St. Pete to invite new proposals for redevelopment of Historic Gas Plant District

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St. Pete to invite new proposals for redevelopment of Historic Gas Plant District

The City of St. Petersburg is once again preparing to solicit proposals for the redevelopment of the 86-acre Historic Gas Plant District in downtown St. Pete, the same site where the Tampa Bay Rays’ future stadium and a new mixed-use district have long been envisioned.

This morning, the City announced plans to publish a notice in mid-November inviting private developers and other interested parties to submit proposals within 30 days for the site’s redevelopment.

The move follows an unsolicited proposal submitted earlier this month by a development team led by Casey Ellison, CEO of Ellison Companies; Cathie Wood, founder of global investment firm ARK Invest; and Jonathan Graham, president of Horus Construction.

Their 98-page, $6.8 billion proposal outlines a sweeping vision for a new mixed-use district anchored by innovation, housing, cultural institutions, and world-class event venues spanning 95.5 acres of downtown St. Petersburg, including the Historic Gas Plant District.

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St. Pete florists plant roots together in new floral shop with a garden and drive-thru

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St. Pete florists plant roots together in new floral shop with a garden and drive-thru

A colorful new floral shop has taken root in St. Petersburg’s Euclid Heights neighborhood, blending creativity, community, and craftsmanship under one roof.

Located at 1506 54th Avenue North, the freshly opened space brings together two local floral powerhouses, Arms of Persephone and The Roaming Petal, offering everything from handcrafted bouquets to immersive floral workshops.

The collaboration marks the first time the two longtime florists, Regan Smith of Arms of Persephone and Erica Holland of The Roaming Petal, have shared a physical space.

Though they’ve referred clients to one another for years, their new studio merges retail, workshops, and events into a single destination for flower lovers across Tampa Bay.

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Habitat for Humanity to build 100 affordable homes on former church site in Largo

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Habitat for Humanity to build 100 affordable homes on former church site in Largo

An eight-acre property in Largo once home to the American Collegiate Academy will soon be redeveloped into an affordable housing community.

Earlier this month, Habitat for Humanity of Tampa Bay Gulfside purchased the site at 833 Wyatt Street for $4.75 million, with plans to construct 100 affordable townhomes.

The seller, American Collegiate Academy, purchased the site from the First Assembly of God of Clearwater for $2 million in 2019.

The property, which currently features 17 classrooms and a 900-seat auditorium, will be demolished to make way for the project.

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St. Pete explores permanent ferry dock at St. Pete Pier for service to downtown Tampa

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St. Pete explores permanent ferry dock at St. Pete Pier for service to downtown Tampa

The passenger ferry linking downtown St. Pete and downtown Tampa may soon have a new home on the St. Pete Pier.

As the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) prepares to relaunch the Tampa Bay Ferry, formerly known as the Cross Bay Ferry, the city is evaluating plans to construct a permanent dock near the St. Petersburg Museum of History, according to documents obtained by St. Pete Rising.

When the ferry service began in 2016, it carried passengers on a roughly 50-minute ride from North Straub Park in downtown St. Pete to the Tampa Convention Center in downtown Tampa.

In 2023, when the permit for the St. Pete dock expired, the St. Pete terminus was relocated to the Port of St. Petersburg, south of Albert Whitted Airport.

While the Port location kept the service operational, it’s been criticized by riders and city officials for being out of sight and inconvenient compared to the original downtown stop.

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Luma, a waterfront Mediterranean restaurant, is set to debut in December at SkyBeach Resort in St. Pete

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Luma, a waterfront Mediterranean restaurant, is set to debut in December at SkyBeach Resort in St. Pete

SkyBeach Resort, a newly renovated resort on the southern tip of St. Petersburg, is introducing new waterfront restaurant in December for locals and guests alike.

The newest concept, Luma, will be an elevated Mediterranean restaurant on the 18-acre property at 6800 Sunshine Skyway Lane South.

Located just off the resort’s main lobby, Luma draws its name from lumen, Latin for "light,” a nod to the radiant St. Petersburg sun and the luminous flavors of the Mediterranean.

The concept blends regional soul with global sophistication, offering a menu rooted in fresh, locally inspired ingredients and coastal influences.

Designed by SkyBeach Resort owner Ben Willner, Luma’s aesthetic is a marriage of coastal elegance and vintage charm - think art deco garden party meets a refined 1950s seaside lounge. The space overlooks the resort’s newly renovated marina.

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Three-story waterfront restaurant and bar proposed for downtown Gulfport

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Three-story waterfront restaurant and bar proposed for downtown Gulfport

A vacant quarter-acre lot along Gulfport’s downtown waterfront is slated to be redeveloped into a new restaurant.

Clearwater-based Prometheus Partners has proposed to construct a three-story, 5,700-square-foot restaurant and bar called Surf Shack at 5427 Shore Boulevard South, just steps from popular spots like O’Maddy’s Bar & Grille and Stormrunners Tavern.

Designed by St. Pete-based Fraze Design renderings show a fresh, modern coastal aesthetic with white siding with blue accents and striped awnings.

Plans call for multiple bars, a covered balcony, and ample seating designed to take advantage of Gulfport’s waterfront views.

While Prometheus has not yet released details about the menu, the concept is expected to feature casual coastal fare and drinks in line with its beach-inspired theme.

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Mythos Greek Bistro to open in former Salty Nun space in the Grand Central District

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Mythos Greek Bistro to open in former Salty Nun space in the Grand Central District

A taste of Greece is coming to the Grand Central District this November as a bold new Mediterranean concept will open in the space formerly occupied by the Salty Nun.

With a vision rooted in Greek heritage and hospitality, Konstantinos “Dinos” Chilias, alongside business partner Daniel Marina, is transforming the former LGBTQ+ bar and restaurant at 2501 Central Avenue into Mythos Greek Bistro, a restaurant that they hope will capture the flavor and vibrancy of the Aegean Sea.

“St. Pete is missing an authentic Greek restaurant,” Chef Dinos, a native of Greece and long-time Tampa Bay restaurateur, said in a conversation with St. Pete Rising. “I’ve waited many years for the right opportunity for me, and this is it, right on Central Avenue.”

Chef Dinos brings over two decades of culinary experience to the project. He is best known for La Creperia Cafe in Ybor City and previously operated the Crepeway Caffe in the EDGE District of St. Pete.

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50-story Waldorf Astoria Residences St. Petersburg surpasses $100 million in sales

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50-story Waldorf Astoria Residences St. Petersburg surpasses $100 million in sales

The Waldorf Astoria Residences St. Petersburg has eclipsed $100 million in sales, marking a major milestone not just for the planned development but for the entire luxury real estate market along Florida’s west coast.

The record-breaking sales achievement comes shortly after the opening of the sales gallery marketing the 163 residences in the 50-story, which is expected to soon break ground at 150 2nd Avenue South.

It will be St. Pete’s first hotel-branded luxury condominium tower and the tallest building in the city.

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Noble Tavern, a modern cocktail bar and restaurant from the owners of Noble Crust, opens on Central Avenue

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Noble Tavern, a modern cocktail bar and restaurant from the owners of Noble Crust, opens on Central Avenue

The long-awaited Noble Tavern, a modern cocktail bar and restaurant, has opened on the ground floor of the Tru by Hilton hotel at 1650 Central Avenue in the Grand Central District of St. Pete.

Spanning 3,800 square feet, the interior features brick walls, leather seating, and local artwork, creating a blend of classic tavern style and contemporary design.

 The restaurant includes a marble-topped central bar and seating designed for both dining and casual drinks.

First announced in 2022, Noble Tavern is the latest concept from the team behind Noble Crust in north St. Pete and Fat Beet Farm Kitchen & Bakery in Tampa.

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Battered Twin City mobile home park near Derby Lane may be redeveloped into apartments

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Battered Twin City mobile home park near Derby Lane may be redeveloped into apartments

A flood-prone mobile home park next to Derby Lane that was devastated by last year’s hurricanes could soon be redeveloped into a new apartment community.

Illinois-based Lakeshore Management, the property owner, is seeking a land use map amendment and rezoning for the 8.94-acre Twin City Mobile Home Park at 10636 Gandy Boulevard North to permit multifamily residential development.

Located near the Gandy Bridge and sitting at zero elevation within the Coastal High Hazard Area, many of the hurricane-damaged homes were deemed uninhabitable following the storms. The Pinellas County Housing Authority and other agencies have since helped residents relocate.

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