Historically St. Pete: The 98-year-old Flori de Leon’s fascinating history as Florida’s first cooperative apartment community

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Historically St. Pete: The 98-year-old Flori de Leon’s fascinating history as Florida’s first cooperative apartment community

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.

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

This month we explore the captivating history of the 98-year-old Flori de Leon — the first and largest cooperative apartment community on the West Coast of Florida.

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Downtown favorite Paradeco Coffee Roasters opens stunning new waterfront location in south St. Pete

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Downtown favorite Paradeco Coffee Roasters opens stunning new waterfront location in south St. Pete

Downtown St. Petersburg’s beloved Paradeco Coffee Roasters is bringing its signature blend of specialty coffee and Art Deco charm to the waterfront with a second location in the Skyway Marina District.

The specialty coffee shop and cafe, which currently operates in the Plaza Tower & Courtyard Shops in downtown St. Pete, has quietly debuted at the newly revamped SkyBeach Resort, located at 6800 Sunshine Skyway Lane South.

The new poolside coffee spot, which features an impressive 3D-printed bar made from renewable and recyclable materials, is one of the latest additions to the 18-acre property, formerly known as the Magnuson Hotel Marina Cove, which recently underwent a significant rebrand and renovation after being purchased.

Impressed by the waterfront setting and extensive renovations at SkyBeach, husband-and-wife duo Thomas Maloney and Sonya Sarkar hope to replicate their downtown success in the resort’s more relaxed, coastal environment.

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Home of the Week: A 1938-built home in St. Pete's enchanting Driftwood neighborhood

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Home of the Week: A 1938-built home in St. Pete's enchanting Driftwood neighborhood

A 1938-built home nestled in the heart of the enchanting Driftwood neighborhood is St. Pete Rising’s Home of the Week.

Located at 2521 Driftwood Road SE, this 2,400-square-foot residence offers an unparalleled living experience in Driftwood, one of St. Petersburg’s most sought-after neighborhoods located on Big Bayou just south of 22nd Avenue South.

This Minimal Traditional home with English Traditional Vernacular influences was designed by nationally renowned artist Mark Dixon Dodd and prominent local architect Archie Parish, whom both crafted 19 homes in Driftwood between the 1930s and 1940s.

The home boasts three bedrooms, each with a renovated ensuite bath, as well as high vaulted ceilings and wide-plank oak flooring that enhance its airy ambiance.

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Exclusive: Foot Locker signs 110,000-square-foot lease for global headquarters in north St. Pete

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Exclusive: Foot Locker signs 110,000-square-foot lease for global headquarters in north St. Pete

Global athletic retailer Foot Locker has secured space for its new worldwide headquarters in St. Petersburg, a move that is expected to create 150 high-paying jobs.

The New York-based company has signed a lease for 110,000 square feet at 570 Carillon Parkway in the Carillon Business Park, multiple sources confirmed to St. Pete Rising.

The company will be located on the 1st, 3rd, and 4th floor, occupying space previously leased to Protect My Car and Tata Consulting Services.

According to previous documents, the company plans to lease the office space for 11 to 13 years.

Other tenants in the 250,000-square-foot building include Zelis Payments, Condominium Associates, D&A Services, LLC, American Coastal Insurance, and Monopoly Group Real Estate.

Built in 1998, the Class A office building at 570 Carillon was acquired by The Feil Organization in 2019 for $36.8 million. The building features an on-site café, fitness center, and FedEx drop box, and has recently undergone extensive renovations to its lobby and common areas.

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144-unit affordable apartment community proposed for Largo

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144-unit affordable apartment community proposed for Largo

A Santa Monica, CA-based developer plans to convert a vacant site in Largo's Pinellas Groves community into a 144-unit affordable apartment complex.

Named Olea on 126, the project will include three four-story residential buildings at 6727 126th Avenue North, with units designated for residents earning between 40% and 80% of the area median income (AMI).

The community will offer surface parking and amenities such as a clubhouse, park area, and covered patio.

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