Condo, apartment towers move forward in downtown St. Pete
By Breanne Williams
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Published: Nov 5, 2021

Two projects received the green light from the St. Petersburg Development Review Commission this week, clearing the way for further development downtown.

A 41-story condominium tower planned for the parking lot adjacent to the 200 Central office building received approval for a site plan modification, giving the developer The Kolter Group floor area ratio bonuses. Commissioners had a variety of questions regarding the design of the building; however, ultimately it was approved.

Kolter also developed ONE St. Petersburg and Saltaire St. Petersburg and said the unnamed development near 200 Central will have a similar modern contemporary design with enhanced amenities. The tower will cost approximately $140 million and include roughly 248 units.

Units will range from two- to three-bedroom floor plans and the tower will include a coworking space, pool, spa, dog park, golf and swing simulator in a game room, theater room, formal social and dining spaces, a wellness center and two suites for residents’ guests.

The ground floor of the facility will have approximately 6,100 square feet of retail space, and a parking garage will run from levels two to eight with about 482 parking spaces. There will be an entrance on 1st Avenue South for residents.

Commissioners voiced concern about compatibility with neighboring buildings. At the staff’s request, the applicant added an awning between the storefront and the parking garage as well as other minor alterations. Trenam Law shareholder Don Mastry spoke on behalf of the development and said the developers have analyzed the surrounding buildings and planned a style that would blend with the neighboring architecture.

Kolter will launch pricing at the start of 2022 and will begin construction later that year. Brian Van Slyke, regional president of The Kolter Group, estimated it will take two and a half to three years to complete.

Kolter is partnering once more with San Francisco-based SB Architects to design the project. The firm worked with Kolter in the past to design ONE St. Petersburg and Saltaire.

Apartments near the Trop

During the meeting, the DRC also approved a site plan for a 15-story apartment tower near Tropicana Field, which is planned to cost approximately $64 million. Tuxedo Court LLC — a company linked to Englewood-based White/Peterman Properties Inc. — filed plans for the tower that will have 260 residential units and 2,700 square feet of ground-floor retail and restaurant space.

The tower will be built on 1.5 acres on the northeast corner of Eighth Street South and Fourth Avenue South. The plan is for the U-shaped tower to sit on top of a five-story parking garage. Kansas-based LK Architecture and Engineering will create a contemporary exterior style.

The apartments will include one- and two-bedroom floor plans ranging from 515 to 1,472 square feet. The applicant requested a floor area ratio and a height bonus. Commissioners unanimously approved the request.