Lema Construction to build new St. Pete HQ, townhomes 

Several land use and zoning changes in a coastal high-hazard area will accommodate a St. Petersburg-based contractor’s new headquarters and a 20-unit townhome development.

City council members, at their June 12 meeting, also unanimously approved a development agreement with Lema Construction that stipulates habitat management requirements. The contractor’s plans encompass three non-contiguous sites totaling 3.3 acres in St. Petersburg’s Gateway area.

The three parcels sit to the east of 4th Street North, near Gandy Boulevard. Lema will maintain a preservation habitat on the northernmost 1.23-acre parcel. Attorney Craig Taraszki, who represents the contractor, explained the project’s benefits.

“There’s dumping, there’s homeless encampments on these sites,” Taraszki said. “That area is already disturbed, and it’s mainly invasive Brazilian peppers and whatnot.”

The mostly vacant property in St. Petersburg’s Gateway area is currently home to invasive plants, a communications tower and a homeless encampment. Image: City documents.

The northern and southernmost parcels are vacant. Site 2 houses a communications tower, and all three partially include designated preservation areas and residential zoning.

The land-use changes and development agreement allows Lema to build a townhome development encompassing 10,000 square feet on the southernmost site, near the corner of 3rd Street North and Gandy Boulevard. The parcel would retain a narrow strip of preservation land.

Lema will now construct a one-story, 6,825-square-foot office on the second (middle), .71-acre site while retaining the communications tower. The company currently leases its headquarters at 1631 Commerce Ave. N., less than two miles east of the subject property, which it purchased for $400,000 in February.

Lema must maintain the preservation areas and provide the city with regular updates. The development agreement includes a funding requirement for those efforts.

Documents state that officials will not issue building permits for the office and townhome developments until Lema establishes a “financial guarantee for the mitigation activities to facilitate the long-term success of the preservation districts.” The company must also restore the northernmost site’s native habitat before commencing construction.

“We’re increasing the wetlands within the preservation district by half an acre,” Taraszki said. “Site 1 will be a mitigated, rehabbed and enhanced preservation area of constructed wetlands.”

A map highlighting the three parcels (right, black and white outline) and surrounding developments. Image: City documents.

He said the smaller, non-contiguous areas offer less preservation value. Taraszki also noted that surrounding developments, including a shopping center, have impacted all of the long-unmanaged sites.

Councilmember Gina Driscoll said Lema is “known for thoughtful developments. The company’s local projects include the Ed White Hospital’s redevelopment, St. Petersburg College’s Midtown Center and Haddy’s downtown robotics-powered manufacturing facility.

“I love how this is working out,” Driscoll added. “It’s a win all around, and I’m really looking forward to seeing how the newly-shaped preservation area looks once all the work is done. I know that’s not easy.

“And being able to add townhomes in an area that makes sense to do so is a big plus for everybody.”

The development will feature 20 townhomes, five fewer than the allowable number under the current zoning.