Development construction completed at 1246 Central

A modern, multi-use development designed by Storyn Studio for Architecture has just been completed in the EDGE District in downtown St. Petersburg.

A collaboration between PTM Partners, a  real-estate investment and development firm managing a portfolio of over $20 billion in projects across the East Coast, and Dovehill, a Fort Lauderdale-based firm with lifestyle and hospitality-focused investments across the country, 1246 Central Avenue will offer 24,000 square feet for office space and food and beverage development opportunities.

The ground floor will be home to numerous dining establishments, including Bosphorus Turkish Cuisine, a renowned restaurant with locations across central Florida known for its curated, scratch-made authentic Turkish dishes. A gelato shop is slated to open on the corner, joining Solidcore and Floyd’s Barbershop, two vibrant businesses that have already integrated themselves into Central Avenue’s diverse business offerings.

The project marks the completion of Phase I of the EDGE Collective, a 500,000 square foot mixed-used development project that includes the adjacent Moxy Hotel, which opened in August 2024, a 7,000 square foot communal garden, and the newly renovated 1246 Central Avenue building. Phase II of the project will include over 350 multi-family rentals, parking, and additional commercial and retail space. Construction is slated to begin towards the end of 2025.

Most recently a furniture store, the nearly 100-year-old building was repurposed and renovated to reflect a more modern, airy feel inspired by the historical arcades that dot downtown St. Pete. According to Nicholas Pantuliano, Chief Development Office and Chief Operations Officer of PTM Partners, the design of 1246 Central Avenue “feeds off this arcade concept. We wanted to make it very permeable, and we wanted the ability to pull people off Central Avenue and into the heart of the site.”

Alleyways among the buildings have been “pedestrianized,” allowing businesses multiple access points to the public, and the buildings are oriented in such a way that there’s no true front or back entrance.

Intentionality and seamless integration within the community is another key tenant of the developers’ ethos. Recognizing the “natural benefit of getting daylight, getting air, and getting outside to the overall health and wellness” of the community, natural lighting is a key design element, as is the incorporation of greenspace within the office spaces.

The design firms noted that repurposing a historic building is not only eco-friendly, but important to the continuity and preservation of the downtown area. As the EDGE District continues to rapidly develop and change, 1246 Central is intended to exemplify a harmonious marriage between preservation and progress.

The courtyard: “A harmonious marriage between preservation and progress.”