Developer clears hurdle for $105M block redevelopment in St. Pete
By Breanne Williams
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Published: Oct 6, 2022

Dallas-based Trammell Crow Residential’s vision to redevelop the 1700 block of Central Avenue in St. Petersburg’s Grand Central district is moving forward.

St. Petersburg City Council on Thursday, meeting as the Community Redevelopment Agency, unanimously agreed that the development is consistent with the Intown West Redevelopment Plan. The site plan had previously been approved by the administration pending Thursday's CRA approval.

On Wednesday, the Development Review Commission recommended approval for the vacation of a 20-foot wide east-west alley located on the block. Two public hearings will need to be held on the issue going forward for final approval.

The developer is proposing a $105 million project that entails demolishing the current buildings on the block and constructing a seven-story, 267-unit multifamily development with 18,000 square feet of commercial space. Units are planned to be studios and one- and two-bedroom floorplans.

Large-scale projects like this proposal are becoming rarer along Central Avenue, as much of the corridor has been built out. Redevelopment or moving outside of the Edge and Grand Central districts remain the main options for developers who wish to transform entire blocks.

Businesses like The Burg Bar, Dirty Laundry and Lolita’s Wine Market currently call the block home. Several of the businesses currently on the block are planning to relocate to the new development once complete.

Plans show the development will have a parking garage in the center that is wrapped by residential units and commercial space. Access to the garage, loading and trash pickup will be from 18th Street North. The commercial space, leasing office and lobby of the building will be on the ground floor, as will several residential units. Floors two through seven will also have residential units.

Retail is planned to front Central Avenue and First Avenue South. There will be a ground-level courtyard along 17th Street North that will include a pool.

City documents show staff found the project fits in with surrounding developments, both for its height and design. Other multistory residential developments nearby include the Vantage at 160 16th Street North, Tru by Hilton St. Petersburg Downtown at 1650 Central Ave. and 1701 Central apartments.

The project will include site improvements like bicycle parking, street trees and landscaping, open green space, a new drainage system and 10-foot-wide sidewalks, according to city documents.

This will be Trammell Crow's first residential project in St. Petersburg. Dwell Design Studio is the architect and Kimley Horn is the engineer.