7 minute read
Lofty Ideas in Historic Kenwood
A passion for restoring historic buildings leads Bob Jeffrey to his own urban Shangri-la at Grand Central Lofts.
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 Avenue 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.
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 loft-style condo units. At the time they purchased it, the building was a mere shell of four walls with just half a roof. They embarked on a journey to repair significant damage, overhauling the plumbing and electrical systems, introducing new elements and developing outdoor entertaining spaces for each unit. The property also came with two vacant lots that allowed for the creation of a shared courtyard with lush landscaping, a fire pit and pool.
The residences named Grand Central Lofts combine the ambiance of the 1920’s with original features including high ceilings, stamped tile concrete floors and exposed brick and ductwork with 21st century features including professionally engineered lofted rooms and catwalks with custom metal railings. The resulting blend of old and new won the project the 2004 St. Petersburg Preservation Award for Restoration/Rehabilitation and Adaptive Reuse.
The design of each unit features an open concept living space on the first floor and highlights the building’s historic charm and unique personality.
“I was drawn to the project because of the brick walls, lofty 20-foot ceilings, steel beam construction, thick masonry walls and hurricane windows, which make it super quiet on the inside even though I am on a very busy street,” said the homeowner.
This wasn’t Jeffrey’s first restoration project. In fact, he has made a career out of historic preservation. He charts his initial interest to his childhood.
“I grew up in Oil City Pennsylvania, a town associated with the discovery of oil,” Jeffrey explains. “It features exceptional Victorian and Colonial architecture. All I knew were old buildings.”
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So, when he moved to St. Pete, he saw the need for someone to lead the charge to save some of the city’s sadly neglected architecture and districts.
“I first came to Kenwood in 1989. Shortly after that the association was formed and I got involved,” he recalls. “I saw great opportunity in the beautiful bungalow architecture. However, the neighborhood had been neglected for some time.”
Revitalization of the neighborhood began when several people, including Jeffrey and his sister, began buying and restoring historic properties. The association was formed to champion revitalization and encourage such renovations as opening up front porches that had been previously enclosed.
“We held social events so neighbors would get to know one another. We also did projects like our neighborhood marker signs which we have placed on every corner,” he offers. “Bungalowfest grew out of the need to bring people into the neighborhood who loved old houses and wanted to live in a community-based neighborhood.”
Jeffrey was an active force in bringing many new residents to the district.
“When a house would become available, I would buy it, renovate it and then sell it,” he shares. “As the neighborhood began to rebound, there were a number of small 1920’s apartment buildings that were scattered throughout the neighborhood. They were in horrible condition. My sister and I began to buy and renovate those. Once renovated they became gems of the neighborhood and now provide quality, affordable housing within the community.”
That’s when his attention turned to a neighboring district facing similar issues.
“The Kenwood neighborhood became quite stable and was up and coming. However, our southern border was Central Avenue, “ he says, recalling that 25 years ago, there were only a few reputable businesses on the strip. “It also was home to a number of not so legitimate businesses. Then a group of Kenwood and Central Oak Park residents began working with the few businesses on Central.
We formed the Grand Central District Association. We worked with the city to develop a plan. We sought local, state and national Main Street Designation and set out to improve the district. This involved putting zoning in place that allowed for the mix of uses, reducing the travel lanes from four lanes to two lanes and adding angled parking spots to slow down traffic.
Most of the early businesses like Queens Head, Beaks, Central Perk and Your Neighborhood Realty were started by neighbors. Many new businesses moved into the neighborhood, making it a highly desirable location. Today, the district is where locals go.”
When Jeffrey and his sister purchased the Nolen’s Grocery building in 2001, he knew he had something special on his hands even if others did not. “Everyone thought I was crazy, but I could see through the mess and knew that this was a very special opportunity,” he shares. “The most rewarding part is when someone comes to visit and are awestruck when they walk through the door.”
The historic elements and high ceilings gave Jeffrey the opportunity to incorporate many personal touches and celebrate both the building’s legacy and that of his own family. “My unit is very eclectic in its furnishings,” Jeffrey says. “Most of the furniture came from generations of my family—antiques that do not usually fit in a Florida home, but due to the spaciousness of my loft fit well here. Because the ceilings are so high, I needed large artwork. I had pictures of my grandparents and great grandparents blown up on large canvases.”
Through his passion for historic renovation, Jeffrey played a pivotal role in the remarkable transformation of two of our most beloved districts and created a unique home for himself in the process. “I was a pioneer,” he asserts. “Living in the building, promoting the neighborhood and the district were vital to starting the renaissance. Plus, it is just a very special and unique place to live.”
