March 19, 2025

Inside Blake Investment Group's $260 million cash offer for the Tropicana Field site

March 19, 2025/ Veronica Brezina

After decades of debate and negotiations for the redevelopment of the Gas Plant District and securing the future home of the Rays, the deal with the team is no longer on the table, but one local developer is ready to sign a big check to make the long-awaited grand vision a reality.

Investor Thompson Whitney Blake, CEO of private equity firm Blake Investment Partners, is offering the City of St. Petersburg $260 million in an all-cash deal to buy the Gas Plant District following the Tampa Bay Rays' abrupt announcement of abandoning the $1.3 billion stadium agreement.

"My entire strategy is to get public support for a sale of the property and let the private market fix this 86-acre parking lot problem. I don't want to wait any longer," Blake said in a conversation with St. Pete Rising.

March 18, 2025

Multi-million-dollar renovation completed for 12-story City Center office tower in downtown St. Pete

March 18, 2025/ Veronica Brezina

The 12-story City Center office tower in downtown St. Petersburg has a fresh, modern look following a multi-million-dollar renovation.

The 242,115-square-foot Class A office building at 100 2nd Avenue South now features a contemporary atrium lobby, upgraded amenities, and state-of-the-art facilities.

The building, owned by Feldman Equities and its joint venture partners City Office REIT Inc. and Tower Realty Partners, has officially completed its renovation. This week, the owners unveiled a first look at the upgraded amenities and modernized features.

March 17, 2025

Prepared meal company Ideal Nutrition expanding to downtown St. Pete

March 17, 2025/ Veronica Brezina

Ideal Nutrition, a South Florida-based provider of fresh, pre-prepared meals, is set to open a new retail location in downtown St. Pete.

The 1,770-square-foot store is currently under construction and expected to open by the end of the year at 360 2nd Avenue South, on the ground floor of the 23-story, 220-unit Evo apartment building.

The expansion marks the company's entry into the Tampa Bay market, offering a selection of ready-to-eat meals designed to accommodate various dietary preferences.

The St. Pete location will offer over 40 meals, ranging from traditional plates to paleo, keto, vegetarian, vegan, and others priced at $8.49.

March 14, 2025

St. Pete investor offers $260 million to buy 86-acre Tropicana Field site

March 14, 2025/ Veronica Brezina

Prominent Tampa Bay investor Thompson Whitney Blake is offering the City of St. Petersburg $260 million in an all-cash deal to buy the Gas Plant District following the Tampa Bay Rays' abrupt announcement of abandoning the stadium agreement.

"We, along with all of the other residents in town, have listened to a decade of dialogues, debates, pundits, and prognosticators, lawyers, and talking heads... In our opinion, this project needs someone to do what my mom has always said, 'put your money where your mouth is.' So, here we go," Blake, CEO of private equity firm Blake Investment Partners, wrote in a letter to Mayor Ken Welch and the St. Petersburg City Council.

The offer letter was sent on Thursday, March 13, shortly after the Tampa Bay Rays announced on social media that they were withdrawing from the $1.37 billion deal to build a new stadium in downtown St. Petersburg. The team cited unforeseen challenges from back-to-back hurricanes and prolonged negotiations as reasons for their decision.

March 12, 2025

Century-old Playhouse Theatre to be demolished for redevelopment in the Grand Central District

March 12, 2025/ Veronica Brezina

Boarded-up windows and crumbling stucco line the exterior of the former Playhouse Theatre—a once-thriving venue for the latest Hollywood movies and traveling performers.

The long-vacant, 100-year-old theater at 1850 Central Avenue may soon be demolished to make way for a new development featuring office space and retail.

The site is located next to an Interstate 275 overpass and adjacent to the Trails Crossing development, a proposed linear park featuring public art and event spaces that is being studied for the area under I-275.