Apartment Construction Boom Spreads Throughout St. Pete
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St. Petersburg is in the midst of an apartment construction boom that is, so far, showing no signs of slowing down. Nearly 2,500 multifamily rental units are currently under construction in the Sunshine City, a number which may pale in comparison to some cities, but is significant given St. Pete’s historical growth. And it may surprise people that this building boom is not just happening in the downtown core, but in other corners of the city as well.
While St. Pete Rising has previously reported on apartment projects like 1701 Central, Artistry, Vantage, and The Exchange, which are all under construction in Downtown St. Pete, there are a number of projects going vertical outside of downtown. These projects are largely concentrated in two areas: the Skyway Marina District and the Gateway area. In aggregate, these units will add thousands of new residents to St. Petersburg. Here’s a summary of multifamily apartment developments being built outside of downtown.
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What began with bouquets at Tampa Bay markets is becoming a place designed to carry people through the day, from morning coffee and flower arranging to wine and small plates in the evening.
Florafête Bouquet Bar, a floral design business founded by Lucy Watkins, plans to open this fall at 400 Beach Drive in downtown St. Pete.
The shop will bring custom arrangements, a build-your-own bouquet bar, retail goods, and a nine-seat wine and coffee bar together under one roof.
The space was previously occupied by Savory Spice Shop, which permanently closed in 2024.
Watkins, a Miami native with decades of hospitality experience, said the concept grew out of an encounter with flower carts while visiting her hometown in 2021.
“At the time, I was just visiting Miami when I saw flower carts not only selling single-stem flowers but also creating full bouquets for people on the street,” Watkins said.
Flower carts are a familiar sight in Miami, which serves as the country’s primary air gateway for imported flowers. Miami International Airport says it handled 91% of U.S. flower imports arriving by air in 2025, with many cut blooms coming from production centers in Colombia and Ecuador.