St. Petersburg sold a 2.1-acre property at 1300 First Ave. N to Ellison Development for $6.4 million, according to two separate deeds filed with the Pinellas County Property Appraiser.
The transaction moves the long-awaited redevelopment project forward on the site of the old St. Petersburg Police headquarters after months of delays. Ellison Development plans to build The Central, a mixed-use project that broke ground in 2024 with an initial completion target of 2026, Beacon Media reported.
The multi-building development features a 15-story Marriott Autograph Collection hotel, a 12-story office tower, 14,000 square feet of retail space, and 42 lower-cost apartments. A 540-space parking garage at 1301 Central Ave. is the only component completed so far.
“The Central has the potential to strengthen our local economy and contribute to a more vibrant and inclusive downtown,” St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch said in a statement. “We look forward to seeing tangible progress as this vision becomes reality.”
Geoffrey Zakarian and Ark Invest Plan to Occupy the Development
Celebrity chef Geoffrey Zakarian plans to open a restaurant at the mixed-use development. Cathie Wood’s company Ark Invest will establish its headquarters there.
Casey Ellison, President of Ellison Development, declined to comment for this story. However, he previously told the Tampa Bay Times that the land purchase served as the final step required before construction could resume on the property.
Ellison Development Must Complete Construction by 2030
Under the terms of its most recent contract with the city, Ellison Development has until 2030 to complete all remaining construction phases. Construction will take about two years to complete.
A company spokesperson did not answer inquiries regarding exact construction resumption dates or the anticipated timeline for individual components. The representative said that Ellison Development will provide updates “as plans progress.”
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