USF St. Pete Breaks Ground on New Housing Project
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The University of South Florida St. Petersburg embarks on its latest chapter of growth with the construction of a new residence hall and dining facility. Community leaders and local elected officials including Mayor Rick Kriseman, USFSP Regional Chancellor Martin Tadlock, and USF President Judy Genshaft gathered today to officially break ground on a project that will increase the campus’ housing population by nearly 70%.
The 125,000 square foot building will be six-stories and have 375 beds. Once complete it will join two other dormitories in expanding on-campus housing from 550 beds to more than 900, an important step for the university which has recently had to house students in the Downtown St. Pete Hilton Bayfront Hotel due to lack of capacity.
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A St. Pete native and former USF basketball star is preparing to open what he calls a love letter to his hometown.
Love Language 727 Restaurant & Lounge will open in October at 3063 Central Avenue in the Grand Central District.
The space was previously home to 31 Grand, a sports bar that closed in late 2024 following back-to-back hurricanes. Before that, it housed Punky’s Bar and Grill, an LGBTQ-friendly establishment that closed in 2022 after nearly seven years in business.
Owner Jimmy Devon Baxter is returning to St. Pete after nearly two decades in Atlanta, where he said he was inspired by the city’s experience-driven restaurant and lounge scene.
After graduating from Boca Ciega High School, he played basketball for the University of South Florida from 2000 to 2004.
During his senior year, Baxter received the NCAA Award of Valor for helping rescue two men trapped inside a vehicle following a violent crash. The City of Tampa also presented him with a key to the city for his efforts.