The Tampa metro area recorded the nation’s second-highest year-over-year home price increase in March, according to an S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller report released Tuesday. Miami topped the list with a 7.7% rise, followed by Tampa at 4.8%. The Charlotte area placed third with a 4.7% increase.
The City of St. Petersburg has discovered that a new proposal was submitted for the 800 Block site. Alexander Goshen, a real estate investment firm based in Fort Lauderdale, submitted an offer to the city today, May 31, meeting the city's submission deadline. This is a developing story. The Catalyst will continue to update readers as more information becomes available. The submission comes after Tampa-based investment advisory firm Third Lake Partners submitted a non-binding letter of intent to the city in mid-April to acquire the vacant parcel at 800 1st Ave. S.
Applications for St. Pete Pitch Night are due by June 5. The annual pitch competition, hosted by St. Pete Greenhouse, will take place June 21 at Coastal Creative. The five finalists will be announced June 7. The top winner will receive a $5,000 monetary prize. Applications can be submitted here.
The City of St. Petersburg is hosting a Hurricane Expo Thursday, June 1, from 5:30 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the Campbell Park Recreation Center. Attendees will learn how to receive storm updates, evacuation information and storm supplies and resources donated by community organizations. Residents with valid identification can also receive up to 10 pre-filled sandbags.
The City of St. Petersburg and Mayor Ken Welch will be raising the city's Pride flag June 1 at City Hall, celebrating the month of Pride. "Our annual Pride festivities, culminating with Florida's largest Pride parade and festival, highlight our city's support for our LGBTQ+ community, and all who have experienced marginalization. I'm proud to be leading a city that embraces our LGBTQ+ community. Our citizens are valued for who they are, not who they love or how they identify," Welch said in the city's Tuesday announcement. The city is partnering with local businesses to host community installations and events.
The longstanding waterfront Sea Hags Bar and Grill restaurant, at 9555 Blind Pass Road in St. Petersburg, will serve its last meal on June 5. "We all kind of knew this day was coming when a developer bought the property a few years ago, but that doesn’t make any easier," the owners wrote in a recent Facebook post about the permanent closure. "We got 15 years out of this place - which was a pretty good run for an old fishing hut built in the 1950s. But like so much waterfront property in Florida, it’s going to be torn down and redeveloped."
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill May 25 formally ordering the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transit Authority’s (TBARTA) dissolution. The legislation takes effect June 30, and agency officials are preserving records and clearing out offices. TBARTA’s board will approve funding disbursements at its final meeting in August.
St. Pete Police Department Officer Scott Pierce Jr. has been named Officer of the Year by Northeast Exchange Club. Known to many as “Junior," Pierce is a third-generation St. Petersburg police officer who has served for over 15 years with SPPD in the DUI, traffic homicide and marine units. During his time with the DUI unit, Pierce arrested over 600 people for drunk driving and received the highest certification in the field as a Drug Recognition Expert – which less than 1% of the officers nationwide achieve, according to the city's Friday announcement.
As of today, May 27, the city's parks and recreation department is opening the seasonal neighborhood pools to the public. The now-opened pools include Childs Park Pool, Fossil Park Pool, Jennie Hall Pool, Lake Vista Pool, Northwest Pool and the Shore Acres Pool.
The St. Petersburg Police Department and St. Petersburg Fire Rescue are hosting a public safety career fair Saturday, June 3, from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. The police department, located at 1301 1st Ave. N., will host the event. Several city employment and volunteer opportunities are available, and for more information, visit the website here.
University of South Florida President Rhea Law, recently named the Tampa Bay Business & Wealth Businesswomen of the Year, presented the key to a Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco County home this morning. The recipient is Cheetara Louch, a single mother of four children in St. Petersburg. Many of the Businesswoman of the Year finalists volunteered during the construction of the Louch family home.
The St. Pete Catalyst will take the Memorial Day holiday (Monday, May 29) off. We will resume publication May 30.
