Pete's Grand Central District

Sales launch for Clemmons Court, a luxury single-family home community in St. Pete's Grand Central District

Sales have launched for an urban enclave of four luxury single family homes coming soon to the Grand Central District.

Clemmons Court will soon rise at 2550 1st Avenue North within just steps away from Central Avenue and within walking distance of popular St. Pete businesses such as Pete’s Bagels, Bandit Coffee, Pin on Grand, Wild Child, Baba, and Casita Taqueria.

The project is being brought to life by an all-local team led by Will Conroy of Backstreets Capital, who has enlisted the help of Tim Clemmons of Place Architecture, Fox Building Group, and local real estate agent Tess Mullinax of Compass.

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Parisian-style bistro Cognac opens in downtown St. Pete, serving classic French fare

Parisian-style bistro Cognac opens in downtown St. Pete, serving classic French fare

The owners behind the upscale Bacchus Wine Bistro near Beach Drive, Christophe Guillot and Philippe Challeau, have debuted their newest dining destination in downtown St. Pete — Cognac.

The Parisian-style bistro opened earlier this month at 201 2nd Avenue North, occupying the space formerly home to Dirty Shirley, which closed less than a year after opening in 2023.

Cognac offers a menu inspired by traditional French cuisine, featuring dishes such as caviar and Croque Madame, along with a bar specializing in craft cocktails.

“Cognac will be like walking into a bistro in Paris. People can enjoy traditional dishes such as steak frites, escargot, and different cognac selections,” Guillot said in a previous conversation with St. Pete Rising.

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St. Pete approves purchase of three-acre property along Salt Creek for new park

St. Pete approves purchase of three-acre property along Salt Creek for new park

Nearly three acres of vacant property along Salt Creek may become a lush park space with landscaping, public art, and educational components.

During a Committee of the Whole meeting held on January 23rd, committee members unanimously approved moving forward on pursuing the acquisition of a property located on 4th Street South between 17th Avenue South and 18th Avenue South.

The property comprises 1.7 acres zoned Corridor Commercial Traditional (CCT-1) fronting on 4th Street South and 1.26 acres zoned Neighborhood Suburban Multi-Family (NSM-1).

The city is seeking to purchase the property at or below the asking price of $2.9 million.

The property was appraised in July 2024 with an estimated market value of $2.88 million.

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Construction begins on 39-acre Waterways Apartments and Marina off Gandy Boulevard

Construction begins on 39-acre Waterways Apartments and Marina off Gandy Boulevard

Shovels will soon hit the ground to start vertical construction on a new 470-unit multi-family development encompassing 39 acres of waterfront property overlooking Tampa Bay.

This spring, Miami-based Key International will break ground on the Waterways Apartments and Marina project at 12000 Gandy Boulevard North, located near the intersection with Snug Harbor Road. The development was approved in 2022.

Waterways Apartments and Marina, a project formerly referred to as Snug Harbor, will boast over 3,000 linear feet of prime water frontage and will feature 324 bayfront apartments and 52 rental townhomes facing a large retention pond. 

Additionally, an 8,000-square-foot yet-to-be-revealed waterfront restaurant will sit adjacent to a marina with 130 wet slips and 20 dry stack slips. The marina will be primarily used by residents and feature a small bait shop.

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Aerial St. Pete: The Sunshine City continues to rise as major projects progress

Aerial St. Pete: The Sunshine City continues to rise as major projects progress

The latest edition of Aerial St. Pete shows the progress of six major real estate projects currently under construction in St. Petersburg.

Aerial St. Pete is a column by St. Pete Rising which features exclusive aerial photography of projects under construction in St. Petersburg, FL. To accomplish this, we have teamed up with AB3 Visuals who captured these photos in December.

In the article, we show the construction progress for projects including Residences at 400 Central, Art House, 3rd & 3rd, Echelon Site 7 & 8, Institute Square, and Marina Club Apartments.

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Home of the Week: Charming two-bedroom bungalow in Crescent Lake for $756,000

Home of the Week: Charming two-bedroom bungalow in Crescent Lake for $756,000

This week’s Home of the Week is a 1940s bungalow at 828 17th Avenue North that blends historic character with modern updates in St. Petersburg’s Crescent Lake neighborhood, known for its tree-lined streets, walkability, and proximity to the 56-acre Crescent Lake Park.

With 1,252 square feet of living space, the home includes two bedrooms, one bathroom, and a bonus room suitable for an office or den.

Original hardwood floors, vintage doors, and classic moldings highlight the home’s timeless appeal, while updates such as new electrical wiring, gas appliances, and a tankless water heater add modern functionality.

The open floor plan offers a practical layout, with a renovated kitchen and bathroom that complement the home’s historic style. Storage is ample, with multiple closets and a standing-room attic providing extra space.

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