Inaugural St. Pete issue puts the spotlight on the Sunshine City
By Ashley Gurbal Kritzer
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Published: Sep 23, 2022

St. Petersburg has transformed from a sleepy retirement haven to a vibrant, artsy city home to top-tier restaurants and museums.

Real estate developers are investing billions in St. Pete — and there's more to come as SunRunner, the first bus rapid transit system in the Tampa Bay region, debuts in October.

In this week's print edition, we explore St. Pete's growth through multiple lenses. With growth comes challenges like skyrocketing rents. We check in with St. Petersburg Economic Development Corp. CEO J.P. DuBuque on how rising costs have influenced his pitch to companies looking to relocate or expand here. You'll also be introduced to two finance executives who are the first women in Florida to receive a trust charter — and they've chosen to build their new company in St. Pete.

The up-and-coming Union Central district is on the cusp of several major investments that will create a new neighborhood and extend the vibrancy of downtown and the Edge district along Central Avenue. We take you behind the deals in the works to explain where the opportunities are.

While this entire issue is dedicated to the explosive growth underway in St. Petersburg, the Business Journal expanded its coverage of the city in September 2021. That's when we brought onboard Breanne Williams, who covers real estate and economic development in Pinellas County.

If you haven't yet connected with Breanne, shoot her an email at bwilliams@bizjournals.com. We're always looking for more sources and story ideas in the Sunshine City.