Shore Acres will receive a new stormwater pump station and upgraded drainage infrastructure after the City of St. Petersburg secured a $2 million state appropriation for flood mitigation projects in one of the city's most flood-prone neighborhoods.

The funding, included in Florida's Fiscal Year 2026-27 budget, will support the Shore Acres Denver Street Storm Damage Improvements project.

Sponsored by Senator Nick DiCeglie and Representative Lindsay Cross, the project will improve the capacity of the stormwater system to move water through the area along Denver Street NE between North Dakota Avenue NE and Pennsylvania Avenue NE.

The work includes upsizing portions of the stormwater system and installing a new pump station to reduce surface flooding and improve drainage during major storm events.

The total project is estimated to cost $8.7 million. The state appropriation will cover $2 million, with the remaining cost funded through local sources.

Construction is expected to be completed by October 30th, 2028.

City officials said the state appropriation will accelerate the project under the city's St. Pete Agile Resilience (SPAR) initiative, allowing construction to begin earlier than originally planned.

DiCeglie said the funding was prompted by the repeated flooding and storm damage Shore Acres experienced during Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

Shore Acres, home to roughly 2,500 residences, was among the neighborhoods hardest hit by Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024. Nearly two years later, many homes remain under repair, while some homeowners opted to sell rather than rebuild.

According to the city, the improvements will reduce flooding for more than 350 properties served by the system while providing greater protection for homes, businesses, and public infrastructure.

"Strengthening our infrastructure and neighborhoods continues to be a top priority for my administration as we recover and prepare for future storm seasons," Mayor Ken Welch said in a statement.

"The city will use this funding to improve stormwater flows, protect homes, and keep our residents safe during wet weather events in the Shore Acres area," he continued, thanking DiCeglie, Cross, and the Florida Legislature for their support.

The project also advances recommendations in the city's Stormwater Master Plan, its long-term strategy for modernizing aging stormwater infrastructure.

A community-centered café will open this fall in South St. Pete as one of the first businesses inside the Looking Glass Initiative, a two-block adaptive reuse project along Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street South.

Located at 908 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street South, Café Ora will serve espresso drinks made with locally roasted beans from St. Pete-based Look Alive Coffee, breakfast sandwiches and pastries by day, and beer, wine, and neighborhood programming later in the week.

The café is designed to serve as a gathering place for residents, nonprofits, and local organizations.

“It’s a love letter to Campbell Park, Bartlett Park, 13th Street Heights, and Historic Roser Park,” Café Ora founder Meiko Seymour said in a conversation with St. Pete Rising. “To everybody right here in this vicinity, we intend to be your neighborhood spot. This project has to be owned by the community, by those that live in these neighborhoods.”

Café Ora is envisioned as a "third space", a place outside of home and work where neighbors can gather and connect.

While permitting and construction delays have pushed the timeline back slightly, the café remains on track to open this fall.

The name is a play on "aura" while also referencing the prefix "ora," which Seymour said reflects communication, connection, and bringing people together.

Seymour is the founder of Uncommon City Church and serves as a commissioner with the St. Petersburg Housing Authority. He has also held several civic leadership roles throughout the city.

In addition to serving coffee, the space will host meetings for Uncommon City, neighborhood associations, local nonprofits, and city-led educational classes on topics such as financial literacy.

Café Ora’s menu will feature classic espresso drinks, matcha lattes, teas, organic sodas, mushroom coffees, breakfast sandwiches, baked goods, and light afternoon fare.

Operator and general manager Allison Nash is also developing a lineup of signature coffee drinks inspired by the surrounding neighborhoods.

Beginning Thursday afternoons, Café Ora will transition into an evening gathering space with beer, wine, non-alcoholic beverages, and neighborhood programming that could include jazz performances, comedy, and spoken word.

Café Ora is one of the first tenants planned for the Looking Glass Initiative, led by developer John Barkett and his wife, Julie.

The adaptive reuse project is transforming the 900 and 1000 blocks of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street South into a collection of locally owned businesses, health- and wellness-focused spaces, and neighborhood amenities.

Future tenants include bookstore Pages and Perks, kids coding school Code Wiz, and a teaching garden.

The roughly 1,600-square-foot café occupies a restored century-old building featuring its original brick, exposed beams, and a brutalist-inspired interior accented with abundant greenery.

“The south end of St. Pete deserves something that's just for them, and because of that approach, I don't know if it'll be everything to everybody,” Seymour said.

One of Café Ora's long-term goals is ensuring everyone feels welcome, regardless of their financial circumstances.

Seymour plans to introduce a pay-it-forward program allowing customers to contribute toward drinks or meals for neighbors who cannot afford them.

He's also developing a program that would provide free breakfast sandwiches to students walking to nearby schools, noting that roughly one in six children in Pinellas County experience food insecurity, according to the Juvenile Welfare Board.

“We don't want any of our neighbors, housed and unhoused, to feel like we're coming in and pushing them out,” Seymour said.

Follow Café Ora on Instagram for the latest updates on its opening, and visit the Looking Glass Initiative website to learn more about the redevelopment of two blocks along Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street South.

Place Architecture

Place Architecture

Place Architecture

Place Architecture

Place Architecture

Place Architecture

Place Architecture

Place Architecture

Madeira Beach commissioners unanimously approved plans Wednesday for a six-story, 87-room Marriott Tribute Portfolio hotel in the heart of John’s Pass Village.

The 4-0 vote approved the project's development agreement, rezoning request, and associated right-of-way vacation. Commissioner David Tagliarini was absent.

The $150 million project, led by local developer Bill Karns in partnership with Caddy's owner Marcus Winters, will transform a 1.5-acre surface parking lot at the southeastern corner of 129th Avenue East and Pelican Lane into an 87-room boutique hotel with restaurants, retail space, a rooftop pool, a public park, and a parking garage.

The hotel will operate under Marriott's Tribute Portfolio, a collection of independent boutique hotels, and will function as a condo-hotel, allowing individual buyers place their units into a rental program when not using them.

The hotel will be the fourth Tribute Portfolio hotels in the region, joining The Karol Hotel in Clearwater, The Luce in St. Pete Beach, and The Westshore Grand in Tampa’s Westshore district.

Designed by Tim Clemmons of Place Architecture, the new Madeira Beach hotel draws inspiration from the traditional fishing village character of John's Pass, incorporating colorful exterior siding, metal roofs, shutters, and architectural details intended to complement the surrounding waterfront storefronts and restaurants.

“The goal has always been the same: to create a high-quality, family-oriented hotel for John's Pass Village,” Clemmons said during a neighborhood meeting in November. “We hope this is really seen as the center and gathering spot for John's Pass Village.”

The hotel will offer 24 studios, 32 one-bedroom suites, 28 two-bedroom suites, and three three-bedroom penthouse suites.

The ground floor will include 7,550 square feet of retail space, a 3,350-square-foot restaurant, a 1,000-square-foot café connected to the lobby, and a covered porte cochere with valet service.

The sixth floor will feature a rooftop pool overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway, a 3,900-square-foot restaurant with an outdoor bar open to the public, a game room, fitness center, guest lounge, 2,800 square feet of event space, multiple outdoor terraces, and the three penthouse suites.

A 267-space parking garage will replace the existing surface lot, with 92 spaces reserved for paid public parking. Under the development agreement, hourly parking rates cannot exceed the City's prevailing parking rate by more than $1.00, which currently would allow a maximum rate of $5.00 per hour.

The approvals also vacate a portion of Fisherman's Alley, allowing the developer to consolidate the property for construction.

In exchange, the developer will provide approximately 16,000 square feet of permanent public access easements, including an extension of Pelican Lane connecting 129th Avenue East to Boardwalk Place and a publicly accessible park.

Fisherman's Alley will remain open at both ends of the block.

Developers said extending Pelican Lane will improve traffic circulation, shift hotel traffic away from the boardwalk, and create a safer, more pedestrian-friendly environment.

The project will also include 10-foot-wide sidewalks along three street frontages, new crosswalks on Boardwalk Place and 129th Avenue East, and resurfacing of Boardwalk Place.

While commissioners praised the project, several nearby residents and business owners raised concerns about the new one-way traffic pattern created by the Pelican Lane extension.

“Everybody coming here for 22 years uses the East End Lane to get to our restaurant,” said Sue Zirneskie, co-owner of Walt'z Fish Shak. “I'm not opposing the hotel—just the access. People go the wrong way all the time on East End.”

A neighboring resident also said the revised traffic pattern would make accessing his home more difficult.

Attorney Brian Aungst of Macfarlane Ferguson & McMullen, representing the developer, said Boardwalk Place and East End Lane will remain open during construction and that widening Pelican Lane to accommodate two-way traffic was not feasible.

Gulf Coast Consulting Inc. will oversee utility relocations and said it does not anticipate disruptions to neighboring businesses.

Place Architecture

Place Architecture

Place Architecture

Place Architecture

“This is an amazing project,” Commissioner Eddie McGeehen said. “This will be a great resource to our community considering today's environment and landscape, possibly reducing our tax base need. We need to concentrate and encourage businesses to move to our town and thrive.”

Under the approved development agreement, the developer must submit a building permit application within three years. The agreement remains in effect for up to 15 years.

“I would like to thank the mayor, commissioners, and city staff for all their hard work to make this happen,” Karns said in a statement to St. Pete Rising following the meeting. “I'm extremely grateful.”

Karns hopes to commence construction later this year and complete the hotel by 2028.

Rumba Island Bar & Grill has abruptly closed its St. Pete location at 6445 4th Street North, leaving employees and customers with little explanation.

Employees tell St. Pete Rising they arrived for work earlier this week expecting a normal shift, only to find the restaurant locked and learn that it had permanently closed.

An employee at the restaurant's Clearwater location also confirmed the St. Pete location's closure.

The outdoor dining patio furniture has been removed, chairs are stacked inside the restaurant, and there is no notice explaining the closure at the 5,300-square-foot building.

Rumba Island Bar & Grill, which also operates a location in Clearwater, is owned by Indian Shores-based Baystar Restaurant Group.

Baystar Restaurant Group, led by restaurateur Frank Chivas, has operated restaurants in Pinellas County for more than two decades, including Salt Rock Grill and Island Way Grill.

The St. Pete restaurant opened in 2023 in a building formerly occupied by WingHouse Bar & Grill.

The restaurant specialized in seafood and island-inspired cuisine, serving dishes such as grouper sandwiches, jerk chicken rice bowls, fresh fish, rum cocktails, and tropical appetizers.

It also drew regular crowds with daily happy hour specials and live music on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Baystar Restaurant Group has not publicly announced the reason for the closure.

St. Pete Rising reached out to Baystar Restaurant Group for comment, but the call was not returned prior to publication.

This story will be updated if additional information becomes available.

Rumba Island Bar & Grill's Clearwater location at 1800 Gulf to Bay Boulevard remains open.

The Penny Lane Beatles Museum, containing one of the world's largest permanent Beatles collections, will debut in downtown St. Pete on August 5th.

The new 2,100-square-foot museum will be located at 146 2nd Street North on the ground floor of the Palais Royale office building.

The nonprofit museum announced its move to St. Pete last year and closed its Dunedin location in June.

The new St. Pete space is four times the size of the museum's former Dunedin location, allowing the organization to significantly expand both its exhibits and programming.

Visitors entering the new museum will be greeted by a reception area, gift shop, and a small stage featuring Ringo Starr's drum kit.

The museum's interior will be filled with bright colors and psychedelic artwork inspired by the band's late-'60s era, including albums such as Magical Mystery Tour and Yellow Submarine.

Outside, the building's awning will project colorful moving patterns onto the sidewalk.

Large display cases throughout the museum will showcase Beatles memorabilia, while a dedicated children's room will offer coloring and other hands-on activities.

Pinellas Park-based Creative Arts Unlimited has created several larger-than-life installations inspired by Beatles songs, including a mechanical octopus and a yellow submarine that will be visible from the street.

“Everything they have designed is absolutely purposeful, intentional for this space. You're not going to find it anywhere else in the world,” Executive Director Craig Bachner said in a conversation with St. Pete Rising.

Penny Lane was founded in 2017 by local radiologist Dr. Robert Entel.

Entel funds the museum and supplies its exhibits from his personal collection, which includes instruments, signed documents, rare collectibles, toys, games from the 1960s, apparel, and even a prized pair of John Lennon's glasses.

The museum plans to regularly rotate exhibits, allowing visitors to see new artifacts from Dr. Robert Entel's extensive collection, much of which is currently stored in a warehouse.

Professional curator Allison Holuban is leading the exhibition design, and QR codes throughout the galleries will eventually give visitors additional historical context about many of the artifacts on display.

“Being here with all the other museum attractions and other growth activities that St. Petersburg has had to offer makes a trip to Penny Lane an interesting destination for travelers,” said Bachner. “I can see people visiting us, as well as other museums in the area on the same day.”

The museum will be within walking distance of the Museum of the American Arts & Crafts Movement, The James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art, The Florida Holocaust Museum, Museum of Fine Arts and several other downtown museums.

Penny Lane also plans to partner with local nonprofits and arts organizations, including The Florida Orchestra, the University of South Florida's music department, and Creative Pinellas to present live music and educational programming both inside the museum and at venues throughout the city.

The foyer of the Palais Royale building will host stripped-down candlelit performances by Beatles tribute bands, and the museum also hopes to bring in guest speakers and Beatles historians from around the world.

“It's not necessarily an educational museum in the sense of trying to document history, but we're more interested in spreading the peace, love, and happiness that The Beatles were all about,” Bachner says. “My favorite thing is listening to people tell their Beatles stories. Everybody has one.”

A grand opening celebration is planned for this fall. The museum also expects to launch an online merchandise store in the coming months.

Admission will be $15 for visitors ages 8 and older. Bachner says the fee will help support the nonprofit's ongoing operations.

“We are a not-for-profit museum and we want to make sure everyone knows that nobody is getting rich off of this,” said Bachner. “We rely on sponsorships, donations and grants to keep going.”

When it opens on August 5th, Penny Lane will welcome visitors from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, with plans to eventually add live music on Saturday evenings.

When longtime friends April Lupkey and Lauren Kirk quietly opened Lucky Cup Coffee Co. inside the Galaxy Hotel in downtown St. Pete last summer, most of their customers were hotel guests.

Some days, they made just two drinks.

Then a friend ordered a matcha latte that wasn't even on the menu and shared it on social media.

The post took off, and the tiny hotel lobby café quickly became one of St. Pete's fastest-growing coffee shops.

A year later, the pair is preparing for its biggest step yet.

Today, Lucky Cup announced it’ll open a second location at 2606 Fairfield Avenue South inside The Factory, a massive creative campus in the Warehouse Arts District that is home to local businesses like FloridaRAMA, Daddy Kool Records, and St. Pete Athletic.

The 2,150-square-foot café will feature an expanded coffee program, a spacious outdoor patio, and an entirely new evening concept.

Daytime service is expected to begin later this summer, with beer, wine and evening programming debuting this fall.

"We knew at some point we'd get to a place where we'd outgrown the space that we're in currently," Lupkey said in a conversation with St. Pete Rising. "The hotel space can feel quite limited, and there's so much more that we can give our customers."

Success came faster than either owner expected.

What began as a two-person operation has grown into an eight-person team, forcing Lupkey and Kirk to quickly learn how to scale a business while maintaining the quality and personality that attracted customers in the first place.

"We used to eyeball everything," Kirk laughed. "Now we're thinking about what selling 500 coffees in a day means for inventory, prep, recipes, and managing a growing team."

That attention to detail is reflected throughout Lucky Cup's menu.

Nearly every signature drink can be ordered with either espresso or matcha, including favorites like the Banana Bread latte, made with house-made banana syrup and cinnamon, or the Oh Honey, featuring honey, vanilla, cinnamon, and a touch of salt.

While seasonal drinks rotate throughout the year, those two originals have remained the café's best-selling beverages.

The breakfast menu has also developed a loyal following.

In addition to pastries and other baked goods, Lucky Cup offers eight breakfast and lunch items, ranging from sandwiches and bagels to loaded toasts.

The most popular food item is the bacon, egg and cheese sandwich, or BEC, served on a choice of sourdough, bagel or croissant.

The menu also features avocado toast topped with microgreens, pickled onions and hemp hearts, and a banana toast layered with peanut or almond butter, honey and cinnamon.

That growth has given Lupkey and Kirk the confidence to think beyond coffee.

In the evenings, Lucky Cup will transition into a neighborhood gathering place with local craft beer, wines, mocktails, and shareable plates.

Lupkey and Kirk also hope to experiment with wine-based cocktails as the concept evolves.

As for the outdoor patio, Lucky Cup plans to utilize the space for live music, night markets, game nights, and other community events.

"When people ask me to describe St. Pete, I say it's a feel-good place where everybody is into art, culture, and activity," Lupkey said. "I feel like The Factory kind of embodies that. If you had to put St. Pete in one building, it would be The Factory."

For Lupkey and Kirk, the expansion is about more than opening another coffee shop.

"It's nice to be able to create an experience for someone," they said. "That's what drives both of us."

They credit the St. Pete community for making that possible.

"We both would like to express how thankful we are to the community," Lupkey said. "Without their support, there's no way that we could be taking this huge step."

Be sure to follow Lucky Cup Coffee Co. on Instagram and TikTok to stay up to date on the latest specials and the grand opening of its new location.

Residents can now grab a specialty coffee, browse locally made goods, and book a beauty appointment all under one roof in Seminole.

BB House, which celebrated its grand opening last month at 6080 Seminole Boulevard, combines a beauty bar, specialty café, and local vendor market into a single concept.

Mariah Miller and Karina Corrales, who both have backgrounds in the beauty industry, founded BB House to be an inclusive, family-friendly space.

They signed the lease for two connected storefronts in the Seminole plaza last summer.

One houses the café, lounge, and vendor market, while the other is home to private beautician studios.

Corrales operates the café through her coffee cart, Milk Madre, while Miller provides eyelash and eyebrow services through her business, Shape Space.

When searching for a location, Miller said Seminole stood out because of its residential feel and central location.

“Seminole has such a close-knit community, and I've loved watching it grow over the past few years,” Miller said in a conversation with St. Pete Rising. "It really feels like the area is starting to take off.”

“I love how close Seminole is to other cities in the Tampa Bay area, so I can attract clients from Tampa, St. Pete, and throughout Pinellas County,” she added.

Corrales serves a rotating menu of espresso drinks and matcha lattes from the Milk Madre coffee cart.

Her customizable menu ranges from simple brown sugar and vanilla iced lattes to seasonal beverages like a s'mores latte with toasted marshmallow and a mango passionfruit dirty soda topped with cold foam.

Strawberry espresso and matcha lattes will be available throughout the summer, and she expects to introduce fall flavors like pumpkin spice and chestnut praline in the coming months.

Because BB House is designed as a family-friendly space, Milk Madre also serves chocolate and strawberry milk for children.

Complementing the drink menu are stuffed cookies, homemade Pop-Tarts, and sourdough products from local bakers.

BB House also features cozy indoor seating and a shaded outdoor patio for café guests.

The vendor market offers handmade jewelry, apparel, vintage home goods, drinkware, custom wine glasses, hand-painted hair brushes, and other goods from local Tampa Bay makers.

A local florist also displays fresh floral arrangements and a build-your-own bouquet station.

Supporting, encouraging, and promoting other women-owned small businesses is a core part of BB House's mission, according to its owners.

“It's so special having all of these women that make these handcrafted items, several of which are also mothers,” Corrales said. “These women are showing up and doing their thing, and I'm happy they have somewhere to feature their work.”

“Being a small women-owned business myself, I know that it can be really difficult to get started,” Miller said. “You want to build a community living in such a large area, but sometimes it can be hard to find your people.”

“We want every single person to feel very welcome when they step into BB House,” Corrales added.

In the coming months, Miller and Corrales plan to host events including Pilates and yoga classes, “Love Island” watch parties, holiday markets, and themed arts-and-crafts workshops.

More information about rotating vendors and upcoming events is available on BB House's Instagram page.

BB House is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, and is closed on Mondays.

The Winfield, a 22-seat cocktail parlor hidden beneath downtown St. Pete's sprawling Central Park food hall, opens today.

While Central Park occupies nearly 27,700 square feet over five stories at 551 Central Avenue, its newest concept seats just 22 guests, offering an intimate experience unlike the bustling food hall above.

Director of Operations Robert Castellon describes both the menu and ambiance as “an homage to old Florida,” with dark-toned wood, floral wallpaper, and colorful accents.

The approximately 1,000-square-foot cocktail parlor pairs lesser-known spirits with Asian and Latin ingredients while incorporating modern mixology techniques like forced carbonation and clarification.

Beverage Director Silvia Fridegotto said bartenders have historically played an important role in introducing the public to emerging spirits, and The Winfield hopes to continue that tradition by helping guests discover unfamiliar bottles in an approachable setting.

“A lot of people know of tequila and mezcal, but we wanted to introduce guests to these less known spirits through our signature cocktails,” Fridegotto said in a conversation with St. Pete Rising. “...we want to create that similar experience of education without pretension.”

Among the featured spirits are Bolivia's national liquor, singani, distilled from Muscat of Alexandria grapes; raicilla, an agave spirit from western Mexico; and sotol, made from the Mexican desert spoon plant.

Signature cocktails include the Ay, Chihuahua, made with sotol, guajillo pepper, and sweet potato; and the Pa'Arriba, featuring aged rum, barley shochu, apricot, and a jello shot.

Supporting the beverage program is a small menu of shareable dishes, including wagyu carpaccio, Japanese sea bream crudo, homemade pork rinds, and glutinous rice crackers topped with madai, toro, and caviar.

“It's really delicious, crispy, salty bar food that complements your drink, but there's also a few dishes on the menu that really stand alone,” Castellon said. “The intention for both the food and beverage menus is to feel very international.”

Most cocktails range from $16 to $19, while dishes are priced between $14 and $32.

The speakeasy-inspired bar is named after Frank Winfield Woolworth, founder of the Woolworth retail chain that occupied the Central Avenue building throughout much of the 20th century.

Sarasota-based Hi Hospitality Group purchased the building for $3.75 million in 2018 and spent several years redeveloping the property, which previously housed The Dome Grill before being transformed into Central Park.

Guests looking for a more casual drink can also visit Central Park's ground-floor main bar, which features a self-service beer wall.

The food hall itself is now fully operational following months of phased soft openings.

Seven food concepts are currently serving guests: Constellation Burger, Park Pie Pizza, Palm Avenue Deli, Strawberry Fields, Don Ricardo's Taqueria, Speaks Pasta, and Kojo Wok.

Customers can order from any concept through self-service kiosks or on Central Park's website.

Still to come are the tropical-inspired Bar Hana and Kojo, a full-service Asian restaurant that will anchor the building's third floor. Both are expected to open by mid-September.

“With Bar Hana, the space is so big that we can make it a big experience,” Castellon said. “Knowing that The Winfield was limited on space, we knew that the experience had to be different, more refined. It gives us the opportunity to be more detail oriented and to control every moment of the guest experience, so you're transported somewhere else when you walk in.”

On the main floor's mezzanine, three additional concepts are also nearing their debuts, according to Castellon: The Meadows, the food hall's dessert café; 27 North, a specialty frozen cocktail bar; and Worth, a retail shop.

Beyond The Winfield, the building's basement houses restrooms and a commissary kitchen that supports Central Park's various food concepts.

If you plan to visit The Winfield, walk-ins are welcome, but reservations are recommended.

Following today's debut, The Winfield will be open from 5 p.m. to midnight Wednesday through Saturday, with the last seating at 11:45 p.m.

ARC3 Architecture

ARC3 Architecture

ARC3 Architecture

ARC3 Architecture

ARC3 Architecture

ARC3 Architecture

ARC3 Architecture

ARC3 Architecture

ARC3 Architecture

ARC3 Architecture

ARC3 Architecture

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.

The master plan evolved from a campus feasibility study completed in 2018 and later updated in 2022.

Each phase is tied to private fundraising and is expected to move forward over several years.

“We’ve always had a strong Catholic identity and want to ensure that we continue to raise our academic successes and help students receive the best college and career opportunities after they leave,” SPCHS President Ross Bubolz said in a conversation with St. Pete Rising.

The 40-acre campus originally opened in 1957 as Bishop Barry High School for boys.

In 1973, Bishop Barry High School and the nearby Notre Dame Academy for girls merged to become St. Petersburg Catholic High School.

Over the years, the institution has absorbed the histories and legacies of several local Catholic schools that served generations of students.

Bubolz, who joined the school as principal in 2017 before becoming president in 2024, said the campus has steadily evolved over the past several years.

Earlier projects included upgrading classrooms with new HVAC systems, replacing windows and doors for improved security, and renovating the Msgr. Patrick Trainor Learning Commons into a modern student hub featuring flexible study areas, engineering and robotics space, conference rooms, and a 60-person chapel.

Construction is already underway on the first phase of the master plan: the new Center for Scientific Discovery.

Designed by St. Pete-based ARC3 Architecture, the facility will provide dedicated biology, chemistry, physics, and biomedical science laboratories through the school's Project Lead The Way curriculum, a nationally recognized STEM education program.

Despite the enrollment growth in recent years, Bubolz said the expansion is focused on improving the student experience rather than significantly increasing enrollment.

“We run on a 90-minute block schedule and currently share the labs,” Bubolz said. “The new building will allow each discipline to have their own labs.”

St. Petersburg Catholic also places a strong emphasis on college readiness through its academic offerings, including 19 Advanced Placement courses and the AP Capstone Diploma Program, a two-year curriculum centered on research, critical thinking, and collaboration.

In addition to the new Center for Scientific Discovery, the first phase also includes a new pastoral residence, expanded parking with approximately 220 additional spaces, improved campus traffic circulation, and stormwater infrastructure upgrades.

“We know we need additional parking and a better flow to stack more vehicles onto the campus and alleviate some of the congestion on 9th Avenue for better safety and to respect our neighbors,” Bubolz said.

Another early phase includes replacing the existing administration building.

A new two-story, 25,000-square-foot administration building will be relocated closer to the campus entrance, allowing the current building to be demolished to expand the campus retention pond while creating space for a new freshman dining area.

“A couple of years ago, 9th Avenue completely flooded; cars were stalled out. We want to create more retention space and have a better front entrance to the school,” Bubolz said.

Future phases shift their focus to athletics.

The next major project, expected within the next four to six years pending fundraising, is an approximately 80,000-square-foot athletic center featuring a new gymnasium, coaches' offices, wrestling and cheer practice space, beach volleyball courts, conference rooms, and balconies overlooking the football field and track.

“Athletics has historically been the least supported, with administrators focused on prioritizing academics, but we’ve recognized that school spirit is largely aligned with athletics and we want to make sure we are getting kids excited and creating great memories,” Bubolz said.

Additional athletic improvements envisioned in future phases include covered grandstands designed to provide shade while helping reduce noise, new concessions and restrooms, batting cages, relocated baseball and softball facilities, upgraded track improvements, and new sand volleyball courts.

The school has already invested significantly in athletics in recent years, adding perimeter fencing around the track and football field, renovating the concession area, improving Joe Paul Stadium, modernizing boys' and girls' locker rooms, and constructing an additional locker room for visiting teams.

Although the campus will gain several new buildings, the architecture is intended to complement its mid-century character.

New structures will incorporate brick masonry and stucco finishes that reflect existing buildings such as Bishop Barry Hall and Notre Dame Hall.

During Wednesday's DRC meeting, ARC3 Architecture President Eddie Mastalerz said the new buildings are intentionally oriented inward to strengthen campus security while limiting views into student activity areas from neighboring commercial properties.

The development team also includes Hennessy Construction Services, led by SPCHS alumnus and president Mark Stalker, along with engineering firm George F. Young.

The Center for Scientific Discovery and the renovation of the St. Paul Theology Center represent approximately $4.9 million in fully funded improvements.

The remaining phases will be financed through future capital campaigns and private donations, with fundraising priorities determined as each phase moves forward.

Bubolz said the phased approach will allow the campus to continue evolving while remaining fully operational throughout construction, ensuring future generations of students benefit from facilities that match the school's academic mission.

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.

He also selected the Pinellas County Housing Authority to develop a seven-story, 94-unit affordable housing community on a 0.58-acre city-owned parcel at 1659 3rd Avenue South. The PCHA development team includes Atlantic Pacific Companies and Ascension Real Estate Partners.

The proposal targets lower-income seniors, with an emphasis on very-low income and with preference given to seniors who formerly resided in the Historic Gas Plant District.

The Historic Gas Plant neighborhood was once a thriving, predominantly Black community just west of downtown that was home to hundreds of families, businesses, churches and civic organizations.

Much of the neighborhood was demolished beginning in the late 1970s to make way for Interstate 175 and the construction of Tropicana Field, displacing residents and leaving decades of unfulfilled redevelopment promises that have shaped discussions surrounding the site ever since.

"The historic Gas Plant District has held the promise of progress for St. Pete for decades," Welch said. "Today, we take an important step forward in turning that potential into real and tangible progress."

The announcement does not finalize a redevelopment agreement. Instead, it begins what city officials expect will be roughly a year of negotiations before detailed agreements return to the St. Petersburg City Council for approval.

Welch said commitments related to affordable housing, workforce development, minority business participation, the Woodson African American Museum of Florida and other community benefits must all be incorporated into binding agreements before construction can begin.

Welch said the selection was guided by what he has called the city's J-HOP priorities: jobs, housing, ownership and economic opportunity.

Before announcing the winning teams, Welch reflected on the history of the neighborhood that once occupied the site and the families displaced by the construction of Interstate 175 and Tropicana Field.

"We remember," Welch said. "And today we begin to answer the call for progress."

The Burg Bid proposal stood apart in both its financial offer and development commitments.

The team valued the property at $405 million, including a $275 million offer to purchase 58 acres of city-owned land and a $20 million deposit upon execution of a purchase agreement.

The proposal estimates the redevelopment will generate more than $8.1 billion in total investment and would rely primarily on private capital, with Community Redevelopment Area funding reserved for public infrastructure and park improvements.

The proposal also includes the city's largest affordable and workforce housing commitment to date, calling for more than 3,600 income-restricted housing units over a 15-year buildout.

Approximately 1,800 units would be constructed within the Historic Gas Plant District, with another 1,800 developed at sites throughout St. Petersburg.

At the heart of the proposal is a 13-acre park in addition to office space, hotels, neighborhood retail, cultural institutions and workforce training facilities.

The design preserves the footprint of the original gas tanks within Samuel Davis Park while introducing the Legacy Link, a pedestrian corridor connecting City Hall with the Deuces and the Manhattan Casino through the Woodson African American Museum of Florida.

Developer Thompson Whitney Blake described the project as an opportunity to move beyond decades of planning.

"The site has been studied, evaluated, revisited for decades," Blake said. "We could have 10 more mayors, 10 more RFPs and 10 more processes, and you're not going to find a team that loves St. Pete more than the people standing right here."

Blake said the development team intentionally paired local leadership with national partners capable of delivering a project of this scale.

The team includes Related Group as co-developer, Elliott Investment Management as its institutional capital partner, along with Blue Sky Communities, Greystar, KAST Construction, Driftwood Hospitality, Gilbane, Skanska, and St. Pete-based Wannemacher Jensen Architects, among many others.

The proposal also establishes a Historic Gas Plant Visionary Panel, an independent advisory group made up of community organizations that would meet at least every 90 days throughout development.

Blake said the panel is intended to provide long-term accountability while giving residents an ongoing role in shaping the project as it moves forward.

Supporting Welch's emphasis on economic opportunity, the proposal also includes a workforce training and entrepreneurship hub known as the Collaboratorium.

The facility would bring together workforce development organizations, business incubators, CareerSource and economic development partners.

The proposal also sets a goal of awarding 41% of project contracts to women-, minority- and small business enterprises, representing approximately $3.3 billion in contracting opportunities over the life of the development.

During a question-and-answer session following the announcement, Welch also addressed the future of Tropicana Field.

He reiterated that the city intends to honor its commitment to provide the Tampa Bay Rays with a playable stadium through 2028.

If the Rays ultimately require a one- or two-year lease extension because of delays elsewhere, Welch said the city would be willing to discuss it if it aligns with redevelopment phasing.

"The old model of a new stadium further to the east is gone," Welch said. "We have to start thinking about the city of St. Pete."

Welch also defended the city's decision to repair Tropicana Field following hurricane damage, noting that much of the cost is expected to be reimbursed through FEMA and insurance.

He said the stadium remains an important community asset that hosts graduations, community events and other gatherings beyond Major League Baseball.

The long-term plan remains demolition of Tropicana Field after the site is no longer needed, allowing redevelopment to proceed in phases.

Blake said construction of the Woodson African American Museum of Florida is expected to be among the earliest components of the project, with broader vertical development beginning as land becomes available.

The selection marks the beginning of what is expected to be roughly a year of negotiations between the city and The Burg Bid team.

The Community Benefits Advisory Council (CBAC) will hold two meetings in July. The first will allow residents to provide public comment on the proposal, while the second will consist of deliberations among CBAC members.

Following that process, detailed development agreements covering financing, project phasing, affordable housing commitments, community benefits and land sales will return to City Council for approval before redevelopment can move forward.

The Pinellas County Housing Authority's proposal will not go through the CBAC process because it consists entirely of affordable and workforce housing. However, the final agreement with the housing authority will still require City Council approval.

"When I ran in 2021, my promise was that I would bring back a plan to move this forward," Welch said. "I was in high school at Lakewood when this started. There's no way you can call this rushed. It's been four decades, and it's time to move forward."

A historic home along Central Avenue has found a new purpose as the first Florida location for veterinary care provider Heart + Paw.

Heart + Paw is now open at 6366 Central Avenue inside the restored 1925 Strum House, the preserved centerpiece of Strum Place, a nine-unit luxury townhome development in west St. Pete.

Headquartered in Berwyn, Pennsylvania, Heart + Paw operates more than 30 veterinary hospitals across 11 states.

The new clinic offers comprehensive veterinary care and grooming services for dogs and cats, including surgery, dentistry, radiology, vaccinations, wellness care, and end-of-life services.

Leading the practice is Dr. Anthony Melillo, a St. Pete native and part-owner of the location.

After earning a biology degree from the University of South Florida, Melillo continued his veterinary education in St. Kitts before completing his clinical training at Louisiana State University.

He returned to St. Petersburg about seven years ago.

"To be able to come back to serve this community really means a lot," Dr. Melillo said in a conversation with St. Pete Rising. "It's been incredible. It's a dream come true to open a clinic in this specific location."

Heart + Paw CEO Dave Lasus said Melillo was exactly the type of veterinarian the company hoped to partner with as it expanded into Florida.

"We're beyond excited to partner with Dr. Melillo and bring Heart + Paw to Florida," Lasus said in a press release. "Our joint-venture model is built around partnering with excellent veterinary professionals who want to lead their own practice with real autonomy. Dr. Melillo is exactly who we had in mind."

The clinic opened Monday, June 29th, and will offer limited appointments over the next several weeks.

Melillo's specialties include preventive medicine, soft tissue surgery, and dermatology, an area of veterinary medicine that is especially important in Florida's hot, humid climate.

"In Florida and throughout the entire Mississippi Delta area, the field of dermatology is really important because of the allergy burden and the environment in general," Melillo said. "Dogs and cats commonly deal with issues like skin allergies and infections in our area, so I really enjoy helping with those cases in particular."

The veterinary office occupies the restored 4,800-square-foot Strum House, a historic residence built in 1925 for the Strum family.

Alban D. "Al" Strum was a competitive boat racer and former Commodore of the St. Petersburg Yacht Club, while his wife, Shirley, helped found the St. Petersburg Junior League.

St. Pete-based J Square Developers and Backstreets Capital purchased the property in 2022 and chose to restore the historic home rather than demolish it as part of the site's redevelopment.

Tampa-based Fox Building Group completed the renovation and interior buildout of Heart + Paw.

"Knowing the building has so much history in the community makes it even more special," Melillo said. "What says 'hometown' more than operating out of a 100-plus-year-old building? The space definitely has a professional feel to it, but it's still very warm and homey. It doesn't feel sterile at all."

The second floor is used for storage, meetings, and a large employee break room.

"I really think that the culture and team that we have in place here is fantastic," Melillo said. "Obviously our pets can't talk to us, so the relationships that we're able to form with the owners of these pets is massively important, and something our entire team enjoys doing."

Heart + Paw plans to host an official grand opening celebration this fall.

One of downtown St. Pete's most recognizable restaurant properties has a new owner.

Atlanta-based Rreal Tacos has purchased the former Red Mesa Cantina building at 128 3rd Street South, where it plans to open three restaurant and bar concepts under the Rreal Tacos brand.

The ground-floor restaurant is expected to open in early 2027, with the remaining concepts opening in phases.

Founded in Atlanta in 2015, Rreal Tacos is known for Mexican street food inspired by Mexico City, with a menu centered around tacos served on handmade tortillas pressed to order.

Guests can also expect burritos, quesabirria tacos, tortas, enchiladas, fajitas, ceviche, street corn, loaded fries, and house-made salsas, along with an extensive selection of tequila, mezcal, and craft margaritas.

The more than century-old building was originally constructed as St. Petersburg's first fire station and most recently housed Red Mesa Cantina for 16 years before the restaurant closed in June.

"This building has watched over downtown St. Pete for more than a hundred years. We didn't buy it to change what it is. We bought it to honor it and fill it with life and hospitality for the next chapter of its life," CEO Damian Otero said in a conversation with St. Pete Rising.

Otero said the acquisition came together almost immediately after he learned Red Mesa Cantina was closing.

"I was getting a haircut," Otero recalled. "I drove straight to the airport, caught a flight and met up with the owner. By 6 p.m., we were walking the property and coming up with a deal."

Purchasing the property, rather than leasing it, represented the largest investment the company has made.

"We had to purchase it. That's why we gambled the whole company on this," Otero said. "We weren't ready for this. That's how much we believe in this corner, this property and St. Pete."

Otero said preserving the building also played a major role in the decision.

He said owner Dean Kucera had opportunities to sell the property for redevelopment but ultimately chose a buyer committed to keeping the building standing and continuing its use as a restaurant destination.

Harrison Gault and Jay Billings of Commercial Partners Realty represented Rreal Tacos in the sale transaction.

The more than 16,000-square-foot property will eventually house three concepts across its three levels.

The ground floor will feature the flagship Rreal Tacos restaurant, while the second floor is expected to become a full-service restaurant, though Otero said the concept is still being finalized.

A rooftop bar will occupy the building's third level, with food available from the restaurants below.

When fully operational, the property will feature five bars across three levels, accommodate nearly 800 guests, and employ more than 250 people.

Founded without outside investors or private equity backing, Rreal Tacos currently operates several locations throughout metro Atlanta and is preparing to open its first Florida restaurant in downtown Tampa later this year.

The St. Pete restaurant will become the company's second Florida location.

Otero said the company evaluated several markets before expanding outside Georgia but ultimately chose Tampa Bay because of the opportunities it offered both the business and its employees.

"We asked ourselves, if we're going to promote one of our managers to become a business partner in another state, where are they going to be the happiest?" Otero said. "It was Florida. Tampa and St. Pete just made sense."

He added that the company plans to continue expanding throughout the Tampa Bay region before considering other parts of the state.

Unlike many growing restaurant brands, Otero said Rreal Tacos has expanded by reinvesting profits back into the business rather than franchising.

"We're not a franchise. We have no private equity and no outside investors," Otero said. "Everything we make, we reinvest back into the business."

Construction is expected to begin in the coming months, with the ground-floor Rreal Tacos slated to open in early 2027.

The second-floor restaurant and rooftop bar will follow as work progresses on the rest of the building.

A fine dining restaurant focused on wild-caught seafood will take over a prized location in St. Pete Beach's Pass-a-Grille.

Moon by Malio's will open at 109 8th Avenue on the ground floor of the boutique Berkeley Beach Club hotel.

The space was formerly home to The Dewey, which suffered damage from the back-to-back hurricanes in 2024 and never reopened.

Moon by Malio's owners Derek and Jen Iavarone describe their newest concept as the "playful little sister" of their other two restaurants, Malio's Prime Steakhouse in downtown Tampa and Malio's Beach House on St. Pete Beach.

Their newest restaurant is expected to open in September.

Moon by Malio's will occupy roughly 4,000 square feet of the Berkeley Beach Club across its dining room, patio, and rooftop, seating about 200 guests total.

While the Iavarones run two successful steakhouses, their newest venture is a personal homage to their family and its dinnertime traditions.

“The restaurant is primarily named after our daughter, since Moon is her middle name,” Jen says in a conversation with St. Pete Rising. “It was inspired by the full moon that rises over our backyard every month. These are moments that bring us all together, when we can slow down and just appreciate where we live.”

Unlike Malio's Beach House, Moon by Malio's will offer lunch service, a daily happy hour for both food and drinks, and an exclusive brunch menu every Saturday.

For lunch, the restaurant will offer a more casual selection of burgers, grouper sandwiches, and soft-shell crab po'boys, while the dinner menu will feature elevated entrées centered around wild-caught seafood, hearty pastas, charcuterie boards, and seafood towers.

The beverage program will highlight a variety of European wines, as well as craft cocktails inspired by the Mediterranean coastline.

Since the entire concept pays homage to the Iavarone family's traditions, the menu will also reflect the Italian and Spanish recipes passed down through generations.

"With our steakhouses, everything's a little more set in stone. But this restaurant will allow us to be a bit more fun and creative," Derek says. "It's our family's interpretation of coastal fine dining, but with the same kind of hospitality and level of service that all Malio's brands carry."

Derek's father, Malio, opened the original Malio's Steak House in South Tampa in 1969; Derek opened Malio's Prime Steakhouse in 2007.

The family's recent expansion into Pinellas County marks both the continuation of his father's legacy and the celebration of his own family and the new traditions they're creating as residents of St. Pete Beach.

Last summer, the Berkeley Beach Club was sold to new owners Helen and Dave Feinberg.

While the hotel reopened after the 2024 hurricanes, its restaurant, The Dewey, never recovered after taking on several feet of floodwater. After purchasing the hotel, the Feinbergs completely renovated the restaurant space, creating a fresh slate for the Iavarones' newest concept.

"Dave and Helen did a really good job renovating — they put the structure of the restaurant back together after the hurricane," Jen says. "They haven't had anybody in there since, so we're already off to a good start."

Jen, who has a background in fashion and design, describes Moon by Malio's ambiance as textural, colorful, quirky, and filled with natural sunlight.

Moon-inspired touches will appear throughout the space, and the restaurant may host full moon parties on its rooftop to bring the theme to life.

"We want everyone to know that we are residents of St. Pete Beach, and we have been working diligently, like everyone else, to get back to the new normal after Helene and Milton," the Iavarones explain. "It's been our number one priority to always try to give back to the community and help beautify the area."

"We've always wanted a place in Pass-a-Grille; it's been a dream of ours for several years now," Jen adds.

After its fall debut, Moon by Malio's will be open for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Saturday. All Malio's locations are closed on Sundays to give the Iavarones and their employees time with their families.

Follow the new restaurant on Instagram to stay up to date on a grand opening date and the latest menu offerings.

ARX Creative

ARX Creative

ARX Creative

ARX Creative

ARX Creative

A demolition permit has been filed for the City Center office tower parking garage in downtown St. Pete, the future site of the 50-story Waldorf Astoria Residences St. Petersburg.

The garage, located at 150 2nd Avenue South, will be removed as part of the redevelopment. The office tower itself is not included in the permit and will remain.

The project, announced in June 2024, was approved by the St. Petersburg City Council later that year.

The 50-story tower, expected to become the tallest building in the city, is being co-developed by Miami-based Property Markets Group (PMG) and St. Petersburg-based Feldman Equities.

In addition to 163 luxury condominiums, the approximately $500 million development will include 73,000 square feet of Class A office space, ground-floor retail, and an extensive collection of resort-style amenities.

Designed by CUBE 3 with interiors by San Francisco-based BAMO, the tower will feature two- and three-bedroom residences ranging from 2,031 to 3,408 square feet.

Residents will have access to multiple swimming pools, private dining spaces, a wellness center, fitness facilities, owners' lounges, concierge services, and other luxury amenities associated with the Waldorf Astoria brand.

The development has continued to gain momentum since its launch.

Earlier this month, the project surpassed $200 million in sales.

Last July, a local businessman purchased one of the tower's two-story, 11,000-square-foot penthouses for $27 million, setting a new record for the Tampa Bay condominium market.

Prices for the remaining residences currently start at $2.9 million.

There is no timeline for demolition of the garage, though the developers have previously said they expect to break ground by the end of the year.

If that schedule holds, the tower is expected to be completed in 2030.

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.

The site later became part of the Deuces Rising initiative, with a greater emphasis on housing, retail, and neighborhood investment.

A proposed new home for the Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American Museum also never came together.

Now, the city is taking a different approach, seeking a flexible mixed-use development instead of a single anchor project.

The RFP called for a mixed-use development with ground-floor commercial space, new housing, and a design that would activate 22nd Street South while reflecting the area’s cultural history.

Proposals were also encouraged to include partnerships with small, minority-owned, and women-owned businesses.

In total, the City received seven proposals, each offering a different approach to redeveloping the site.

Several proposals focus on affordable housing, ranging from deeply income-restricted units to mixed-income developments.

Others prioritize larger, market-rate residential projects with expanded retail and structured parking.

One centers on a hotel and event-driven concept, while another proposes a job-focused development anchored by a large innovation and workforce hub.

City officials have not yet selected a developer. The proposals will be reviewed as part of a formal evaluation process before a recommendation is made.

Below is a detailed look at what each team is proposing.

Zarius + White Keys Real Estate + Homage Hospitality

A joint venture between UK-based real estate development and investment group Zarius Properties, Tampa Bay-based White Keys Real Estate Partners, and Oakland, CA-based Homage Hospitality proposes a hospitality-driven mixed-use development anchored by a boutique hotel.

The plan includes a seven-story, 160-room hotel, which serves as the primary driver of the project, along with approximately 45 co-living residential units totaling 92 beds.

These co-living units are designed with shared kitchens and living areas paired with private sleeping spaces, targeting workforce residents.

The proposal also includes roughly 8,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space, intended for small businesses and neighborhood-serving uses.

The development is positioned as an event and tourism-oriented concept, with the hotel expected to support conferences, weddings, and cultural programming tied to activity in the Deuces corridor.

The proposal outlines a total development cost ranging from approximately $65 million to $85 million, with the hotel component alone estimated at more than $50 million.

Rather than purchasing the property, the development team is proposing a long-term ground lease with the City. The proposal includes a letter of intent to negotiate lease terms following selection but does not specify a purchase price or annual lease payments.

A significant component of the plan is a request for the City to fund and construct a 250-space structured parking garage, which the development team identifies as necessary to support both the hotel and surrounding uses.

The proposed timeline includes an initial predevelopment period focused on design, entitlements, and financing, followed by an estimated 30 to 36 months of construction.

The team projects overall completion and delivery around 2029, depending on financing and coordination of the parking structure.

Woda Cooper Companies + CDC of Tampa + Pinellas County Urban League

Another proposal was submitted by Ohio-based affordable housing firm Woda Cooper Companies, CDC of Tampa, and the Pinellas County Urban League.

Woda Cooper Companies will serve as the sponsor and developer with extensive national experience in affordable housing finance, mixed-income development, and low-income housing tax credit (LIHTC) execution.

CDC of Tampa and the Urban League of Pinellas County will provide community engagement, small business development, workforce development, and community and supportive services.

The plan includes approximately 160 residential units in a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments.

The affordability structure spans multiple income levels, including units at 30%, 50%, 60%, and up to 80% of area median income (AMI).  

A portion of the units would be supported by project-based vouchers through the St. Petersburg Housing Authority, providing deeper affordability and long-term income stability for the property.

The plan also includes approximately 5,000 square feet of ground-floor commercial space, intended for small businesses and community-serving uses.

In addition to the physical development, the plan incorporates a range of resident services, including workforce development programs, financial literacy training, and supportive services coordinated through local partners.

The total development cost is estimated at approximately $85 million.

The financing structure relies on 4% Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, SAIL funding, and other public and private sources.

The proposal also notes a significant deferral of developer fees to help close financing gaps.

The team is offering $1 million to purchase the property from the City. The proposal calls for a fee simple acquisition as part of the overall financing structure.

The proposed timeline includes a predevelopment and application phase in 2026, followed by construction beginning in 2027.

The development team anticipates a construction period of approximately 12 months, with completion and initial occupancy projected for mid 2028.

SkyView Companies

Tampa-based SkyView Companies submitted a plan that calls for a total of 422 residential units, including approximately 253 market-rate units and 169 units targeted at workforce households.

The development also includes approximately 17,600 square feet of retail space, designed to activate the street with restaurants, cafés, and neighborhood-serving businesses.

The project incorporates a substantial parking component, with more than 800 parking spaces, including structured parking integrated into the development.

Amenities outlined in the proposal include a pool, fitness areas, and open space features.

The total project cost is estimated at approximately $142 million, with financing structured as roughly 60% debt and 40% equity.

The proposal does not rely on Low-Income Housing Tax Credits or voucher programs, instead positioning itself as a market-driven development.

SkyView is offering $1 million in cash to purchase the property. The offer includes a $100,000 refundable good-faith deposit, a 60-day due diligence period, and is contingent upon a proposed land swap and road vacations outlined elsewhere in the proposal.

The proposal also proposes a land swap arrangement with the City, tied to the relocation of a planned police K-9 training facility.

The proposed timeline includes securing approvals and finalizing the land swap in 2026, with construction beginning in 2027.

The development team anticipates a construction duration of approximately 24 months, with full completion projected in 2029.

Magellan Housing

Texas-based Magellan Housing’s submission focuses on deeply affordable housing combined with a smaller homeownership component.

The plan includes a total of 126 residential units, with affordability levels ranging from 30% to 80% of area median income.

The proposal also includes six for-sale townhomes, intended to provide a path to homeownership for moderate-income households.

The development incorporates approximately 6,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space, with Blind Tiger Coffee Roasters already in discussions as a first tenant

The design includes public art elements and community-oriented spaces intended to reflect the cultural history of the corridor.

Phase 1 of the project is estimated at approximately $40 million, with the overall development structured under a 99-year ground lease, allowing the City to retain ownership of the land while generating long-term lease revenue.

The timeline is closely tied to the competitive 9% Low-Income Housing Tax Credit process.

Magellan is proposing a 99-year ground lease for the apartment portion of the project rather than purchasing the land.

The lease would begin at $55,000 annually, increasing by 1% each year, which the developer estimates would generate more than $9.2 million in lease revenue for the City over the term.

The townhome parcels would be conveyed separately so they can be sold to individual homeowners.

Construction would begin after financing is secured, with an estimated 18 to 24 month construction period.

Depending on funding cycles and approvals, completion is projected around 2029.

HP Capital Group

St. Pete-based HP Capital Group proposes a larger mixed-use development centered on job creation and economic activity.

HP Capital previously developed the 18-story Reflection condominium tower in downtown St. Petersburg and is currently developing Fairfield Avenue Apartments, a 264-unit affordable housing community along the Pinellas Trail.

Their plan for Commerce Park includes approximately 320 residential units, primarily at workforce and moderate-income levels, along with a significant non-residential component anchored by a 75,000 square foot innovation center managed by ARK Invest.

This space is intended to accommodate startups, office users, workforce training programs, and potential conference activity.

The proposal also includes approximately 10,000 to 12,000 square feet of retail space, including a Duckweed Urban Grocery and a Gateway Subs, as well as more than 25,000 square feet of public open space, designed as a central gathering area.

The total development cost is estimated at approximately $127 million, with financing structured around a HUD 221(d)(4) loan, developer equity, and other capital sources.

HP Capital is offering $5 million to purchase the property, the highest cash offer submitted among the seven proposals. The company says it is also willing to consider a ground lease structure if that is the City's preference.

A key aspect of the plan is the need to assemble additional land beyond the original RFP site, including both city-owned and privately owned parcels, as well as potential roadway adjustments.

The timeline outlined in the proposal targets an overall delivery period of approximately 2 to 3 years, including predevelopment and construction.

However, this schedule is dependent on securing financing, assembling land, and obtaining necessary approvals.

Blue Sky Communities + Habitat for Humanity Tampa Bay Gulfside

St. Pete-based affordable housing developer Blue Sky Communities along with Habitat for Humanity Tampa Bay Gulfside propose a plan that includes 75 affordable rental units, with the majority of units targeted at 60% of area median income, along with a portion reserved for extremely low-income households.

In addition, the proposal includes six for-sale Habitat for Humanity townhomes, designed to be sold to income-qualified buyers at below-market prices.

The development also includes approximately 3,200 square feet of ground-floor retail space, divided into smaller storefronts intended for local businesses.

The overall design emphasizes a lower-density, neighborhood-scale approach, with a three-story residential building and interior courtyard space.

The estimated cost for the apartment component is approximately $28.5 million, with an additional $2 million allocated for the townhomes.

Blue Sky proposes that the City retain ownership of the apartment site through a 99-year ground lease with annual payments of $158,375, based on a 3.5% return on the appraised land value.

The lease includes an option to purchase the property for $1 after 50 years.

Separately, the Habitat townhome parcels would be conveyed for $10 to facilitate affordable homeownership.

The timeline anticipates a phased approach, with the townhomes delivered first between late 2027 and early 2028, followed by completion of the apartment building in mid- to late-2028.

As with other affordable housing proposals, timing is dependent on securing Low-Income Housing Tax Credit allocations.

Archway Partners

Orlando-based Archway Partners proposes a two-phase development with a mix of affordable and workforce housing.

The plan includes a total of 169 residential units, split into two phases of approximately equal size.

Units would be offered at affordability levels ranging from 30% to 80% of area median income, creating a mixed-income community.

The development also includes approximately 3,500 square feet of ground-floor commercial space.

The total project cost is estimated at approximately $68 million, with financing structured around Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, conventional debt, and additional funding sources.

Archway is offering $1 million to purchase the property through a fee simple conveyance as part of its proposed redevelopment plan.

The development would be constructed in phases, beginning in 2027 and completing in 2029.

North St. Pete is getting a taste of Philadelphia this fall, courtesy of a local couple who have spent years perfecting the cheesesteak.

Cheesesteak Company will open this fall at 6835 4th Street North, around the corner from the new Detroit-style pizzeria SoDough Square.

Originally from South Jersey, owners Lori and Tom Bradley moved to Pinellas County in 1988 and launched their first business, The Cheesesteak Truck, in 2012.

After successfully operating the food truck for several years, they started serving cheesesteaks out of a small kitchen in Brewers Tasting Room from 2017 until the beer bar's closure in 2023.

Following that closure, the Bradleys decided it was time to open a brick-and-mortar of their own and spent about two years finding the perfect location.

"We definitely preferred a location on 4th Street, because we like the northeast St. Pete area," Lori says, noting that they wanted to stay in the same neighborhood as Brewers Tasting Room.

Their food truck is currently parked outside the new 1,288-square-foot restaurant, serving beef and chicken cheesesteaks on rolls from Philadelphia's renowned Amoroso Bakery.

Customers can customize their sandwiches with toppings such as onions, peppers, and mushrooms.

While the classic Philly cheesesteak is known to come with Cheez Whiz, the Bradleys have developed their own fondue-style cheese recipe to mimic its melty texture while delivering a better flavor.

The couple, with the help of their children and other family members, will run the restaurant and sports bar, which will offer a variety of cheesesteaks, burgers, chicken wings, sandwiches, loaded fries, and other regional dishes.

"There's definitely going to be an expansion on the menu. We can only do so much on the food truck...that's why we wanted a bigger kitchen, so that we could serve more than just cheesesteaks," Lori tells St. Pete Rising. "We'll always be known for our cheesesteaks, but we're also going to sell some other products that are popular in the greater Philadelphia area."

The Cheesesteak Company's menu will also include roasted pork sandwiches topped with broccoli rabe and Cooper Sharp cheese, which is a tangy, creamy cheese that is a staple on sandwiches throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Lori also plans to sell panzerottis, or small pockets of fried dough typically stuffed with tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese, a common sight at pizzerias throughout South Jersey.

The soon-to-open restaurant will also serve beer and wine.

Cheesesteak Company's dining room and bar will seat only about 30, but Lori says its large kitchen is designed to handle a high volume of takeout and delivery orders as well.

Several TVs throughout the space will show professional sports, with a focus on Philadelphia teams like the Eagles and the Phillies.

For dessert, the restaurant may offer pre-packaged Tastykakes and water ice, a frozen treat similar to Italian ice, both longtime favorites in the greater Philadelphia area.

The lease for the new restaurant was signed last summer, but the Bradleys have spent the past year navigating the permitting process and building out the space's new kitchen.

After its fall debut, Lori expects Cheesesteak Company to be open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. during the week, with late-night service on weekends.

Follow the restaurant and food truck on Facebook for the latest updates on the brick-and-mortar's opening timeline.

The Cheesesteak Company food truck operates in front of its future restaurant space from 5 to 8 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday through Sunday.

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.

The development team closed on its $135 million construction loan Wednesday with Affinius Capital and is actively conducting groundwork testing at the site.

Following the engineering work, Focus and co-developer Bradford Allen expect to begin construction on the tower.

Construction is expected to take approximately 26 to 28 months, with the building anticipated to open in 2028.

The project team includes general contractor KAST Construction, local architect Tim Clemmons of Place Architecture, and global architecture and design firm Gensler, which is leading the building's interior design.

The tower will feature 373 apartments, approximately 6,000 square feet of retail space, and a parking garage with more than 300 spaces.

When Focus began evaluating opportunities in the southeast, St. Petersburg quickly stood out.

“When we first decided to expand into the southeast, we did a tour of the Tampa and St. Pete market,” Vicky Lee, Executive Vice President of Capital Markets + Investments at Focus, said in a conversation with St. Pete Rising. “Even on a random Tuesday, we saw people walking up and down the street, enjoying local restaurants and bars.”

“St. Pete is just so lively that you could tell this is the place people wanted to be,” she continued. “We see that activity as a great opportunity.”

Lee said the area reminded the team of Chicago's Fulton Market district, a neighborhood known for its walkability, restaurants, apartments, and active street life.

That pedestrian-friendly environment, coupled with the city's growing concentration of employers, helped convince the team to invest in St. Petersburg.

About 75% of the apartments at the new tower will be one-bedroom units, with the remaining 25% consisting of two-bedroom residences.

“In designing the building, we wanted to do something atypical and lean more toward smaller units because we expect to cater to a demographic that includes young professionals,” Lee said.

An amenity deck above the parking podium will feature a resort-style pool deck and additional resident amenities, while the tower’s centerpiece will be a double-height Sky Lounge on the 24th floor.

The indoor-outdoor space will offer panoramic views of downtown St. Pete and Tampa Bay and can be reserved by residents for private gatherings and events.

The ground floor will include a 3,000-square-foot co-working space, a high-end fitness center, and retail space positioned at the corner of 6th Street South and 3rd Avenue South.

“We designed it intentionally to activate the streetscape and have retail on the hard corner,” Lee said. “We are also providing a covered patio for outdoor seating.”

While the tower marks the first project for Focus in St. Petersburg, Lee said the company hopes it won't be the last.

“We are focusing a lot on the Tampa-St. Pete market right now,” she said. “We haven’t identified another project yet, but we are looking.”

Bradford Allen’s Senior Vice President of Development added, “We continue to be bullish on Florida as well, having acquired several properties in other Florida markets in the last few years, and we have recently focused specifically on opportunities in St. Pete and Tampa.”

A townhome development in north St. Pete is seeking approval to add 20 more residences as the project advances to the next phase of construction.

Belleair Development Group has submitted an application to expand Terraces at 87th from 112 to 132 townhomes through Florida's Graywater Density Bonus program, which took effect in 2021.

The request is scheduled to be reviewed by the Development Review Commission on August 5th.

Terraces at 87th occupies the former Lamplight Village mobile home park near the corner of 4th Street North and 87th Avenue North.

Belleair bought the property in January 2018 for $3.4 million.

City officials initially approved plans in 2021 for a residential project that included townhomes and a three-story, 40-unit apartment building.

The project was later reconfigured to eliminate the apartment building and move forward exclusively with townhomes.

Construction on the first phase of 16 townhomes began in 2022. The homes were completed in 2024.

Under the previously approved plan, the remaining phases would have added 96 residences, bringing the project's total unit count to 112 homes.

However, subsequent phases were put on hold while the development team evaluated whether changes to the project would better align with market demand, according to Belleair Development Group Owner and Principal Christian Yepes.

The new proposal will increase the number of homes planned for the remaining phases from 96 to 116, resulting in a total of 132 residences across the entire 6.14-acre development.

While the density bonus provides the mechanism for adding units, Yepes said changing buyer preferences are driving the request.

“We are exploring ways to provide greater flexibility for units of varying sizes, allowing us to better respond to market conditions,” Yepes said in a conversation with St. Pete Rising.

The 16 existing townhomes span approximately 1,976 square feet and feature three- and four-bedroom floorplans.

According to Yepes, 13 of the 16 completed residences are occupied, while the remaining homes start at $809,000.

“There’s been an encouraging mix of interest in the project from all walks of life, and one significant point of feedback that stood out was the demand for smaller units,” Yepes said.

The revised plan would maintain the project's three-story townhome design while introducing smaller residences based on feedback from prospective buyers.

The increase in density would be made possible through the Graywater Density Bonus program.

The state program allows qualifying residential developments to exceed normal density limits in exchange for incorporating graywater recycling systems.

Graywater includes wastewater from showers, bathtubs, bathroom sinks, and laundry facilities that can be treated and reused for irrigation and other non-potable uses.

For developments with at least 25 residential units, density can increase by as much as 35% if all residences incorporate graywater reuse systems.

Project documents state the development could qualify for up to 130 units on the undeveloped portion of the site through the 35% density bonus.

However, Belleair is only proposing 116 additional units rather than the maximum permitted under the program.

While there is currently no timeline for restarting construction on the next phase of townhomes, Belleair Development Group is continuing work on the community's resident amenities, including a resort-style pool, cabanas, grilling areas, and a dog park.

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.

"We started Naked Farmer on a simple belief: food this good for you should taste incredible and still fit into everyday life," Johnson said. "St. Pete is where this all began for us, so opening a second home here is personal. We can't wait to welcome more of this community to the table."

At the center of the menu are the restaurant's signature Harvest Plates, which allow guests to build a meal by choosing a protein, a grain or greens base, and two seasonal sides.

Current protein options include grass-fed steak, Faroe Island salmon, rosemary roasted chicken, honey BBQ chicken, and roasted blue oyster mushrooms and Crispy Sesame Tofu for plant-based diners.

Seasonal sides rotate throughout the year based on what’s being harvested from farms in the region, with current offerings including street cart corn, charred broccoli with lemon and garlic, roasted sweet potatoes, maple-glazed carrots, and spring garden kimchi.

The menu also features chef-curated seasonal dishes such as the Backyard BBQ Plate, made with honey BBQ chicken, mac and cheese, street cart corn, and homemade cornbread; and the Surf & Turf Plate, which pairs grass-fed steak and Faroe Island salmon with seasonal vegetables and spicy miso aioli.

The restaurant also offers house-made desserts, along with beer, wine, and specialty beverages such as honey hibiscus lemonade and ginger fizz.

The second St. Pete location comes as Naked Farmer continues expanding across Florida and into new markets.

Since launching in 2020, the company has grown to nine locations in Tampa, Sarasota, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Sunrise, Coral Gables, and Charlotte, North Carolina.

Further expansion is underway, with future locations planned for Nashville, West Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, and Wesley Chapel.

Earlier this year, the company reopened its flagship restaurant at 200 Central Avenue in downtown St. Petersburg following a $1.5 million renovation that expanded the kitchen and enhanced the guest experience.

The new location on 4th Street North is expected to operate under the same schedule as the downtown restaurant, serving guests from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

Be sure to follow Naked Farmer on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date on the latest menu offerings.

When Joann Fabrics closed its stores last year, many local hobbyists lost a familiar place to browse fabrics, pick up supplies, and find inspiration for their next project.

This fall, one local entrepreneur hopes to help fill that void.

September Sewing Co. will open at 11000 70th Avenue North in Seminole, offering ethically sourced fabrics, sewing classes, and a creative space designed for both experienced makers and beginners.

Owner Diana Andreyko says the business is rooted in a desire to make sewing more accessible while encouraging a greater appreciation for craftsmanship and sustainable fashion.

“I remember growing up going to Joann Fabrics with my grandma as a child. I loved going there and just touching the fabric and feeling inspired,” Andreyko said in a conversation with St. Pete Rising. “I want to create that kind of space in my own way, bringing my knowledge and expertise to help foster the next generation of sewers, makers, and entrepreneurs.”

“I'm a huge proponent of sustainable fashion and all of the practices within that,” she continued. “In the world of fast fashion, I want to teach people how sewing teaches patience, craftsmanship, and appreciation for something made by hand.”

A longtime seamstress, fashion designer, and retail professional, Andreyko brings years of entrepreneurial experience to the venture.

She and her family moved to St. Pete more than two years ago from Philadelphia, where she operated a bridal design and alterations business.

Rather than continuing solely with alterations, she decided to launch a retail concept centered around sewing education and thoughtfully sourced fabrics.

September Sewing Co. will offer a range of fabrics for both garment-making and crafting, including cotton, linen, shirting, jersey, and other textiles.

The store will also carry sewing machines, home goods, antiques, and St. Pete-themed décor.

Designed for both adults and children, the shop's classes will cover sewing fundamentals, machine operation, and beginner-friendly projects such as tote bags and pillows.

Andreyko expects class sizes to remain small, typically between five and ten students, allowing for more hands-on instruction.

The curriculum is based on techniques and lessons developed throughout her years of professional sewing experience.

“Even if you don't necessarily enjoy it, it's still such an extremely useful skill to have,” she said.

The Seminole building spans 3,475 square feet, though September Sewing Co. will occupy approximately 1,000 square feet.

The remaining area will serve as a workspace for Andreyko's fashion label, D. Andreyko, where she designs unconventional bridalwear and formal women's apparel.

Andreyko describes the store's aesthetic as a “coastal cottage vibe,” with natural lighting, an airy feel, and beach-inspired touches.

Once the business is established, she hopes to launch an online storefront offering fabrics, sewing tools, and her own sewing patterns.

She also plans to host art-focused markets in Seminole to help connect with the community and support other small businesses.

“I love being able to express my creativity through digital patterns,” Andreyko said. “One day, I’d also love to develop my own fabric line.”

September Sewing Co. is expected to open this fall.

Follow the business on Instagram for updates on its opening timeline.