SPL LIVING
Lofty Ideas
A passion for restoring historic buildings leads Bob Jeffrey to his own urban Shangri-la at Grand Central Lofts. PHOTOS/MARCIA BIGGS
BY NICK STEELE ST. PETERSBURG - During the Historic Kenwood Neighborhood Association’s (HKNA) 25th annual BungalowFest home tour this past November, hundreds of visitors navigated brick-lined streets to explore 10 distinct residences and chat with the owners. The eclectic, art-filled neighborhood encompasses 375 acres adjacent to downtown, between Central and 9th avenues N. and 19th and 34th streets. Kenwood was the city’s first suburb and its first neighborhood for year-round residents. It is also one of a handful of St. Petersburg’s 109 neighborhoods listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Many of the homes date back to the 1920s, when the popularity of American Craftsman and bungalow-style homes, an offshoot of the Arts and Crafts movement, had reached its zenith in other cities including Chicago, Pasadena, San Diego and Denver. The association’s goal was to highlight Kenwood’s urban rebirth and the phenomenon of living large in small spaces. The homes showcased ranged from Craftsman bungalows (the neighborhood has one of the highest concentrations of bungalows in Florida) to ranch, mid-century, and modern homes, as well as two converted lofts in a building with a deliciously storied history. Located at the corner of 23rd Street and 1st Avene N., Nolen’s Grocery was the flagship of a chain of markets owned by prominent businessman Paul Nolen. The building was designed by the pioneering architect Edgar Ferdon. Ferdon has been called “St. Petersburg’s first professional architect” and designed a number of buildings here during the 1920s boom, including the Crislip Arcade, the First Congregational Church and other local landmarks. The former grocery store was built in 1926 and operated until the 1950s.
Historic family portraits line the wall in Bob Jeffrey’s living room. He is seen here with Annie.
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January/February 2024
Current owner Bob Jeffrey, a former president of HKNA, greeted visitors and showed off his passion project. Jeffrey and his sister purchased the building in 2001 and converted the vacant building to accommodate a small retail space and four loftstyle condo units. At the time they purchased it, the
