Red Apple Group selects contractor for 46-story tower
The Red Apple Group has selected Suffolk Construction Company Inc. as the general contractor to build the The Residences at 400 Central – which will be the tallest tower in the city, soaring 515 feet high.
The named Boston-based general contractor Suffolk is one of the country’s largest general contractors, and recently completed construction of the Tampa Edition Hotel and Residences.
Red Apple Group, controlled by billionaire business mogul John Catsimatidis Sr., has already commenced groundwork for the 46-story tower, which is a planned 1.3 million-square-foot development with 301 condominiums, Class A office space, retail, restaurants and a rooftop terrace.
A video of the construction at 400 Central Ave.
“The Florida economy remains vibrant, with a limited supply of luxury condominium product available in the very desirable City of St. Petersburg. This wonderful project is well situated to fill that demand,” Catsimatidis, founder of Red Apple Real Estate and principal of the development company sponsoring The Residences at 400 Central, said in a statement. “We are thrilled that construction crews are already hard at work on the site and are ready to begin drilling our foundation.”
Currently, construction crews are preparing to drill test pilings for the 400 Central tower foundation, to be immediately followed by the full-scale start of foundation work. Crews will insert 88 steel-reinforced concrete foundation pilings – some of which will span six feet in diameter and reach depths of 180 feet, according to a news release.
The development is expected to take three years to complete.
In February, the group announced it surpassed more than $150 million worth of reservations on condominiums, which have a starting price of $800,000. Catsimatidis will also have a residence in one of the penthouses.
Meanwhile, Red Apple Group is also in the process of restoring a historic clock that’s been on the corner of Central and 5th Street for almost 100 years. Once restored, the clock will be reinstalled.
Deborah Peak
August 16, 2022at7:58 pm
Hate this. City is overrun with these behemoths. Residents never here. They have other homes. City has lost so much of its previous charm, history to corporations that could care less that they’re forcing everyone out. More and more homeless, small businesses closing constantly. The infrastructure is threatened by this, wildlife destroyed.enough!
SSmix
August 16, 2022at2:01 pm
I rather have this go up instead of the opposite of a destroyed old building overrun with drugs and criminals, who won’t think twice of robbing you for your money. Bring on the tax paying high rises!!!!
Donna Kostreva
August 15, 2022at9:49 pm
Just wonderful that those with cash can buy up the city block, erect a monstrosity, out of touch with the history of our burg, built using a Boston company because we southerners have no local companies with know how to complete this project.
Hopefully, we will have a few local construction workers able to use a screw driver,who find employment on the project in some minute capacity.
We need this kind of project when most of us are hoping our money lasts until the end of the month so we can buy orange juice. Bah humbug!
Brian Green
August 15, 2022at4:44 pm
This is the ideal place for such a tall tower. It will revitalize a whole block of downtown. The residents and office tenants will spend money which will generate jobs. Our city is a long way from becoming anything like NYC.
Spike
August 15, 2022at3:54 pm
During the ground breaking ceremony for this building there were a few people picketing outside the fence.The developer named above yelled into the mic at them and said “IF YOU WORKED HARDER YOU COULD LIVE HERE”…I think that sums up what is happening to this city…
Kathy Parker
August 15, 2022at10:56 am
Sad to see our city being turned into an over crowded city, much like NYC