The Veillard House – Exclusive Historic Downtown Office Building

The Veillard House – Exclusive Historic Downtown Office Building 

Perfection is hard to come by in today’s office market, but the historic Veillard House, which was relocated to 262 4th Avenue North in downtown St. Petersburg in 1979 to avoid demolition, includes the ultimate trifecta: charming details, modern amenities and an ideal location. This meticulously maintained Queen-Anne-style office building, surrounded by lush landscaping and a wide bungalow-style front porch, sits on the corner of Fourth Avenue North and Third Street, within walking distance to Beach Drive, the Pier, Vinoy Park and the Sundial. 

The three-story building features a large, open conference room on the first floor, along with two small meeting rooms and a separate rear entrance. Up the balustered staircase, the second floor offers a common-area landing space along with a large private office with bay windows and three smaller private offices. The finished basement features a glass-enclosed multi-use work space, a modern conference room, a full-sized kitchen and an additional private office or storage area. Each floor of the building includes a bathroom with original features. 

The historic home turned office building is ideally suited for a number of professional operations as well as the opportunity for a live-work setup. Private parking on site as well as ample street parking make it even more accommodating. According to listing agents Michael Heretick and Erica Delgado of Vector Commercial Real Estate, there is nothing else like it in the downtown St. Pete area. 

“This is a unique opportunity to own a piece of St. Pete. history,” said Delgado. “Live and work in one space; no need to commute to work or play.” 

History and Current Use 

Owner Blake Whitney Thompson, CEO of BLAKE Investment Partners, originally purchased the Veillard House in 2008 to accommodate his growing boutique investment firm. Prior to that, the home was used as the headquarters for the Junior League of St. Petersburg, a CPA firm, a law firm and a private single-family home. Thompson and his team have simply outgrown the space. 

“This is a best-in-class trophy home, restaurant or professional space,” Thompson said. “The fact that someone could live or work here is amazing. It has a ton of history.” 

The home’s namesake, Ralph Veillard, was born in 1864 in Laval, France and migrated to St. Petersburg by way of Canada, Baltimore and Ocala, in 1901. Veillard was elected to the St. Petersburg City Council in 1908 and was also a member of the delegation representing St. Petersburg at a meeting in Clearwater in 1911 that led to Pinellas and Hillsborough counties’ split. Veillard was on the St. Petersburg Board of Trade as well as director of the St. Petersburg Building and Loan Association.

The building’s architect, Henry Dupont, famously designed and was fired from his work on the Don Cesar Hotel on St. Pete Beach in the 1920s, due to the building being “too plain.” He also designed the Casa de Muchas Flores, a waterfront estate in the Jungle area of St. Petersburg. 

For more information on the purchase of 262 4th Avenue North, St. Petersburg, or to schedule a showing, contact Michael Heretick, Vector Commercial Real Estate, at 727-823-1230, ext. 233 or email him at mheretick@vectorrealty.com.