The Mariel luxury townhomes to begin construction on former Dairy Inn property

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The Mariel luxury townhomes to begin construction on former Dairy Inn property

Six luxury townhomes are preparing to break ground on the former Dairy Inn property, where the iconic ice cream shop served St. Pete for 76 years before closing in November 2023.

The new project, named The Mariel, is scheduled to begin construction next month at 1201 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street North, across from Hooks Sushi Bar and just minutes from downtown St. Pete.

A seasoned development team includes Jeff Craft and Brandon Wolford of Shell Basix Design/Build, which has developed more than 850 townhome units across the region; Ely Payne of Baysite Engineering as the civil engineer; and St. Pete-based Fraze Design as the architect.

The Mariel’s six residences will each span over 2,800 square feet with three bedrooms, three-and-a-half bathrooms, and a bonus room.

Designed for modern luxury living, the homes will feature 12-foot ceilings, premium appliances, and natural gas cooking.

Each home will feature block construction with hurricane-rated windows and doors, and buyers will have the option to add a private elevator leading to a rooftop terrace.

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A 76 million year old dinosaur will sit atop a parking garage in downtown St. Pete's EDGE District

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A 76 million year old dinosaur will sit atop a parking garage in downtown St. Pete's EDGE District

Imagine stepping out of your car and finding yourself face-to-face with a creature that roamed the planet 76 million years ago.

Tampa-based developer Ellison Development has unveiled plans for a high-rise rooftop garden atop a newly opened 540-space parking garage in the EDGE District, where the glass-encased skeleton of a Gorgosaurus will be the centerpiece.

By our account, it will be the first dinosaur ever displayed on top of a parking garage anywhere in the world.

The one-acre rooftop attraction is part of The Central, a $200 million mixed-use project currently in development at 1301 Central Avenue.

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Three new restaurants, including St. Pete’s first Huey Magoo’s, coming to Skyway Marina District

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Three new restaurants, including St. Pete’s first Huey Magoo’s, coming to Skyway Marina District

The Skyway Marina District’s 34th Street South corridor in St. Pete is about to welcome more dining options.

National restaurant franchise Huey Magoo’s, Jersey Mike’s Subs, and Smoothie King are coming to a new 5,900-square-foot building that will be built at 4311 34th Street South.

Prominent developer Jack Dougherty of Allied Group Holdings, who has led multiple commercial and residential projects in the district, broke ground on the new commercial building in mid-August on a vacant 1-acre outparcel.

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Corey Landing condo development moves forward with scaled-back design in St. Pete Beach

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Corey Landing condo development moves forward with scaled-back design in St. Pete Beach

St. Pete Beach’s waterfront could be on track for a major transformation, as the long-anticipated Corey Landing project continued to move through the review process at a Technical Review Committee (TRC) meeting last Wednesday.

The slightly revised proposal for the east end of Corey Avenue reflects reduced density compared to the plans Kolter Urban submitted in February, blending luxury condominiums with retail, dining, and public spaces designed to reconnect residents and visitors with Boca Ciega Bay.

Kolter’s latest plan calls for 132 condominiums across two eight-story buildings, 11,600 square feet of retail and restaurant space, and a 39-slip marina.

An earlier iteration of the project contained 162 condos.

The condos will feature layouts ranging from two-bedroom, two-bathroom units at 1,718 square feet to three-bedroom residences topping 2,400 square feet. Each unit will include an outdoor terrace overlooking the bay.

Community amenities include a rooftop pool and pickleball courts.

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Gulfport favorites Neptune Grill and Let It Be Ice Cream reopen after hurricane damage

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Gulfport favorites Neptune Grill and Let It Be Ice Cream reopen after hurricane damage

Nearly a year after Hurricane Helene devastated Gulfport’s waterfront, two beloved businesses have reopened their doors.

Neptune Grill and Let It Be Ice Cream were among the hardest hit when storm surge and historic flooding left the district in ruins. Today, they are once again welcoming customers.

When the storm swept through Tampa Bay last September, Neptune Grill, a family-run seafood and Greek restaurant, took on more than four feet of water.

For co-owner Dia Vartsakis, who operates the restaurant alongside her father, Gus, the extent of the damage was overwhelming.

“I remember returning to the restaurant after the storm and turning the corner to find everything damaged. We found our food blocks down the street,” Vartsakis said in a conversation with St. Pete Rising.

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The Moon Under Water finds new home in Gulfport after decades on Beach Drive in downtown St. Pete

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The Moon Under Water finds new home in Gulfport after decades on Beach Drive in downtown St. Pete

Four years after closing its iconic Beach Drive location, The Moon Under Water is preparing for a comeback. This time in Gulfport.

The authentic British Colonial pub, known for its creamy stouts and spicy curries, will reopen by the end of the year at 2832 Beach Boulevard South. The space was most recently occupied by The Drunken Taco, which posted a “Closed Forever” sign on its door on Monday, September 1st.

Earlier this year, Kevin and Jeanne Milkey, owners of Grand Central Brewhouse, revealed that they were working with Mike Crippin, who served as The Moon Under Water’s Executive Chef for more than two decades, and his wife Alison, who was the restaurant’s HR and office manager for 20 years, to bring the restaurant back to downtown St. Pete, just steps from its former Beach Drive home.

However, those plans ultimately fell through, opening the door to the Gulfport opportunity.

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FS8, a Pilates-Yoga hybrid, set to open in the Grand Central District this fall

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FS8, a Pilates-Yoga hybrid, set to open in the Grand Central District this fall

A new kind of fitness experience is headed to downtown St. Petersburg.

Later this fall, FS8, a fast-growing brand created by the team behind F45 Training, will open its first Tampa Bay location at 2541 Central Avenue in the Grand Central District.

Behind the project are St. Pete locals Kate Dworsky and Heather Avery, two fitness professionals passionate about helping people reach their goals while building community along the way.

The pair signed their lease in January and have spent the past several months navigating the permitting process.

With approvals in hand, construction is now underway inside the former Lion’s Paw Antiques & Collectables building.

FS8 blends reformer and mat Pilates, yoga, and strength training into 50-minute classes designed to be approachable yet challenging.

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Renderings reveal what the Woodson African American Museum could become in St. Pete

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Renderings reveal what the Woodson African American Museum could become in St. Pete

The Woodson African American Museum of Florida, currently located at 2240 9th Avenue South, has unveiled a bold vision for a new home designed to honor the past, inspire the future, and serve as a cultural anchor for St. Pete.

The new 40,000-square-foot museum concept, designed by Everald Colas of St. Pete-based Storyn Studio for Architecture, is envisioned for the corner of 15th Street and 1st Avenue South, currently Lot 5 of Tropicana Field and across from Fusion 1560.

As striking as the renderings are, the proposed design faces major hurdles, including securing a site for the new museum and reaching ambitious fundraising goals.

The property was previously part of the Rays/Hines redevelopment plans for the Historic Gas Plant District, which was officially scrapped in July.

When the Rays walked away, they relinquished their development rights to the land, enabling the city to redevelop portions of the site before the end of the team’s use agreement.

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City plans $51 million expansion of Enoch D. Davis Center and Johnson Library in south St. Pete

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City plans $51 million expansion of Enoch D. Davis Center and Johnson Library in south St. Pete

The City of St. Petersburg is preparing to embark on a $51 million project to reimagine the Enoch D. Davis Center and James Weldon Johnson Community Library in south St. Pete.

The city is seeking a qualified construction manager to oversee the creation of a new 53,000-square-foot shared facility at 1111 18th Avenue South.

The request for qualifications (RFQ) was advertised on August 18, with proposals due by September 25.

The 18,000-square-foot Enoch D. Davis Center, opened in 1981, currently offers human services, multipurpose halls, a fitness center, and other amenities.

Next door, the 14,000-square-foot James Weldon Johnson Community Library provides study and reading areas, a makerspace with tech equipment, and upgraded computer programs. Originally housed within the Davis Center, the library relocated to its current site in 2002.

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New affordable apartment community opens near the Skyway Marina District in south St. Pete

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New affordable apartment community opens near the Skyway Marina District in south St. Pete

Just before Labor Day weekend, local government officials and community leaders gathered in south St. Pete to cut the ribbon on the city’s newest affordable housing development.

Founders Point, a 15-unit apartment community at 2901 31st Street South near the Skyway Marina District, was developed by Pinellas Affordable Living Inc. (PAL), a Community Housing Development Organization formed by the Boley Centers.

The community, designed to provide safe and affordable housing for people with special needs, is located next to Boyd Hill Nature Preserve and just south of The Shores Apartments, a 50-unit affordable housing community developed by The Richman Group.

All 15 one-bedroom apartments are reserved for residents earning at or below 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI), specifically for households with special needs.

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