Demolition begins at former Tampa Bay Times building in downtown St. Pete
/Demolition has begun at the former Tampa Bay Times building in downtown St. Pete | St. Pete Rising
Demolition work has begun at the former Tampa Bay Times building at 490 1st Avenue South in downtown St. Petersburg, nearly two years after a construction crane collapsed into the property during Hurricane Milton.
Crews are currently completing interior, non-structural demolition and asbestos abatement, according to City of St. Petersburg permit records.
The eight-story, 240,000-square-foot complex consists of three buildings, with the original structure built in 1924 and additions completed in 1968 and 1988.
Naples-based Stock Development purchased the former Times building in June for $18 million.
The developer plans to redevelop the site with a high-rise condominium tower that could also include ground-floor commercial space and offices.
Interior demolition and asbestos abatement are underway at the former Tampa Bay Times building in downtown St. Pete | St. Pete Rising
Stock Development also acquired the neighboring Tramor Cafeteria property at 123 4th Street South for $14.5 million.
Built in 1929, the former Hofbräuhaus is designated historic and cannot be demolished. The developer has said it will work with historic preservation officials to determine how the structure can be incorporated into the larger project.
On September 18th, the City of St. Pete approved and issued a partial demolition permit for the former Times building. The work is structured in two phases, according to a statement from the city.
Phase one allows for interior demolition, asbestos removal, and utility disconnections. Before structural demolition begins, the developer must secure and cap the building’s water, sewer, and gas connections and lock out the electrical service.
Phase two will include full structural demolition of the building, along with right-of-way work and site restoration. The city said no additional demolition permit is required.
The eight-story, 240,000-square-foot Tampa Bay Times complex consists of three buildings, with the original structure built in 1924 and additions completed in 1968 and 1988 | St. Pete Rising
“The existing permit authorizes work to proceed on both phases, subject to any necessary revisions based on findings during Phase 1,” city spokesperson Samantha Bequer said in a statement to St. Pete Rising.
The building was deemed unfit and unsafe after the crane collapse at the neighboring Residences at 400 Central construction site in October 2024. The crane struck the upper three floors of the building, which was later stabilized through separate permitted work.
Under the city’s land development regulations, demolition of a principal building in downtown’s DC districts generally requires an approved site plan and a complete building permit application.
However, the city allows demolition to move forward in this case because of the building’s unsafe condition.
Stock Development has not yet submitted redevelopment plans for the site.
