Preservation awards honor those who keep St. Pete ‘distinct’

Growth is often the enemy of history, underscoring the importance of honoring those who spend their time and money safeguarding elements of St. Petersburg’s past. 

Preserve the ‘Burg celebrated dozens of diverse preservation projects during the nonprofit’s biannual Preservation Awards ceremony Wednesday night. Sunken Gardens, an iconic local roadside attraction for nearly a century, won twice. 

The 96-year-old Unitarian Universalist Church hosted the event in St. Petersburg’s historic Mirror Lake neighborhood. Manny Leto, executive director of Preserve the ‘Burg, noted preservation extends far beyond restoring an old home.

“These are the places that add character to your community,” Leto told the Catalyst. “They are the unique places and spaces that make St. Petersburg distinct from its neighbors.” 

Preserve the ‘Burg handed out 29 awards at the event. Categories included Restoration or Rehabilitation (Residential and Commercial); Stewardship (Residential and Commercial); Adaptive Reuse; Compatible Design (Commercial or Residential); Preservationist or Educator of the Year; and the Maureen Stafford Excellence in Preservation Award.

Several residents who spent years restoring their historic homes received well-earned recognition, as did two storm-damaged public spaces. Winners also included two repurposed mid-century gas stations, a tour guide, churches and Christina Page, who fostered the St. Petersburg Shuffleboard Club’s success. 

The Dozark Residence was among several award-winning historic homes. Image: Preserve the ‘Burg.

Leto said unique places and experiences attract visitors and make living in the city “special and different.” He also believes the varying character found in St. Petersburg’s neighborhoods contributes to its quality of life. 

“Events like these show there is a real demand for preservation; for the protection and stewardship of our historic neighborhoods and places,” Leto added. “Certainly, preservation has seen a lot of progress over the years. But obviously, we’d like to see more.” 

Leto said the event fosters camaraderie in the preservation community and inspires others to embark on arduous and expensive projects. He stressed that the people who commit to protecting the city’s history, not just the structures, deserve recognition.

Former City Councilmember Robert Blackmon is one of those people. He picked up his second preservation award Wednesday and noted the ceremony’s growth since 2014 under new leadership. 

Blackmon called the “incredible” event motivating and exciting, as he has seen “so many historic buildings get torn down recently” amid a real estate boom. “So, to see that many people out, and that many worthy projects honored, is a really big deal for the entire community,” he said. 

Blackmon received a Commercial Rehabilitation award for nurturing a 99-year-old Standard Oil station back to health. It was one of St. Petersburg’s first (if not the very first) auto facilities. 

The boxy little building at the corner of 4th Street and 24th Avenue South in the Harbordale neighborhood was crumbling when Blackmon and his mother, Carolee, bought it in 2019. The surrounding property resembled a junkyard. 

In September 2023, Steven Peterman, owner of Pete’s Bagels, announced he would open a boutique version of his popular Grand Central District concept in the building. Blackmon said Thursday that the much-anticipated cafe would open in June following permitting and other delays. 

“This was always a sociology experiment,” Blackmon said. “If you take something that’s blighted and turn it into the pride of the community, can it change the entire neighborhood? We hope the answer is ‘yes.’”

Here are the 2025 Preservation Awards winners: 

• Historic Sign Restoration: Sunken Gardens, at 1825 4th St. N. 
• Education: Sunken Gardens History Center, at 1825 4th St. N. 
• Residential Rehabilitation: Dozark Residence, at 345 12th Ave. NE. 
• Residential Rehabilitation: John Barie Residential Project, in Old Southeast.
• Residential Rehabilitation: HB Smitz House, at 2015 Beach Drive SE. 
• Residential Rehabilitation: Babe Ruth House, at 346 16th Ave. NE. 
• Interior Renovation: Jones-Laughner House, at 556 Beach Drive NE. 
• Interior Renovation: Morgan Residence, at 2335 Dartmouth Ave. N. 
• Sacred Spaces Stewardship: Beth AME Church, at 912 3rd Ave. N. 
• Sacred Spaces Stewardship: Cathedral Church of St. Peter, at 140 4th St. N. 
• Sacred Spaces Stewardship: St. Mary Our Lady of Grace Church, at 515 4th St. S. 
• Commercial Rehabilitation: Peninsular Fruit Company Building, at 10000 Gandy Blvd. 
• Commercial Rehabilitation: Standard Oil Station, at 2439 4th St. S.
• Historic Storefront: The Story Garden, at 832 14th St. N. 
• Community Vibrancy: Golden Isles Brewing, at 3000 Dr. MLK Jr St. N. 
• Community Vibrancy: Uptown Barber Bar, at 3236 Dr. MLK Jr St. N. 
• Stewardship: C. Perry Snell House, at 375 Brightwaters Blvd. NE. 
• Stewardship: Williams House Restoration, at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg campus. 
• Neighborhood Compatibility: Strum Place, at 6366 Central Ave. 
• Resiliency: Polish American Society, at 1343 Beach Drive SE. 
• Resiliency: St. Petersburg Woman’s Club, at 40 Snell Isle Blvd.
• Education: Discover Florida Tours in the Jungle Prada neighborhood. 
• Education: The Center for Health Equity’s History of Civil Rights and Social Change in Pinellas County. 
• Preservation Legacy Lifetime Achievement: Christine Page, outgoing president of the St. Petersburg Shuffleboard Club. 
• Maureen Stafford Excellence in Preservation Award: Frederick J. Dion, owner of American Custom Builders & Roofing. 
• Volunteer Awards: Bill Reid, Kathy Douglas and Les Lloyd. 
• Advocacy Leadership: Mirror Lake Historic District volunteers.