St. Petersburg Inviting, Inspiring and Growing Brighter Every Day St

AS FEATURED IN THE MAGAZINE OF FLORIDA BUSINESS St. Petersburg Inviting, Inspiring and Growing Brighter Every Day St. Petersburg Inviting, Inspiring and Growing Brighter Every Day 58 ST. PETERSBURG SPECIAL SECTION Imagine living in a metropolitan city where you can pick up a cup of locally roasted coffee on your walk to work and stroll for a local brew on the way home. In the sunshine. All year round. No time for boredom on weekends as there’s always a concert, a festival, a play or a professional baseball or soccer game all no more than a bicycle ride away. When you need quiet time to reflect, there’s a tranquil spot overlooking a glistening bay. Your lifestyle is just what you imagined it to be. For those who live in St. Petersburg, it’s not a dream. It’s just outside the door. BOB CROSLIN By Lynn Waddell ST. PETERSBURG SPECIAL SECTION 59 St. Petersburg St. Petersburg is a bright star in one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the nation. To the west, it is bordered by barrier islands with some of the nation’s finest beaches. To the east, it rests on the expansive blue Tampa Bay. Home to world-class museums, Major League Baseball, a professional soccer team and events such as the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, it is a metropolis of arts and entertainment. Anchored by the major industries of health care, life science, financial services, specialty manufacturing and tourism, it is also an inspiring place to work. The city’s downtown is almost unrecogniz- able for those who haven’t visited in 20 years. Showpiece mural by Derek Donnelly on Beach Drive Condominium high-rises, amenity-filled apartment buildings and hotels fill the skyline. An Expanding Streetscapes of sidewalk cafes, coffee shops, Developer NRP is finishing boutiques, nightclubs and iconic architecture Renaissance Since 2010, Avanti, its second apartment — new and old — are in every direction. St. Petersburg’s growth rate has tripled complex in downtown St. Sidewalks are bustling with not only visitors, year over year. It also has grown younger. Petersburg with 366 units. It plans but residents of all ages. Some are college The percentage of millennials increased to start construction on another students attending the city’s major research by 6% between 2010 and 2015, inching complex with 240 units and 5,000 university, the state college, the private liberal the median age down to 41.8. square feet of retail in the city’s arts college, nursing school or law school, all of In recent years, dramatic growth has Grand Central Corridor in the which are based in the city. extended beyond the city core. Vacant summer of 2018. “Most places can’t St. Petersburg, or the “Burg” as locals call it, neighborhood lots, particularly those compare,” says Kurt P. Kehoe, NRP honors its past while it forges a vibrant future close to downtown, are being filled with vice president of development in filled with dynamic businesses, entrepreneurial new homes and townhomes that typi- Florida. “St. Petersburg has the millennials and youthful baby boomers. The cally sell before completion. Apartment vibe and funky arts feel that other green benches? Well, now the name falls to complexes are going up all over the city. downtown areas just don’t have.” Green Bench Brewing, which hosts a diverse clientele and frequently a local indie market. The sun is shining brightly on“ St. Petersburg. We are seeing growth and change here like never before. We are also seeing a renaissance in opportunity. Whether it’s those seeking to start a new business, or continue their education, or receive training, we are working every day to ensure St. Pete is the kind of city where anyone can thrive.” Mayor Rick Kriseman Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg City of St. Petersburg 60 ST. PETERSBURG SPECIAL SECTION “We’re seeing amazing growth throughout all of our districts and corri- dors, and we’re very excited about that,” says Kanika Tomalin, St. Petersburg’s deputy mayor. “Business permits and business registrations are up at record levels, and we attribute much of that to the alignment of the public and private Michael Mina and Don Pintabona sectors working together to create a viable economic landscape to not only neighborhoods, there’s no doubt about attract great businesses, but create the it. St. Petersburg is growing in ways that infrastructure required to retain them.” are strengthening its traditional appeal to In 2017, a record $671.1 million in tourists and retirees as well as becoming construction was underway. Though more inviting to millennials and business. most was residential, many businesses Most notably, three world-class repurposed existing structures. For museums are under construction down- instance, empty warehouses have been town and slated to open in 2018 and converted into artist galleries and some- 2019. A $79-million city police station Boutiques, art galleries, vintage fur- times former garages into restaurants. rises on the edge of downtown with an nishings stores, breweries, coffee houses, The momentum attracts a variety architectural style that reflects the city’s bike shops and more have opened of entrepreneurs and encourages the welcoming vibe. The tallest building on like lilies after a summer shower. Craft growth of existing companies. The city the west coast of Florida — the One breweries have become such an integral has 16,000 businesses and counting. condominium tower — nears comple- part of the local culture that the county Mayor Rick Kriseman’s weekly cal- tion. An addition to the city’s largest tourism office offers beer trail maps. endar is packed with ribbon cutting shopping mall and multiple expansions New local and independently owned ceremonies. of corporate offices outside downtown restaurants have put the Burg on the As the local economy booms, the are also underway. foodie map. In 2017, USA Today named city government is also doing well, not Beyond, the future looks bright as the St. Petersburg one of the “Five Under- only in revenues but also in finance city plans to redevelop the 86-acre parcel rated Food Cities on the East Coast.” The management. In 2017, the Fiscal Times on the edge of downtown now occupied city is home to celebrity chefs including ranked St. Petersburg among the top 25 by Tropicana Field, home of the Tampa Michael Mina and Don Pintabona at fiscally healthy cities in America, the only Bay Rays. With or without a new base- Locale Market and Jeremy Duclut of the Florida city to make the cut. ball stadium, the property is slated for a Food Network show “Chopped” fame at With a cityscape dotted by cranes research and tech campus, hotel/confer- Cassis American Brasserie. and new homes rising throughout ence space, housing and retail. Icon of the Bay The $50-million New St. Petersburg Pier planned for opening in early 2019 is anticipated to be a defining city icon for decades to come. A 3,065-foot-long expanse stretching over Tampa Bay, the pier will be packed with varied potential experiences from fish- ing to concert viewing to fine dining. It will include an outdoor amphitheater, market space, transient boat docks, kayak launch, learning center, a park and more. A $20-million pier approach project will connect the pier to downtown. ROGERS PARTNERS ARCHITECTS + URBAN DESIGNERS (BOTTOM); BOYZELL HOSEY / TAMPA BAY TIMES (TOP RIGHT) TIMES (TOP BAY TAMPA / HOSEY BOYZELL + URBAN DESIGNERS (BOTTOM); ARCHITECTS ROGERS PARTNERS ST. PETERSBURG SPECIAL SECTION 61 One St. Petersburg St. Petersburg St. Pete Rising As more improved bicycle lanes and expanded people rediscovered the St. Pete life- public transit have helped fuel style, downtown condominium devel- housing growth beyond the city core. opment exploded around 2010. More “People often ask, ‘How far of an Uber recently apartment complexes have ride is it?’” Averbeck says. “With Bike sprung up downtown and beyond. Share, you can Uber downtown and Large single-family homes are replac- ride bikes once you get down there.” ing many smaller ones, and vacant Though the St. Petersburg real neighborhood lots are filling fast. estate market is hot, opportunities for “So many people who chose to come commercial development remain. to Florida are choosing to come to Ron Wheeler, CEO of The Sembler St. Pete because it’s so cool here,” says Company, a major developer and Lari Averbeck, a residential agent with manager of shopping centers through- RE/MAX Metro. While demand close out the Southeast, says St. Petersburg’s to downtown outpaces supply, Uber, retail market is also strong. Downtown Dwelling Units “We’ve got a really healthy retail 11,000 market in particular downtown 10,000 where occupancy is very high,” Wheeler UNDER CONSTRUCTION / PERMITTED { 9,000 says. “There’s certainly opportunity for more development — primarily 8,000 redevelopment.” 7,000 On the horizon, Wheeler says “the 6,000 biggest real estate deal” will be the Tropicana Field property, which holds 5,000 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 the possibility for a large corporate headquarters, housing, retail and more. Homes of St. Pete St. Petersburg’s neighborhoods are as eclectic as the people who fill them. The city’s Jungle Prada neighborhood is home to an ancient Tocobaga Indian mound as well as resident peacocks that sometimes roam the shady brick streets. While the Kenwood neighborhood is known for its craftsman-style bungalows. Waterfront homes on Snell Isle In the city’s older neighborhoods, Grand Spanish Mediterranean reviv- you will be hard pressed to find al homes of the 1920s can be found two single-family homes exactly throughout the city.

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