Here are the biggest real estate development stories on St. Pete Rising of 2022

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2022 was another banner year for real estate development news in downtown St. Petersburg.

Projects big and small moved through the development pipeline and continued to transform St. Pete’s urban neighborhoods. Here are the top real estate development stories from 2022 broken down into three categories by project stage: Ground Breakings, Proposals, and Nearing Completion.

The Ground Breakings section includes projects that began construction this year while Proposals is broader and includes projects that were either proposed, or approved, but have not yet begun construction. Projects that are under construction and are expected to be completed in the first half of 2023 are included in the Nearing Completion section.

There were many other townhome projects and smaller infill developments that progressed throughout 2022. And there was progress on the redevelopment of the Historic Gas Plant District. However, these top stories only include the largest individual real estate developments in St. Petersburg, FL.

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Ground breakings:­­

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A rendering for The Residences at 400 Central

Construction began on several high-profile real estate developments in St. Petersburg this year. Most notably, vertical construction began on The Residences at 400 Central, which will top out at 46 stories and will reach a height of 515 feet. At completion 400 Central will become the tallest building in the city.

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A rendering for art house

Art House, a 42-story condominium tower at 200 Central Avenue, also broke ground in 2022. Art House will reach a height of 450 feet, becoming tied for the second tallest building in St. Petersburg along with ONE St. Petersburg, its sister project.

Other significant ground breakings include The Nolen, at 23-stories, Modera St. Petersburg, at 20-stories, Reflection, at 18-stories, and a 17-story apartment building at Echelon City Center.

Here are the top groundbreaking stories of 2022:

• Vertical construction and foundation work began for The Residences at 400 Central, a 46-story condominium building planned for 400 Central Avenue

• A ground breaking ceremony was held for Art House, a 42-story condominium tower planned for 200 Central Avenue

• Construction began on The Nolen, a 23-story condominium tower slated for 126 4th Avenue Northeast in downtown St. Pete

• Construction began on Modera St. Petersburg, a mixed-use development at 201 17th Street South, near Tropicana Field, that will have a 20-story apartment tower along with an 8-story mid-rise building

• Construction began on Reflection, an 18-story condominium tower at the northeast corner of 3rd Avenue North and 8th Street near Mirror Lake in downtown St. Petersburg

• Outside of downtown St. Pete, Echelon broke ground on a 17-story apartment building at 221 Main Street North in the Carillon business park of St. Pete

• Construction began on The EDGE Collective, a mixed-use development that is anchored by a 163-key Moxy hotel at 1234 Central Avenue

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Proposals:

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A rendering for a proposed 35-story apartment tower and adjacent 13-story hotel on 2nd street

The most significant activity in 202­­­2 was with new building proposals. This was an extremely active year to announce new high-rise projects and it seemed like there was a new announcement every month. From a 33-story apartment building planned for 3rd Avenue South to a 23-story apartment building proposed near Tropicana Field, there were new apartment towers proposed across downtown.

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A rendering for a proposed 33-story apartment building planned for 235 3rd street south

There was a 35-story apartment tower and adjacent 13-story hotel proposed for the current Fit2Run store on 2nd Street North, a 23-story apartment tower propose­­­d across from the Mirror Lake Library, a 16-story apartment tower proposed next to I-375 on 4th Avenue N­­orth, and many more. 

Many of these moved through the approval process, moving from proposals to approved projects. Most remain in various stages of the development pipeline while others are being re-tooled to match the changing economic climate.

It remains to be seen how many of these proposals will ultimately be completed, but if even half of these developments get completed, they will significantly alter downtown St. Pete.

Here are the top stories for proposed projects of 2022:

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A rendering for sky st. pete, a 20-story apartment building approved for burlington avenue

• Plans were filed for a 35-story apartment tower and adjacent 13-story hotel for a 1.48-acre lot at the southwest corner of 2nd Street and 3rd Avenue North.

• A 33-story apartment building with 268 units has been proposed for downtown St. Pete on a 0.88-acre site at 235 3rd Street South

• Plans were approved for a 23-story apartment tower with 204 units at 155 17th Street South near Tropicana Field

• A 23-story apartment tower with 285 apartments was approved for a parcel across the street from the Mirror Lake Library

• A 22-story apartment tower with 335 units was approved for a 0.92-acre site at 511 3rd Avenue South

• A 21-story building with 200 apartments and 10,843 square feet of commercial space was proposed for 699 1st Avenue North on the southwest edge of the Mirror Lake neighborhood

• Sky St. Pete, a 20-story 232-unit apartment tower, was approved for 0.73-acre site located at 1624, 1642, 1650, and 1662 Burlington Avenue North near the EDGE District

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A rendering for the residences at orange station

• Plans were approved for a 19-story apartment tower with 244 units at 1641 and 1659 1st Avenue North

• Plans were filed for Lake House, an 18-story mixed-use tower with 77 condominiums that was proposed for the Mirror Lake neighborhood

• A 16-story apartment building with 135 apartments was approved for a vacant lot at 747 4th Avenue North in downtown St. Pete

• Sales launched for The Residences at Orange Station, a mixed-use development that will feature a 16-story tower facing Central Avenue that will house 61 modern condominiums

• Revised plans were approved for a two-tower, 15-story development at 1000 1st Avenue North that will feature 254 rental units and 22,000 square feet of commercial space

• Also in the EDGE District, revised plans were approved for a 14-story building at 900 Central Avenue that will feature 185 apartment residences, 20 hotel rooms, nearly 10,000 feet of commercial space

• A 114-key hotel with a significant food and beverage focus has been approved for the EDGE District at Central Avenue and 11th Street

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Nearing Completion: 

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a rendering for ascent st. petersburg

While some projects are just starting to turn dirt, several others are nearing completion. Two major apartment buildings are set to open in the first half of 2023 including Ascent St. Petersburg, a 35-story apartment tower and adjoining 172-key AC Hotel by Marriot. Also wrapping up are Evo, a 23-story building at 334 2nd Avenue South. Ascent will deliver 357 apartments to the market while Evo will add 220 apartments.

Ascent and Evo aren’t the only major developments that will wrap up in 2023. Saltaire, a 35-story building under construction at 300 1st Street South, will bring nearly 200 condominiums to the market in mid-2023.

Additionally, smaller projects like The Metro, which is set to deliver 100 studio units to the EDGE District, will also impact the downtown rental market.

While some projects are almost certainly going to be completed in 2023 others, like the Galaxy Hotel, which has been under construction for nearly five years, remain a mystery. Will 2023 be the year the Galaxy Hotel is completed?

Here are the top stories for projects nearing completion of 2022:

• Pre-leasing began for Ascent St. Petersburg, a 35-story apartment building with 357 apartments and a 172-key AC Hotel by Marriott at 225 1st Avenue North

• Pre-leasing also began at Evo, a 23-story, 220-unit apartment tower under construction at 334 2nd Avenue South

• Saltaire, a 35-story condominum tower under construction at 300 1st Street South, is expected to wrap up construction in mid-2023