Longtime St. Pete investor Blake Whitney Thompson and multifamily developer Greystar Real Estate Partners plan to create a thriving live-work-play neighborhood on 4.5 acres in St. Pete’s Grand Central District just west of downtown St. Pete. 

Blake Investment Partners (BLAKE), which was selected in early 2023 to redevelop a portion of the Jim & Heather Gills YMCA at 3200 1st Avenue South, has formed a joint venture with Greystar and submitted a special exception application to the City of St. Petersburg’s Development Review Committee to redevelop the property. 

The proposed redevelopment, dubbed Whitney Village, will add 375 apartments, a parking garage, and 32,000 square feet of retail space to the property.

As part of the project, the 25-year-old, 55,000-square-foot YMCA facility, which is located on the west side of the property, will undergo an extensive renovation, funded by proceeds from the sale of 4.5 acres of the property. As part of the YMCA’s plans, a lighted, artificial turf field will be installed fronting 1st Avenue South.

“This collaborative project will modernize the Jim & Heather Gills YMCA to set us up to serve the community the next 25 years and beyond,” says David Jezek, President and CEO of YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg.

“We are working with the developers to bring new features such as covered parking and a lighted, artificial turf playing field. We will also redesign the Jim & Heather Gills facility, upgrading current spaces and expanding programming.”

On the east side of the property, Blake Investment Partners is planning to construct a 32,000-square-foot pedestrian-only retail village.

“We want something soulful, unique, and genuine. We spent 18 months thinking of ways to give St Petersburgians an experience that is focused on health, community, family-friendly - and architecturally significant,” Thompson said in a conversation with St. Pete Rising.

“It might sound silly, but the storefront designs, the awnings, the scooter and bike parking - even the trash - has been studied by our team. We drove and flew to places to learn from other successful place builders," added Thompson.

Above the retail will be 50 smaller apartments and studios, that will be at an attainable price point. These units were designed to help provide housing to local employees like the Jim & Heather Gills YMCA staff.

Unlike traditional urban retail and residential developments that are street-facing in the surrounding districts, the YMCA property is set back, allowing for plentiful green space, fountains, sports fields, and more amenities. 

"You're not going to find another opportunity like this again in St. Pete,” said Thompson, describing it as St. Pete’s version of Tampa’s Hyde Park Village, but with housing tailored towards the city’s diverse workforce.

"This will be for the people who want to live in St. Pete, enjoy a walkable urban environment, but not pay downtown St. Pete prices,” said Thompson.

The development will also feature a parking garage for residents, with dedicated spaces for YMCA members and Village goers.

In the southeast corner of the property, a five-story apartment community, to be named The Bellamy at Whitney Village, will be developed by a joint venture between Greystar Real Estate Partners and Blake Investment Partners.

The Bellamy will include approximately 325 apartments featuring a mix of studio, 1-, 2, and 3-bedroom units alongside best-in-market indoor and outdoor amenities. In addition, residents will receive memberships to the YMCA.

“We are excited to collaborate with Blake and the YMCA on this placemaking redevelopment. Greystar has become increasingly active in St. Petersburg over the last decade and we look forward to making our mark in the Grand Central District”, says David King, Managing Director, Greystar Development.

BLAKE’s portfolio includes real estate development, private equity investments as well as Seed & Feed Hospitality, a local hospitality group that owns a handful of popular St. Pete restaurants and bars such as Mandarin Hide, Trophy Fish, El Cap, and the upcoming Perry’s Porch.

South Carolina-based Greystar developed Ascent St. Pete, a 36-story luxury apartment tower, and is also building over 400 apartments at in the Gateway area of St. Pete.

Blake and Greystar are working with Tim Clemmons of St. Pete-based Place Architecture and engineering firm George F. Young Inc. on the proposed project. Local firm WJ Architects was hired to design the YMCA’s portion of the planned redevelopment.