Downtown Developments

By Brian Zucker, Owner of St. Pete Rising

It seems like each time we take a stroll through downtown there are new restaurants and galleries opening and more apartment complexes and condo towers being built. We realize it’s difficult to keep track of everything. Luckily, we’ve done the research, so you don’t have to. Each month we will feature a few of the most exciting new downtown developments that are on the horizon for the Sunshine City.

The historic Cordova Inn’s expansion has broken ground at 253 2nd Avenue North in downtown St. Pete. The five-story addition will more than triple the number of available rooms from 32 to 97 while also adding a restaurant to the first floor and a 5th-floor rooftop bar. Between the old and new wings will be a lushly landscaped mid-block courtyard. Both the courtyard and porch will be open to anyone, whether they are staying in the hotel or not. The addition will also expand the front porch of the Cordova Inn into a dramatic wraparound balcony with lush streetscapingThe expansion is expected to complete by the end of 2024.

The SunRunner is expanding! After experiencing record ridership over the past few months, Tampa Bay’s first and only bus rapid transit line, which runs east to west down the 1st Avenues, is adding another station near the St. Pete Pier and Beach Drive, one of St. Pete’s most popular areas for shopping and dining in downtown St. Pete. Two new buses will also be purchased to improve service frequency and reliability. The new station and buses are made possible because the route was originally completed under budget by $5.3 million.

Ascent St. Petersburg, a 36-story apartment tower, is now open at 225 1st Avenue North in downtown St. Pete. The tower includes amenities such as a rooftop terrace and clubhouse, multiple pools, coworking spaces, a fitness center, and an exclusive penthouse lounge. Demand for the units has been strong so far with about 40% of Ascent’s 357 apartments already leased. Prominent chef Chris Ponte is opening OLIVIA, a modern Italian restaurant, on the ground floor of Ascent by the end of the year.

After six years at its current location, Intermezzo Coffee & Cocktails is moving. The popular EDGE District spot will reopen by the end of the year in a larger space at 1049 Central Avenue, which had previously been the home of the Independent Bar. The move will situate Intermezzo less than 350 feet east of their current location. The new space will have an expansive outdoor patio with Florida-Mediterranean vibes and is likely to include a separate outdoor bar as well. For those curious how the move will affect the future of Intermezzo’s wildly popular annual Christmas event, Miracle at Mezzo – worry not. Owner Jarrett Sabatini confirmed the event will continue at the new location.

A seven-story apartment community is coming soon to the Union Central District of St. Pete. A group of local developers recently purchased Central Plaza Shopping Center, which occupies two city blocks along Central Avenue between 32nd Street and 34th Street. The shopping center is currently home to several tenants including Family Dollar, Hibbett Sports, Citi Trends, and Octapharma Plasma. The western half of the shopping center, which directly fronts 34th Street, would remain a retail plaza but could potentially be redeveloped in the future. The east side of the property will bring 300-400 new apartments and 17,000 square feet of retail to the property.

St. Pete Rising is an urban development blog covering future retail, restaurants, and real estate in Downtown St. Petersburg, FL. Stay up-todate, visit StPeteRising.com.