May 19, 2026

After 2024 crane collapse, St. Pete revisits tower crane safety ahead of hurricane season

May 19, 2026/ Veronica Brezina

Crane safety returned to the spotlight at last Thursday’s Public Service and Infrastructure Committee meeting, as St. Petersburg officials reviewed new preparedness measures and ongoing recommendations ahead of the start of hurricane season on June 1st.

The discussion stems from one of the most visible moments of storm damage in downtown St. Pete history, when high winds from Hurricane Milton caused a 500-foot-tall crane attached to the 46-story Residences at 400 Central tower to fall and crash into the five-story Tampa Bay Times building at 490 1st Avenue South.

The crane collapse ripped through the upper floors of the office building, allowing rainwater to pour into the building and triggering the emergency sprinkler system.

Additionally, portions of the crane and scattered debris were strewn across 1st Avenue South.

Fortunately, the building was vacant and no injuries were reported. However, the incident forced several tenants, including the Tampa Bay Times, to relocate.

More than a year and a half later, the building remains unusable and is now being marketed for sale as a redevelopment site.

November 14, 2025

$18.3 million approved for new storm-resilient operations building at Southwest Water Reclamation Facility

November 14, 2025/ Veronica Brezina

The City of St. Pete is moving forward with more than $19 million in major infrastructure upgrades that will strengthen the city’s resilience to hurricanes and improve the reliability of core public works systems.

City Council approved the investment during its November 6th meeting, advancing two projects that target stormwater improvements and long-needed updates at the Southwest Water Reclamation Facility at 3800 54th Avenue South next to Eckerd College.

“These projects support improvements to some of our most critical public works systems and facilities that impact residents’ day-to-day lives,” said Mayor Ken Welch in a prepared statement.

The largest portion of the investment is an $18.3 million Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) proposal for Ajax Building Company.

September 11, 2025

Gulfport favorites Neptune Grill and Let It Be Ice Cream reopen after hurricane damage

September 11, 2025/ Veronica Brezina

Nearly a year after Hurricane Helene devastated Gulfport’s waterfront, two beloved businesses have reopened their doors.

Neptune Grill and Let It Be Ice Cream were among the hardest hit when storm surge and historic flooding left the district in ruins. Today, they are once again welcoming customers.

When the storm swept through Tampa Bay last September, Neptune Grill, a family-run seafood and Greek restaurant, took on more than four feet of water.

For co-owner Dia Vartsakis, who operates the restaurant alongside her father, Gus, the extent of the damage was overwhelming.

“I remember returning to the restaurant after the storm and turning the corner to find everything damaged. We found our food blocks down the street,” Vartsakis said in a conversation with St. Pete Rising.

May 23, 2025

As hurricane season approaches, here’s how St. Pete and residents can prepare

May 23, 2025/ Veronica Brezina

It’s almost that time of year again to prepare for hurricane season, which runs from June 1st through November 30th.

The City of St. Petersburg, in partnership with Pinellas County, is taking precautionary measures ahead of the looming season by strengthening the region’s infrastructure.

The actions follow the release of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s 2025 Hurricane Outlook, which forecasts above-normal hurricane and tropical storm activity this season. The outlook predicts 13 to 19 named storms that could become hurricanes. Peak storm activity typically occurs between mid-August and mid-October, when tropical or subtropical cyclones are most likely to form in the North Atlantic Ocean.