The Mariel, a collection of six luxury townhomes, will break ground next month on the former Dairy Inn property on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Street North | Stridis Renderings

Six luxury townhomes are preparing to break ground on the former Dairy Inn property, where the iconic ice cream shop served St. Pete for 76 years before closing in November 2023.

The new project, named The Mariel, is scheduled to begin construction next month at 1201 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street North, across from Hooks Sushi Bar and just minutes from downtown St. Pete.

A seasoned development team includes Jeff Craft and Brandon Wolford of Shell Basix Design/Build, which has developed more than 850 townhome units across the region; Ely Payne of Baysite Engineering as the civil engineer; and St. Pete-based Fraze Design as the architect.

Six luxury townhomes are set to rise at 1201 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street North, just minutes from downtown sT. pete | Google Maps

The Mariel’s six residences will each span over 2,800 square feet with three bedrooms, three-and-a-half bathrooms, and a bonus room.

Designed for modern luxury living, the homes will feature 12-foot ceilings, premium appliances, and natural gas cooking.

Each home will feature block construction with hurricane-rated windows and doors, and buyers will have the option to add a private elevator leading to a rooftop terrace.

The ground floor of every home will contain a two-car garage and a bonus room with a full ensuite bath, ideal for use as a gym or office.

The second floor will offer an open-concept living and dining area with a kitchen, pantry, and powder bath.