New 540-space parking garage brings relief to EDGE District drivers
/A 540-space parking garage has opened at 1301 Central Avenue in st. pete’s EDGE DIstrict | city of st. petersburg
It’s official—parking in St. Pete’s EDGE District just got easier with the opening of a new public garage on Central Avenue.
A new 540-space parking garage has debuted at 1301 Central Avenue, directly across from Ferg’s Sports Bar and Grill, as part of the long-awaited mixed-use development The Central, currently under construction in the heart of the EDGE District.
On Tuesday morning, representatives from Ellison Development and the City of St. Pete gathered to celebrate the opening, marking a major milestone as the first completed component of The Central. The garage addresses one of the district’s greatest needs: accessibility and parking.
“This garage is more than just parking—it signals that The Central is becoming a reality,” said Casey Ellison, CEO of Ellison Development. “It’s a critical step forward in our bold investment in St. Petersburg’s future—one that drives economic growth, attracts new businesses, and enhances the vibrancy of the EDGE District for generations to come.”
Mayor Ken welch and casey ellison of ellison development (pictured in the center) cut the ceremonial ribbon celebrating the opening of the new parking garage | city of st. petersburg
Open 24/7, the garage offers paid public parking starting at $1.50 per hour or $21 per day, with limited monthly parking available starting at $100.
Drivers can enter on 1st Avenue North and pay using the Park with U mobile app, managed by Universal Parking. A portion of the spaces will be reserved for tenants and visitors of The Central once construction is complete in a few years.
“The new garage at The Central is a significant addition to the parking inventory in St. Pete’s popular EDGE District,” added Mayor Welch. “As The Central continues to take shape—with a premier hotel, landmark office tower, and vibrant public spaces—we look forward to the energy and optimism this project will bring to St. Pete’s local economy.”
The $200 million development will also include a 168-room Marriott Autograph hotel, 14,000 square feet of retail space, a 42-unit affordable housing community, and Halcyon—an 11-story office building offering 125,000 square feet of Class A office space. Halcyon represents the first Class A office building constructed in downtown St. Pete since the 1980s.
Rendering of the central | Ellison Development
The Central is a joint venture between J Square Developers, DDA Development, Ellison Development, and Backstreets Capital. It was designed by Tim Clemmons of St. Pete-based Place Architecture.
Construction began in February 2024 on the 2.1-acre site. The location is across from Ferg’s and near The EDGE Collective, a planned live-work-play destination anchored by the newly opened Moxy Hotel.
The development team expects to break ground on the 15-story, 4-star hotel soon and begin construction on the office building later this year, pending tenant commitments, according to Jordan Star, Chief Development Officer at Ellison Development.
The Central is expected to be completed by 2027.
