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.

Crisp Waffle Company is coming soon to 2414 Central Avenue in the Grand Central District. The all-day waffle cafe will serve sweet and savory Liege waffles. Compared to the traditional waffle, also called a Brussels waffle, Liege waffles are made with a thicker batter that is similar to bread dough. Pearl sugar is blended in with the dough, which caramelizes as the waffle cooks. Crisp Waffle Company’s first and only other location is on St. Armands Circle in Sarasota. A grand opening is expected in September.

Two 15-story apartment towers are now under construction at 1000 1st Avenue North in the EDGE District. The community will include 269 apartments and 15,500 square feet of commercial space, including retail along Baum Avenue. The development will also have a three-floor, 355car parking garage and feature a club room, fitness center, and swimming pool. The developer is targeting a 2025 debut for the project.

400 Beach Seafood & Tap House will be closing for six months to undergo a top-to-bottom makeover. And in addition to renovating the entire 8,200-square-foot restaurant and outdoor patio, the menu will be revamped. 400 Beach is known for their Nouveau American menu featuring coastal cuisine, everything from steaks to seafood, using thoughtful and approachable ingredients with a strong focus on local farmers and ranchers.

Summer Camp, a new restaurant and bar, is coming soon to 2060 1st Avenue South in the Grand Central District. Inspired by retro summer camps, Summer Camp will feature an expansive 11,000-square-foot outdoor patio set up to resemble an actual campground with custommade tents, campfires (i.e. fire pits), and an outdoor stage for live music. A 2,300-square-foot building will serve as the “cabin” and will include indoor seating and a large bar. Summer Camp hopes to debut this fall.

The 105-year-old St. Petersburg Yacht Club (SPYC) in downtown St. Pete is set to be demolished. Due to failing structural components, FEMA non-compliancy, and a growing list of desires from current members, the 51,000 square-foot building, located at 11 Central Avenue, will be replaced in five years with an all-new building. To fund the project, the club will increase monthly membership fees from $50 to $125, beginning in the 2024-25 fiscal year. Additional funding will come from both initiation fees paid by new members and from the capital contribution charge that was instituted in January of this year. The SPYC board of directors expect construction to take two years.

A 35-story apartment tower has been proposed on the corner of 3rd Avenue North and 3rd Street North near the Museum of the American Arts and Crafts Museum in downtown St. Pete. The $100 million project will feature 348 apartments, 2,203 square feet of commercial space, and a 277-space parking garage. The 375-foot tower will offer one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments ranging from 650 square feet to 1,388 square feet. Parking for 370 bikes will also be provided. A construction timeline is currently unavailable.

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.