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Event provides an inside look at city projects

Mark Parker

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Steve Herzfeld (center), real estate Advisor for KW Commercial Tampa Bay, speaks during Wednesday's event. Photos by Mark Parker.

KW Commercial Tampa Bay’s leadership welcomed city leaders, developers and realtors to a special event to discuss the state of real estate and highlight five projects in downtown St. Petersburg.

Representatives from The Residences at 400 Central, Art House, The Nolen, Orange Station and Reflection St. Pete took the stage Wednesday at the Floridian Social Club. They provided attendees with updates on their luxury developments, but first, several prominent local figures offered their thoughts on the city’s bustling real estate scene.

St. Petersburg-based author Peter Kageyama, who wrote For the Love of Cities: The Love Affair Between People and Their Places, kicked off the event. He stated that while the properties offer outstanding facilities and features, “the greatest amenity of all is this city.”

“You guys have the luxury of selling an incredible city,” said Kageyama. “St. Petersburg is one of those places where people talk about it in glowing, emotional terms.”

J.P. DuBuque, president and CEO of the Greater St. Petersburg Area Economic Development Corporation, said that the buildings highlighted at the event contribute to the culture and character of the surrounding community. The developments help create a brand and an image, he said, that distinguishes downtown St. Petersburg from other cities.

He relayed a quote from former Mayor Rick Kriseman that DuBuque said directly relates to his business and the developments adding to the city’s skyline: “If we can get you here, we got you.”

DuBuque stressed the need for a “broad spectrum” of real estate and credited developers for creating mixed-use properties. He called the demise of office space highly overrated and said the area also needs more industrial land and housing for both low and high-wage earners.

“If we can somehow find a way, as developers and brokers and people in the real estate community, to help build that up in the right way,” said DuBuque, “I’m telling you right now – we’re going to become that community that we always want to be, which is just a little bit better than it is right now.”

James Corbett, city development administrator, stressed that he and Mayor Ken Welch’s administration are pro-growth.

He said city officials encourage more development, and the SunRunner Action Plan will increase the density and intensity of areas around Tampa Bay’s first bus rapid transit service. He added the plan will increase housing options and job opportunities and expects its completion in Summer 2023.

New NTM zoning, said Corbett, will also boost density when it takes effect next Spring. He said he looks forward to partnering with everyone in attendance to create more workforce, affordable and luxury housing in the city.

“Every kind of housing you can talk about, we need it,” said Corbett. “We want to encourage that.”

The Residences at 400 Central. All renderings provided by KW Tampa Bay.

400 Central

Andrew Warren, a sales executive for The Residences at 400 Central, said architects designed the building to become a St. Petersburg landmark. Once completed, the Red Apple Group’s project will be the tallest in the city at 515 feet and feature a sky lounge and observation deck offering 360-degree views.

Construction crews have started laying the foundation, and Warren said that over 30% of residences have sold. He expects construction to complete by the end of 2024.

A rendering of Art House St. Petersburg (right).

Art House

Art House St. Pete is Palm Beach-based Kolter Urban’s third downtown tower. The group is also responsible for the 41-story ONE St. Petersburg and the Saltaire waterfront condominium development.

Art House will bring 244 residences over 32 floors, with over 33,000 square feet of amenities to 200 Central Avenue. There is also a 3,000-square-foot dog park, and the residences are now for sale.

Rendering of The Nolen. Image provided.

The Nolen

Liz Heinkel, representing Smith and Associates Real Estate, called The Nolen a high-end boutique condominium development. Developers named it after John Nolen, an urban planner instrumental in creating St. Petersburg’s waterfront park system.

The 23-story, 20-unit project is at 146 4th Ave. Northeast near North Straub Park, and will feature early 20th-century outdoor designs. It also boasts a full-building generator in the event of storms. Only nine of the condos remain unsold.

A rendering of Orange Station.

Orange Station

The Residences at Orange Station, the first mixed-use development in the Edge District, are under construction at the former St. Petersburg Police Headquarters at 1301 Central Ave. It will feature 61 luxury condos.

The units will start on the sixth floor of a 16-story building, over top of a large restaurant. There will also be a high-end hotel and an art installation and murals. Two of Orange Station’s three penthouses are under contract.

A rendering of the rooftop pool at Reflection St. Pete.

Reflection

Fred Hemmer, a partner with HP Capital, grew up in St. Petersburg. His group is behind the 88-unit, 18-story Reflection St. Pete project, and he recalled watching movies at the Floridian “before it was a rock ‘n’ roll club.”

Located at 8th Street and 3rd Avenue North, Reflection is adjacent to Mirror Lake. As such, a member of the Keller Williams team noted local government protects many of the views from future obstruction.

Project officials are hosting a contest for artists to create “a sprawling” mural for the building, which will also host monthly events. Another unique feature is a golf cart shuttle that will ferry residents around downtown. The development is expected to open in late 2023, and 33 units remain unsold.

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3 Comments

3 Comments

  1. Avatar

    Shirley Hayes

    October 15, 2022at11:47 am

    Homes/apartments for ‘regular’ wages earners are disappearing rapidly. 1 bedrooms apartments are $1,000 a month and Up. 2 bedroom homes and units are $2,000 and up. If you work at the Mall, Costco, Sam’s Club, Walmart, Dollar Tree, Dollar General, Restaurants/Bars, where will you live????We need these People!!!

  2. Avatar

    Amber Bennett

    October 15, 2022at10:13 am

    Thank you for highlighting our event!

  3. Avatar

    RITA SEWELL

    October 15, 2022at3:34 am

    In light of the hurricane that has decimated Southwest Florida and beyon and the issues of evacuation from Pinellas County. High density is a wonderful idea if you don’t have to pack up and go because of a cat for hurricane. I suspect that those who live in the high end buildings will probably leave by private jet while the rest of us will find ourselves in gridlock on the interstate. The price of living in pair-o-dice.

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