Apartment developer teams with Morean Arts Center for St. Pete project

Milhaus, an Indianapolis-based developer, tapped into St. Petersburg’s focus on the arts for its debut development here.

The company has opened Artistry St. Pete, a $52 million, mixed-use development with 246 apartments and 10,000 square feet of commercial space, at 1661 Central Ave. The project features paintings, photos and sculptures from 10 local artists and showcases the work of three local mural painters.

Milhaus worked with the Morean Arts Center and regional art consultant Kathryn Gibson to identify work for a permanent collection, valued at over $125,000, and for a rotating gallery.

Photo credit: Artistry St. Pete

“The Morean was excited to work with Milhaus on this project because we hadn’t helped a company curate a gallery and permanent collection at this scale before,” Amanda Cooper, curator of exhibitions for Morean Arts Center, said in a news release. “When we saw images of Milhaus’ other Artistry properties, we were excited to see that this wouldn’t be a generic space. We weren’t going to be matching artwork to sofas, but instead curating an edgy, outside-the-box display.”

One of the amenities at Artistry is a dog park, and it includes a mural by St. Petersburg artist Matt Kress. Another St. Pete local, Leo Gomez, is creating a mural in the fitness center that can be seen through the large storefront windows of the space. The largest mural on the property, by Tampa-based Jujmo, will be in the interior pool courtyard.

Other artists whose work will be featured are:

• George Anderton, Tampa (paintings)
• Marjorie Dean Andruk (paintings)
• Jason Hackenwerth, St. Petersburg (paintings)
• Mallory Lundquist, Atlanta (mixed media sculpture)
• Ry McCullough, Tampa (mixed media)
• Chad Mize, St. Petersburg (mixed media)
• Zulu Painter, St. Petersburg
• Selina Roman, Tampa (photography)
• Emiliano Settecasi, Tampa (mixed media)
• Matthew Wicks, Tampa (mixed media sculpture)

Photo credit: Artistry St. Pete

Artistry St. Pete is the second location in Milhaus’ Artistry brand collection to open following Artistry Indianapolis. Additional Artistry projects are currently under construction in Kansas City, Missouri and Cincinnati, Ohio.

Milhaus tries to incorporate local artists at many of its projects, a spokeswoman said. HITE, an 81-unit apartment complex at Seminole Heights in Tampa, is an example of one of the company’s smaller-scale projects with a few pieces and murals by local artists, the spokeswoman said.

Artistry St. Pete at 1661 Central Ave.

Artistry St. Pete apartments range from studios to three-bedroom units. In addition to the dog park and fitness centers, there’s a pet spa, maker’s space, co-working lounge, and a pool and rooftop lounge, as well as 324 parking spaces.

The community sits on land that is bordered by the EDGE District on one side and Grand Central District on the other. Being a part of both neighborhoods gives residents an abundance of activities to do, the spokeswoman said.

Three retail tenants are expected to open by the end of the year. Mibella Nails Lounge & Spa, an organic modern salon, will open this summer. Raining Berries is opening in a 2,397-square-foot space and will serve fresh acai bowls, teas, kombucha, frappes and coffee. Italian ice cream shop Mammamia Gelato Italiano will operate in 1,236 square feet on the west side of the building.