Foundation construction begins on 46-story mixed-use tower in downtown St. Pete
By Breanne Williams
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Published: Oct 13, 2022

Construction has officially begun on the foundation for The Residences at 400 Central, a 46-story mixed-use tower in downtown St. Petersburg.

Initial site work and underground testing have been completed on the property. The tower is expected to be the tallest residential building on the west coast of Florida. It will feature 1.3 million square feet of interior space and include 301 condominiums, a rooftop observatory, retail, restaurants and Class A office space.

John Catsimatidis Sr., founder of New York-based Red Apple Real Estate, is the developer behind the project. Suffolk Construction Co. was selected to be the general contractor in August. The tower was designed by Florida-based architectural firm Arquitectonica.

“We are using the absolute state-of-the-art technology in construction for this iconic condominium tower,” Catsimatidis said. “We have deep family ties to the St. Petersburg community, and I am thrilled to see work underway to create a special new community in the vibrant city center.”

Construction for the massive development requires the team to drill test pilings for the tower’s foundation. A series of 89 cylindrical drilled foundation shafts will support the tower. These shafts range from 48 inches in diameter and 87 feet deep to 6 feet in diameter and 166 feet deep. The foundation elements are filled with steel reinforcing and high-strength concrete.

A spokesman for the developer said the project did not sustain any damage during Hurricane Ian. Suffolk lowered and secured all construction equipment to prepare for the storm, and construction has resumed.

The Residences at 400 Central will be 515 feet tall. A sales gallery launched by Red Apple and Michael Saunders & Co. in October 2021 is located across from the site at 465 Central Ave. When complete, there will be units with one- to four-bedroom floor plans, custom penthouses and more than 35,000 square feet of private indoor and outdoor amenities.

This first stage of foundation construction is expected to be completed in the next few months. Above-ground construction of the tower is estimated to begin in early 2023.