Pre-leasing has begun for downtown St. Pete’s newest luxury apartment tower, Ascent St. Petersburg, located at 225 1st Avenue North on northwest corner of 1st Avenue North and 2nd Street.

A leasing center is now open at 212 2nd Street North in a space formerly occupied by The Bula Barua Gallery.

The 36-story mixed-use development broke ground in December 2020, topped out in April 2022, and expects to begin moving in new residents by January 2023 with final construction completed by May 2023. 

Soaring to a height of 378 feet, Ascent St. Petersburg will be the tallest apartment building in downtown St. Pete and among the tallest overall.

The $117 million project is being developed and constructed by Greystar Real Estate Partners and will feature 357 apartments along with a 172-key AC Hotel by Marriott.

Headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina, Greystar is the largest developer, manager, and builder of apartments in the United States.

"It has a creative and eccentric interior that complements its modern exterior, which is emphasized by expansive glass balconies at nearly every unit,” said David King, Senior Director of Development. “Overall, Ascent connects with St. Pete's vibrant energy and creates an environment where residents can feel like they vacation where they live."

The ground floor of the building will feature a residential and hotel lobby along with ample retail and restaurant space. Along 1st Avenue North will sit a 3,200 square foot residential lobby and leasing office and 5,600 square feet of retail space. Fronting 2nd Street North will be a 2,500 square foot hotel lobby, which will include a hotel bar and lounge area, and 1,200 square feet of retail space.

A Cuban-inspired restaurant and bar called Cane & Barrel will be located on the rooftop terrace at the AC Hotel by Marriott.

The apartment portion of Ascent will start at the 6th floor and rise to the 37th floor, while the hotel portion will be located on floors two through eight. 

A five-story parking podium will have 497 parking spaces along with ample bike parking. The hotel and residential will share a covered porte cochère and drop-off area with ingress via 2nd Street. The parking garage will be accessible via 1st Avenue North.

Ascent’s apartment offerings include studios to one-, two- and three-bedrooms plus penthouse units.

Apartments at Ascent will include floor-to-ceiling windows, 10-foot ceilings, large glass balconies or private terraces, smart tech with mobile entry and thermostat control, custom wide-plank flooring, modern bright kitchens with an island or peninsula, sleek gray flat-panel cabinetry, and matte black or brushed gold fixtures.

The penthouse units will have features such as custom built-in islands with a waterfall edge, oversized garden soaking tubs, motorized window shades, a 46-bottle wine cooler, and stunning waterfront and downtown views. Penthouse residents also get access to a private 35th floor amenity lounge and reserved parking spot.

Ascent will feature community amenities such as an expansive co-work lounge with private meeting space, a 24-hour fitness center, and a wellness studio with HIIT-inspired equipment.

The building’s main pool area will be located on a sixth-floor amenity deck that will include a 2,500 SF pool, outdoor lounges, cabanas, outdoor grilling areas, and extensive landscaping.

A rooftop terrace on the 37th floor of the tower will feature a rooftop infinity pool, additional private cabanas and grilling areas, an exclusive resident lounge, and beautiful city views.

R2L Architecture designed the building with a series of elongated angular balconies which jut out from the building and are inspired by “local historic buildings and native tree bark geometries.”

The hotel portion of the project has been developed in partnership with Concord Hospitality with the hotel’s interiors designed by DLR Group. The AC Hotel by Marriott St. Petersburg is expected to open in late 2022. 

The apartments at Ascent are leasing now and are expected to begin moving in new residents by January 2023 with final construction completed by May 2023.

For more information on Ascent St. Petersburg, visit AscentStPete.com or stop by the leasing center located at 212 2nd Street North.