16-story hotel approved to replace 100-year-old storm-damaged building in downtown St. Pete
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An 11-story storm-damaged building in the heart of downtown St. Pete is one step closer to being demolished and redeveloped into a 16-story boutique hotel after receiving its first approval from the city.
St. Pete City Council, meeting as the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), found the proposed plan to demolish the 100-year-old building at 300 Central Avenue and construct a 16-story tower with 74 hotel rooms and 4,000 square feet of commercial space consistent with the City’s Intown Redevelopment Plan.
The existing structure, historically known as the Smith Empire Building and called the Coronet 300 since 1966, was constructed in 1924 as a commercial building and later adapted for mixed-use residential purposes in the 1960s. The building is not listed on the Local or National Register of Historic Places.
Local entrepreneur and developer Steve Gianfilippo of Gianco Companies, who purchased the building in 2017, said the vacant structure suffered significant damage from Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Interim repairs will be made to ensure safety while plans for the new hotel are finalized.
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A new spot for açaí bowls, poke, and coffee is coming to Treasure Island this fall.
Kaia Bowls will open in October at 111 107th Avenue, Unit A, in the same plaza as Gigi’s Italian Restaurant and Lana’s Lounge. The space was previously occupied by Vine and Grind, which relocated to 7230 Central Avenue and rebranded as Brick Road Olive Oil Company.
The 1,300-square-foot café will be Kaia Bowls’ seventh Tampa Bay location, joining existing shops in downtown St. Pete, Clearwater, Clearwater Beach, Madeira Beach, Safety Harbor and Ybor City. The company also operates one location in Illinois, with additional outposts planned for Gainesville and Miami.
Kaia Bowls offers sweet and savory bowls made with health-conscious ingredients. Its savory menu includes poke bowls with tuna, salmon, shrimp, chicken, or tofu, along with toppings such as avocado, rice, edamame, cucumbers, and seaweed salad.
Sweet selections include açaí, pitaya, chia pudding, coconut, and oatmeal bowls topped with fruit, granola, almonds, honey, peanut butter, coconut flakes, hemp seeds, and raw cacao nibs.
The menu also includes avocado toast, juices, and smoothies.