Main 900 Central building to be spared

The Edge District’s oldest remaining building will remain, as the site will eventually include a 14-story residential tower. 

Houston-based The Dinerstein Companies has filed a stormwater permit to build the mixed-use tower at 900 Central Ave. The building, constructed in 1918, has several tenants, including Anytime Fitness.

The tower would be built south of the main building, which served as a hotel in the 1920s, according to Barbara Voglewede, executive director of the Edge Business District Association. 

The retention of the building was made possible through a multi-year effort by the association in collaboration, with the property owned and development team. 

The newest site plan just filed with the city “clearly includes saving the cornerstone 900 Central building, consistent with the previous one approved in 2021,” Voglewede said. 

The building at 900 Central Avenue. GoogleMaps.

A narrative of the project from engineering firm George F. Young, submitted to the Southwest Florida Water Management District Oct. 12, indicates the proposed project includes the demolition of a portion of the existing building and demolition of the parking lot on the 0.83-acre site. 

The developer declined to provide comments regarding the project. 

The building at 900 Central served as an anchor to the city’s westward development renaissance, according to Preserve the ‘Burg. When developed in 1918 it was the Western Hotel (renamed the St. Petersburg Hotel in 1920). The structure was also home to a post office sub-station and drug store, grocers and other businesses. 

The 13,677-square-foot building is currently owned by Silver Sands GND LLC, an entity connected to Dr. Anthony Aboud. TDC is under contract to purchase the site. The developer owns several properties in Central Florida. 

A site plan for 900 Central Ave. Image: Southwest Florida Water Management District.

Previous plans for the site show it would include 205 residential units, which would be located on the second through the 14th floors, 9,961 square feet of retail space that would front Central Avenue and a 205-space parking garage.

The total construction value was estimated at $58.1 million.