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YMCA names development team for 11-acre site
Prominent local developers Jon Daou and Blake Whitney Thompson will lead the YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg’s newest project.
The YMCA announced this week it has selected to work with the real estate duo, who formed a joint venture between the Blake Investment Partners and Eastman Equity firms, to redevelop the Jim and Heather Gills YMCA campus at the corner of First Avenue South and 34th Street.
“Just over 20 years ago, the YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg was the catalyst for redevelopment of this area and we could now have the opportunity to once again be a part of a transformational project that will revitalize the area,” David Jezek, president and CEO of YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg, said in the news release. “This project will allow us to give the Jim and Heather Gills facility a major facelift, creating more space, enhancing amenities, expanding youth and adult programming, and improving accessible parking, all while maintaining outdoor field space for children and families.”
Development plans for the eastern side of the 11-acre property in the Union Central community also calls for mixed uses.
“This partnership gives us the chance to build an entirely new retail and residential destination,” Daou said.
Daou has been credited with being a pioneer in the establishment of St. Pete’s Edge District and is on the development team proposing to build a 13-story hotel on Central Avenue.
Meanwhile, Thompson is known for his investments throughout downtown. Most recently, through Thompson’s Seed and Feed Hospitality Group, he purchased half-interest in El Cap, the iconic neighborhood bar and hamburger grill.
Together, the duo have made over 50 investments over the last decade in St. Petersburg real estate.
“The invitation to participate in this process was humbling,” Thompson said in a statement. “The YMCA management and Board undertook an institutional search and brought in some of the best developers in the country. I am very proud that our collaborative proposal, our track record and our very deep roots to this city contributed to our team being selected.”
While Daou and Thompson focus on the eastern side of the campus, the YMCA plans to find additional partners to redevelop the west end to “address community needs such as affordable housing and health care services.”
The YMCA will present its plan to the board of directors later this year.
Steve D
January 16, 2023at10:12 am
This plan will allow the YMCA to finance improvements to their existing facilities while increasing the uses and density on an underutilized 11 acres adjacent to a transit corridor. There is no grand conspiracy here.
David Hastings
January 15, 2023at3:03 pm
We have not see details of this proposed rejuvenation so I thinks it’s best to reserve our comments until the details are released.
The leadership of the Y had the courage and foresight to bring that fantastic facility to that area of St Petersburg over 20 years ago and I personally can’t wait to see what innovative ideas they will share with us next.
Gary B.
January 15, 2023at2:00 pm
I think if you go back and read more carefully, it is an 11 acre site. The YMCA offerings will only expand, perhaps with a second story and a parking garage on the same footprint. If you go to the Pinellas County Property Appraiser’s website and search by the address 3200 1st Ave S, you’ll see that there is ample room to the east and south of the current building. With all the people who are, and who will relocate here, all the housing they can build will be filled for quite some time. Expansion of the facility will be very necessary going forward.
Danny White
January 15, 2023at11:54 am
Agreed, Janan! The developers state one thing about enhancing the core business of the YMCA and then matter of factly insert their intent to transform the acreage into a mixed use development. What exactly is the true intent here? And why is the YMCA of all entities entering into such a project that clearly will overshadow the traditional health and fitness and family values the institution stands for?
Janan Talafer
January 14, 2023at6:05 pm
How can you squeeze multi family housing, health care services and retail into that space and still have a fitness center, indoor pool and hot tub. I am guessing that some portion of the pool or gym will be going away in favor of more development downtown. Unfortunate for those of us who love going to that facility to exercise.