Local developer to preserve historic home, build condos

St. Petersburg building officials have approved a local developer’s $17 million plans to restore a historically significant home and build an adjacent mid-rise tower overlooking Mirror Lake.

The developer, St. Petersburg-based Backstreets Capital, will also build a new two-story residence on the .47-acre site at 250 Mirror Lake Dr. N. The firm sought a reduced setback variance and must demolish the historic home’s garage to accommodate its site plan.

The city’s Development Review Commission unanimously approved the application Wednesday afternoon, with conditions. Will Conroy, founder and president of Backstreets, said he spent a “good portion of the last four years” staring at the building from his neighboring office “and trying to figure out what we could with it.”

“This site and this project are really like a Rubik’s cube,” Conroy added. “It’s fascinating, and every square foot of the site matters.”

Significant changes to the site plan would void the city’s development agreement.

Pioneering homebuilder Cade Allen built the existing two-story home in 1937. His stone-clad veneers and clay barrel roof tiles are a distinguishable feature in St. Petersburg’s Allendale neighborhood.

The 87-year-old residence is not listed on local and national historic registers. However, the city classifies it as a “contributing structure of the downtown historic district.”

The 4,000-square-foot home is now used as an office building. Backstreets will restore the structure and convert it back to a single-family home before commencing construction on the condominiums.

The firm plans to incorporate materials Allen used on the two-story garage into the new two-story home on the northeast corner of the property. City officials approved a demolition permit for the site in 2022.

Conroy noted his office is directly south of the Allen Home. “This is our first time restoring a structure,” he said. “We’ve not done this before. But we are really proud … We’re especially happy to have Preserve the ‘Burg’s support, and the neighbors.”

The seven-story, 18-unit condo building dubbed The Cade will sit behind the Allen Home. The mid-rise will feature Mediterranean Revival elements found in neighboring structures, and Place Architecture will serve as the project architect.

Corey Malyzska, city zoning official, said granting the variance would “not be injurious” to the neighboring properties. However, he noted that the reduced distance between buildings would impact a government building and a surface parking lot.

While Backstreets has not set a construction timeline for The Cade, work on the existing and new home will begin early next year. City conditions stipulate that “substantial construction” must commence by September 2027.

The developer must showcase public art or contribute to the city’s fund. Building officials must approve landscaping, streetscaping, garage screening and ground-level building material plans.

Most importantly, the developer must ensure the preservation of the Allen Home. Any significant changes to the presented plan would void the agreement.

A view of the new two-story home.

EDAD Studio will oversee the Allen Home’s restorative design, and All Trades Historical Restoration will lead construction. Manny Leto, executive director of Preserve the ‘Burg, said Mirror Lake was built as a respite from downtown St. Petersburg.

However, he noted that recent development has detracted from the neighborhood’s historic character. Leto credited Conroy and his team for their extensive public outreach, patience and thoughtfulness.

Leto said those collaborative efforts highlight that “it is possible to develop new and exciting projects in historic neighborhoods. And it’s possible to create something new – not just honoring the past with a mural or marker – but incorporating the past to create a compelling new development.”

City officials agreed with Leto’s sentiments. Commissioner Tim Clemmons commended Backstreets for preserving 57% of the property and repurposing historical materials.

“I think this speaks volumes and sets a precedent for others to follow,” Clemmons added.