St. Petersburg Catholic High School charts $64 million campus expansion

St. Petersburg Catholic High School charts $64 million campus expansion

St. Petersburg Catholic High School is preparing for the largest campus expansion in its nearly 70-year history.

On Wednesday, the St. Petersburg Development Review Commission approved a long-term master plan that will add new academic, athletic, and administrative buildings while modernizing existing facilities and campus infrastructure.

Over the past several years, enrollment has grown from approximately 285 students to about 550 as the school expanded its academic offerings.

To support those needs and address aging infrastructure, the college preparatory school at 6363 9th Avenue North is planning a multi-phase, $64 million campus expansion and modernization.

Wednesday’s approval allows St. Petersburg Catholic to construct 163,133 square feet of new academic, athletic, and administrative facilities, along with additional athletic fields, across 11 phases.

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Mayor Welch selects team to redevelop Historic Gas Plant District in downtown St. Pete

Mayor Welch selects team to redevelop Historic Gas Plant District in downtown St. Pete

St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch has selected The Burg Bid team, led by St. Pete-based Blake Investment Partners, to redevelop the Historic Gas Plant District.

The proposal envisions an estimated $8.1 billion mixed-use redevelopment featuring more than 3,600 affordable and workforce housing units, a new Woodson African American Museum of Florida, parks, hotels, office space, retail and workforce development facilities across the 58-acre site.

The announcement marks the city's first major redevelopment decision since the collapse of the previous redevelopment agreement between the Tampa Bay Rays and Hines in early 2025.

Welch announced the selection Wednesday following a months-long competitive process that drew nine unsolicited proposals from development teams across the country.

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Seven visions emerge for three-acre Commerce Park site in south St. Pete

Seven visions emerge for three-acre Commerce Park site in south St. Pete

The City of St. Pete is one step closer to deciding the future of a three-acre property at Commerce Park in south St. Pete.

In April, the City issued a request for proposals (RFP) for a collection of 19 city-owned parcels along 22nd Street South in the Deuces corridor.

The site, which sits directly across from the Manhattan Casino, is within a historically significant area that once served as a hub for Black-owned businesses, restaurants, and entertainment venues before decades of disinvestment and the construction of I-275 reshaped the corridor.

The property has been the subject of multiple redevelopment plans over the past two decades, none of which have fully panned out.

The city began assembling the land in 2007 under Mayor Rick Baker with plans for a manufacturing and industrial employment center, but those plans stalled during the Great Recession.

A second push under Mayor Rick Kriseman brought plans for a manufacturing facility and a Euro Cycles dealership, and construction even began in 2018.

But the project ultimately fell apart, forcing the city to unwind parts of the deal.

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24-story, 373-unit apartment tower prepares to break ground in downtown St. Pete

24-story, 373-unit apartment tower prepares to break ground in downtown St. Pete

A Chicago development team is preparing to begin construction on a 24-story apartment tower in downtown St. Pete, bringing 373 apartments, ground-floor retail, and a rooftop lounge to a site just steps from Central Avenue.

Focus is actively conducting early groundwork testing at 275 5th Street South as it moves toward construction of its first project in the local market.

The project has been years in the making.

While Focus purchased the 0.92-acre property from Tampa-based investment firm EquiAlt in a $20.25 million transaction in 2023, rising interest rates and a challenging capital environment slowed multifamily development projects across the country.

Finally, the project is moving ahead.

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Construction begins on Naked Farmer's second St. Pete location

Construction begins on Naked Farmer's second St. Pete location

Farm-to-table restaurant Naked Farmer has begun renovations on a second St. Pete location.

The fast-casual restaurant is slated to open in November at 2631 4th Street North, the former home of EVOS, a health-conscious fast-food chain that operated at the site for 22 years before closing last spring.

Renovations to the existing 1,920-square-foot building are being led by general contractor Fox Building Group.

"This is the first standalone restaurant we've built entirely as our own, from the ground up," CEO Jordan Johnson told St. Pete Rising. "Every detail — the space, the light, the way the kitchen flows — is designed to honor the food and the farmers behind it. We want guests to walk in and feel the care that goes into every plate."

Founded in 2020, Naked Farmer is known for serving scratch-made meals featuring ingredients sourced from small and medium-sized farms across the southeastern United States.

All menu items are prepared without seed oils, using avocado oil and extra virgin olive oil instead.

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New metaphysical shop Arcana brings tarot, Reiki, and spiritual healing to Gulfport

New metaphysical shop Arcana brings tarot, Reiki, and spiritual healing to Gulfport

Velvet chairs, a moody dark color palette, and shelves lined with tarot decks and ritual candles greet customers stepping into a new metaphysical shop that recently opened in Gulfport.

Arcana brings a bit of whimsy to its corner storefront, serving as an inclusive venue and collective where Reiki practitioners, tarot readers, and others offer spiritual healing and guidance.

The shop, located at 1303 49th Street South, celebrated its grand opening on June 14th.

Arcana is owned by practicing psychic Lindsay Caskey and her husband, Brandon, better known as "Caskey," an indie hip-hop rapper from Winter Park.

Together, the pair has built an audience of more than half a million followers across social media, many of whom have followed the shop's renovation and opening journey online.

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Baba and Barbouni to close in Grand Central District, making way for Barra Barra and Kaixo

Baba and Barbouni to close in Grand Central District, making way for Barra Barra and Kaixo

After seven years, Baba and Barbouni are preparing to close, but the future of the Grand Central District property will remain in familiar hands.

Owners George and Debbie Sayegh announced Thursday that longtime team members Andrew Duncan and Danielle McCoy will take over the restaurant space at 2701 Central Avenue with two new concepts: Barra Barra and Kaixo.

The pair have spent the past year working alongside the Sayeghs developing the concepts, which will replace Baba and Barbouni following their final service on July 3rd.

“For Debbie and I, one of the greatest privileges of Baba has been watching talented people grow within these walls,” George Sayegh wrote in a social media post announcing the transition.

“And for the past year we've been working closely with two of those people, Chef Andrew Duncan and Sommelier Danielle McCoy, to develop a new restaurant that reflects their creativity, energy, and vision,” he added.

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Former Times building, historic Tramor property in downtown St. Pete sold for $32.5 million

Former Times building, historic Tramor property in downtown St. Pete sold for $32.5 million

Two prominent properties in the heart of downtown St. Petersburg have sold for a combined $32.5 million, with plans for a high-rise condominium tower on the site.

Naples-based Stock Development, a family-owned luxury real estate development and homebuilding company, has purchased the 490 First Avenue South tower, formerly home to the Tampa Bay Times, and the historic Tramor Cafeteria building at 123 4th Street South, most recently occupied by Hofbräuhaus St. Petersburg.

The two properties together comprise 1.8 acres.

"We're excited to continue expanding our brand and remain confident in St. Petersburg and the Tampa Bay region," Keith Gelder, president of Stock Development, said in a conversation with St. Pete Rising. "We look forward to bringing a signature project to the market."

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Tampa's Southern Luv BBQ expanding to downtown St. Pete

Tampa's Southern Luv BBQ expanding to downtown St. Pete

Grab a bib and a handful of napkins, because a new barbecue spot is headed to downtown St. Pete.

Southern Luv BBQ, a fast-casual concept that debuted its first location in Tampa two years ago, is coming soon to the EDGE District.

Chef Essi Tadrus and a local franchisee have signed a lease for a 1,256-square-foot space at 900 Central Avenue that was formerly part of Anytime Fitness.

The restaurant will have seating for approximately 20 guests indoors, with additional outdoor seating along Central Avenue.

The local franchisee, a St. Pete resident with more than 30 years of restaurant experience, has committed to opening 13 locations throughout Florida, including Clearwater, Pinellas Park, Lakeland, and South Florida.

The St. Pete location is expected to open later this year.

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St. Pete Pride expects 300,000 attendees for 2026 celebration during final weekend of June

St. Pete Pride expects 300,000 attendees for 2026 celebration during final weekend of June

St. Pete Pride returns later this month with several weeks of events leading up to its signature parade and festival during the final weekend of June.

The annual celebration is expected to draw more than 300,000 attendees to downtown St. Petersburg for a weekend of entertainment, community events, and one of the largest Pride parades in the Southeast.

This year’s theme is “Here Comes the Sun,” which was selected by organizers to celebrate visibility, community, and LGBTQ+ culture.

Parade day festivities begin Saturday, June 27th at 2 p.m. at North and South Straub parks and will feature live music, local entertainers and artists, more than 100 vendors and exhibitors, and a variety of food and drink options.

The Trans March begins at 5 p.m., followed by the main parade at 6 p.m.

The parade route starts at Albert Whitted Park (near Al Lang Stadium) and travels along Bayshore Drive to Vinoy Park.

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