Hotel-apartment hybrid with limited parking receives approval

Long-discussed plans for a hybrid hotel and apartment tower near Tropicana Field are now moving forward, despite concerns over its lack of parking and primary use.

St. Petersburg’s Development Review Commission unanimously approved the unnamed project Feb. 5. The approximately $25 million development at 1663 1^st Ave. S. will feature a 13-story building with 60 residences and 60 hotel rooms at 1663 1^st Ave. S.

The development will provide 12 parking spaces – 12 more than the original site plan. In June 2023, developers Craig Bazarsky and Christopher Bicho received approval to build a car-free, eight-story apartment building at the .22-acre site.

City code allows developers to forego parking spaces for units encompassing less than 750 square feet. Some officials worry developers are now gaming the system by creating apartment-style hotels.

“The only reason we approved that 750-square-foot no parking (rule) was to get more affordable housing for people who live here,” said Commissioner Chuck Flynt. “It kind of seems like we’re turning a blind eye to that purpose.”

The site was formerly home to the Sunshine Kitty Cafe and Dolman Law Group office.

Hotels must offer one parking space for every four rooms. However, the developer will provide 12 instead of 15 with a 20% bicycle parking reduction.

The tower will feature 12 bike racks; according to city regulations, six of those spaces equate to one for vehicles. The developers will receive another 10% parking reduction as the building is within an eighth of a mile from a SunRunner bus station.

Flynt noted the Mint House project began as a hybrid tower and now solely operates as a hotel. He said its operators now use public street parking for valet service.

Flynt said the proposed development’s size increased by 33% from the initial, housing-focused site plan, which he voted against. The adjacent Tru by Hilton Hotel opposed the previous project due to parking concerns.

Bazarsky and Bicho’s joint venture, Puppy Industries II LLC, requested several density bonuses for what Flynt said could eventually only provide short-term rentals instead of housing. “Parking spaces cost about $30,000, $35,000 per space in a building such as this, and we are trying to make it more affordable for people who live here and work here and encourage more construction of these smaller units,” he said.

“As members of this board, we have what the code says, we have what the application says, but we also have to apply real life – what really is going on out there,” Flynt continued. “And I feel like I have to speak up to that.”

Commission Chair Kevin Reali said residents would likely use the bicycle spaces and public transit. While hotel guests would probably need more parking, he believes a garage for a new Tampa Bay Rays stadium – which may never come to fruition – could provide some relief.

Commissioners stipulated that the 60 housing units must come with a one-year lease. They also agreed that it would be nearly impossible to enforce.

The proposed development at 1663 1st Ave. S.

Once complete, the 150-foot-tall building would feature a four-story base before a 20-foot setback along its north side. Residents and hotel guests will share a first-floor lobby and club room.

The building’s east side will feature a 30-foot setback from a neighboring townhome development. Floors two through five will house 54 hotel rooms.

The sixth story will house six hotel rooms and six apartments. The remaining 54 residential units will encompass floors seven through 12.

The 13^th story will offer indoor and outdoor amenity decks with a fitness center, coworking space and a pool for residents and hotel guests. The developers will purchase 5,000 square feet of development rights from a locally designated historic landmark and contribute $220,000 to the city’s Housing Capital Improvement Projects trust fund to receive density bonuses.

“The (city) code is trying to steer us this way, and I’m not going to oppose it just because I’m not quite sure about it,” Reali said of parking and short-term rental concerns.