Apartments, retail proposed for site of Lolita's Wine Market in St. Pete's Grand Central district
By Breanne Williams
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Published: Aug 15, 2022

A Dallas developer has a mixed-use vision to redevelop the 1700 block of Central Avenue in St. Petersburg's Grand Central district.

Tramell Crow Residential has submitted plans for a seven-story, 267-unit apartment building on the site, which is home to small retail and commercial buildings and surface parking lots. Lolita’s Wine Market, Dirty Laundry, The Burg Bar and Grill and Avid Brew Co. currently occupy the space.

Dwell Design Studio is the architect; Kimley Horn is the engineer. It is Trammell Crow's first residential project in St. Petersburg.

The proposal includes 18,000 square feet of street-level retail and commercial space as well as a leasing office, resident lobbies and a bicycle parking area. The majority of the retail would front Central Avenue with some facing 1st Avenue S. and the pool courtyard will front 17th Street. Pedestrian access is proposed off of 18th Street with residential and retail entrances on Central Avenue. The residential entrances would be on First Avenue and there would also be a retail entrance on 18th Street.

The apartments will include studios and one- and two-bedroom units with access to indoor amenities and a pool courtyard.

“The project will contribute to the walkability of Central Avenue and the increasingly mixed-use retail/multifamily character of the area and will provide ample parking for retail and restaurant-goers in the garage levels of the Project building, with an excess of almost 350 parking spaces,” according to city documents.

Tropicana Field is less than a quarter mile from the property and Tru by Hilton St. Petersburg Downtown and 1701 Central apartments are adjacent to the site.

The project's proximity to the upcoming bus rapid transit SunRunner stops as well as its proximity to downtown makes it “a prime location for residents and visitors who live a car-free lifestyle,” according to documents filed with the city The SunRunner stop is planned for 13th Street, which is less than a third of a mile away.