It seems like each time we take a stroll through downtown there are new restaurants and galleries opening and more apartment complexes and condo towers being built. We realize it’s difficult to keep track of everything. Luckily, we’ve done the research, so you don’t have to. Each month we will feature a few of the most exciting new downtown developments that are on the horizon for the Sunshine City.
An 11-story boutique hotel was announced for the EDGE District a few weeks ago. The modern-style hotel is located at the corner of 11th Street and Baum Avenue North and will add 130- 140 rooms to Downtown St. Pete. The $30 million project will be designed specifically for St. Pete, as opposed to bringing in an ordinary hotel chain. The hotel will be built with many amenities, including an upscale lobby bar and restaurant on the ground level, a rooftop pool and sky bar, and potentially a fitness center and coworking space. This hotel marks the second project in St. Pete for DevMar Development, who is also responsible for the Vantage Lofts, which broke ground last month at 16th Street and 1st Avenue North. A hotel brand (or “flag” as they are called) has not been announced yet, but a decision should be coming soon.
The Peabody opened last month inside the brand new Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital Research and Education building located at 600 5th Street South. The eatery has an absolutely beautiful blue-hued interior modeled after the George Peabody Library in Baltimore, Maryland. For breakfast, you’ll enjoy items like avocado toast, a breakfast burrito and the egg white scramble. Lunch offers an array of sandwiches, salads, and small plates. Be sure to check out their full coffee bar serving Buddy Brew Coffee too! The Peabody is owned and operated by Tampa’s popular Oxford Exchange and is open seven days a week until 8pm.
Wannemacher Jensen Architects is expanding its downtown headquarters with the construction of a 34,000 square foot mixed-use building adjacent to its current headquarters at 132 Mirror Lake Drive. The proposal calls for a stunning six-story building overlooking Mirror Lake complete with floor-to-ceiling windows and an ultra-modern look. Floors 1-3 will feature 17,000 square feet of office space — part of which will be used to house the offices for both WJ Architecture and WJ Create. Floors 4-6 will house 10 apartment units which will offer residents unparalleled lake and city views. If all goes according to plan, WJ hopes to break ground on the project later this year with a completion date in late 2019.
The Saint James Townhomes were announced recently for a plot of land on the southeast corner of 8th Street South and 3rd Avenue South. The community will feature eight, three-story units each consisting of 1,700 square feet with 3 beds and three and a half bathrooms. Local developer Jay Miller, who also developed Quattro Beach Drive and the Trader Joe’s on 4th Street, is bringing this exciting townhome project to Downtown St. Pete. Pricing is expected to start at $460K and completion of the project is planned for fall 2019.
The Left Bank Bistro is now open in Historic Uptown at 1225 Dr. MLK Jr St. North. Currently only coffee and pastries are available Wednesday to Monday from 7am to 11am. However in the near future, their menu (and hours) will expand to offer french-inspired lunch and dinner. When you visit, be sure to check out their sister business next door, Market at Left Bank, which specializes in antiques, homemade products and art from local makers.
St. Pete Rising is an urban development blog covering future retail, restaurants, and real estate in Downtown St. Petersburg, FL. Stay up-to-date, visit StPeteRising.com.
