Construction begins on 325-unit apartment community near YMCA in Grand Central District

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Construction begins on 325-unit apartment community near YMCA in Grand Central District

Construction has officially commenced on a 325-unit apartment community that will anchor a new live-work-play neighborhood in St. Pete’s Grand Central District.

As first reported by St. Pete Rising, the five-story apartment building, dubbed The Henry at Whitney Village, is part of a larger development, which will also include a 32,000-square-foot pedestrian-only retail village and a 600-space parking garage for residents and visitors.

The mixed-use project will occupy 4.5 acres on the east side of the Jim & Heather Gills YMCA at 3200 1st Avenue South.

South Carolina-based multifamily developer Greystar Real Estate Partners purchased the property from the neighboring YMCA in February for $12 million.

The 25-year-old, 55,000-square-foot YMCA will undergo a major renovation funded by proceeds from the sale of the athletic field property.

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Cheeky’s seafood restaurant and raw bar reveals opening date for Grand Central District spot

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Cheeky’s seafood restaurant and raw bar reveals opening date for Grand Central District spot

Tampa native Nate Siegel, the co-founder behind Tampa’s award-winning Willa’s and Willa’s Provisions, has announced an opening date for his new neighborhood seafood restaurant and raw bar in St. Pete.

Cheeky's, Siegel's latest concept inspired by New England oyster bars and Southern fish shacks, will open on Wednesday, May 7th at 2823 Central Avenue in the Grand Central District.

First announced in 2023, the restaurant will occupy a portion of the building previously home to China Finders, a specialty china shop that closed in 2023 after more than 30 years in business.

“Coming to St. Pete is a dream come true, and opening a new place like Cheeky’s along Central Avenue is so exciting,” Siegel said in a prepared statement. “This is already such a special community, and I’m honored to become a part of it alongside my friends and neighbors at Bandit, Baba, Wild Child, and more.”

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New local wine club Savoir on Central to open in the Grand Central District next month

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New local wine club Savoir on Central to open in the Grand Central District next month

From rolling vineyards around the world to luxurious Michelin-starred restaurants, every glass of wine tells a story—and now, a local sommelier and her team are bringing those stories to St. Petersburg’s wine lovers.

Sommelier Sharon Mahoney and her business partner, Christina Noordstar, are launching Savoir on Central, an upscale wine club offering educational classes, curated tastings, and exclusive wine selections.

Located at 2531 Central Avenue, the club will open in late May in the former Rasta Canna Bar space in the Grand Central District.

Open to the public and wine club members, Savoir on Central is designed to be welcoming to everyone—from curious beginners to seasoned connoisseurs.

“Savoir on Central is for both seasoned wine enthusiasts and those just discovering the art of wine,” said Noordstar, a longtime local entrepreneur. She first met Mahoney through the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership St. Pete Class of 2019.

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Slim Charmer, a new martini bar from the owners of Wild Child, opens in the Grand Central District

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Slim Charmer, a new martini bar from the owners of Wild Child, opens in the Grand Central District

Nestled in a charming 1940s building, a New York–style cocktail parlor and tasting room has arrived in St. Petersburg, offering martinis and eclectic small plates.

From Matt Kaye and Rob Reinsmith—the duo behind the popular Wild Child restaurant—comes Slim Charmer, an intimate, 26-seat martini lounge located next to Wild Child’s patio at 2706 Central Avenue in the Grand Central District.

Kaye hopes the 800-square-foot space, named after a former nickname for his wife, will stand out as an innovative destination where guests can savor the unexpected and explore flavors not found elsewhere.

Both the food and drink menu will rotate frequently based on the season and available ingredients.

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Trails Crossing, a new linear park under I-275 in downtown St. Pete, moves forward after City Council vote

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Trails Crossing, a new linear park under I-275 in downtown St. Pete, moves forward after City Council vote

Four blocks of underutilized space beneath Interstate 275 in downtown St. Pete could be transformed into a new linear park featuring public art and event spaces, creating a destination for pedestrians and cyclists.

In a 7-to-1 vote, City Council approved an agreement on Thursday to contribute $150,000 toward hiring Colorado-based LandDesign, Inc. to kick off the master planning process for Trails Crossing, a walkable, activated park under I-275 that will embrace micro-transit and connect urban neighborhoods—an idea that has been in discussion for years.

“For too long, our community has been physically, socially, and economically divided by infrastructure that was never designed with connectivity in mind,” said John Barkett, a local developer and co-founder of the nonprofit group Friends of Trails Crossing, during Thursday’s meeting.

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