St. Pete to consider designating Mirror Lake neighborhood as a local historic district
/An aerial view of Mirror Lake in downtown St. pete | st. pete rising
A portion of the Mirror Lake neighborhood in downtown St. Pete may soon become a local historic district, adding a layer of protection to properties within the neighborhood.
A citizen-initiated application was submitted to the City of St. Petersburg on June 14th, asking the city to consider designating nearly 21 acres around Mirror Lake as a local historic district to preserve its pedestrian-friendly, low-rise character amid a wave of new development.
The Mirror Lake neighborhood is situated between 8th and 4th Streets and between 1st and 5th Avenue North in downtown St. Pete and contains a large collection of historic homes and landmarks.
The natural lake at the center, known as Mirror Lake, once served as a freshwater reservoir for the small settlement of St. Petersburg (originally known as Wardsville) before becoming a central gathering destination and oasis in the heart of St. Pete, according to city records.
If approved, the historic district designation would require all properties within the district to obtain a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) for future exterior alteration, new construction, demolition, or relocation.
The local historic district would not impact any future development that has already received site plan approval by the city.
The proposed historic district would encompass the properties within the blue border | google earth
Additionally, the designation would have no effect on the century-old Mirror Lake Community Library, the original home of St. Petersburg High School, and the St. Petersburg Shuffleboard and Lawn Bowling Club, as these landmarks are already listed on the St. Petersburg Register of Historic Places.
According to a memo sent to property owners, "the process, which has recently been streamlined, is not designed to hinder owners’ ability to update and maintain their properties but aims to ensure the sensitivity of exterior alterations and additions to the historic nature of a designated district or individual local landmark."
The city’s Community Planning and Preservation Commission (CPPC) was expected to review the historic district designation on September 10th, however due to absence of several commissioners, the item was deferred to October 8th.
If approved by the CPPC, the proposed historic district designation will need to go before the St. Petersburg City Council for final approval.
There are outspoken supporters and opponents of the historic district designation.
Local preservation advocacy group Preserve the Burg is leading the effort to create the local historic district.
Mirror lake pictured on August 20, 1928 | City of St. Petersburg archives
“The local designation does not disallow new development, prevent you from selling or redeveloping your property, or dictate what you are able to do with the interior of your property. The designation does not dictate what color you paint your property or how you choose to use it,” Preserve the Burg wrote in a blog post.
“Properties in local historic districts can also receive property tax deductions and apply for grants, while individually listed local landmarks can sell their development rights.”
However, registered opponent Matthew Weidner, who owns property in the proposed district, states in a letter to the city, “this proposal is an effort by one group of activists to enforce dramatic downzoning right in the heart of our City’s economic core.”
Weidner also alleges that the applicant, “sketched out the boundaries of a proposed district that entirely suited their own purposes”, leaving out some of the district’s newest neighbors, such as the residents at the recently completed Reflection condo tower.
Opponents also claim the historic district designation would go too far in impinging on personal property rights.
The City’s code permits any resident or organization to file a historic designation application on any property in the city – without the consent of the impacted property owner.
Today, mirror lake continues to be regarded as a prominent city amenity | Preserve the burg
The city first issued notices to residents within the proposed historic district in January about the potential designation.
A demonstration of support from over half of the district’s tax parcels is required for citizen applicants to officially file a designation application.
Ballots were distributed in March 22nd and results were certified on June 7th. Out of the 142 tax parcels in the proposed district, 77 parcels supported the designation, just over the required 72 approval threshold.
While this is the first citizen-initiated request to create a local historic district in Mirror Lake, in 2021, St. Petersburg City Council considered a Mirror Lake historic district designation proposal submitted by St. Petersburg City Council member Gina Driscoll. The discussion was deferred.
The new request comes as the community is experiencing a surge of new real estate activity.
The 18-story, 88-unit Reflection condo tower, which is located outside of the proposed historic district | st. pete rising
The newly completed 18-story Reflection condo tower on 3rd Avenue North is starting to welcome new residents taking occupancy in the 88-unit building. While Reflection is located outside of the proposed historic district, it’s the tallest building in the immediate area around Mirror Lake.
Earlier this year, the city approved St. Pete developer Skyward Living's plans to build the 11-story Lake House condo building on Mirror Lake Drive North.
Another St. Pete-based developer, Backstreets Capital, recently submitted plans to preserve a historically significant property fronting Mirror Lake and construct an adjacent seven-story condo building.
