st. petersburg pier
The St. Petersburg Pier, with its mile-long approach, is a five-story inverted pyramid that features shops, restaurants, its own aquarium, live music and boat docks. The top floor includes a huge observation deck, which offers visitors a unique view of the bay. The Pier has been a landmark of downtown St. Petersburg since 1899, when Peter Demens hooked up the Orange Belt Railroad to a half-mile wharf. D. F. Brantley started the first Pier Pavilion in 1895, but it is the 1926 Million Dollar Pier, torn down in 1973 to house today's inverted pyramid structure, that long-time residents remember.
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[“The city has a corporate-friendly approach.”] it’s another great day in the city of st. petersburg! St. Petersburg, Florida’s Sunshine City, is a great Florida community that offers something for everyone - an average of 361 days a year of sunshine, more than 1,000 special events a year, one of the nation’s most spectacular downtown waterfronts, world-famous museums and attractions, major league baseball and international sporting events such as the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. The city has a corporate-friendly approach. Businesses in St. Petersburg enjoy a solid infrastructure, with superb transportation, telecommunications and utilities to keep pace with a projected 15 percent growth rate over the next 10 years. Our impact fees are comparatively low; tax rates have decreased steadily over the past 20 years; and development and permitting processes have been streamlined to make the business of doing business more user friendly.
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For business or pleasure, every day is another great day in St. Petersburg!
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I invite you to explore the myriad of real estate opportunities that St. Petersburg has to offer. The city is a leader in redevelopment and takes an active role in reclamation of under utilized real estate. Various public/private partnerships have taken place in our community and there are extensive incentives available to assist your development efforts.
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As mayor, I have made schools and quality educational opportunities a top priority of my administration. Local corporations have joined with me in this effort through the Mayor’s Mentors & More program. Each one of St. Petersburg’s 45 schools have at least one corporate partner (78 total) who provide financial and technical assistance, volunteers and mentors, and other support.
MAYOR’S MESSAGE
When it comes to business rankings, St. Petersburg typically finds itself at the top of the list.The metro leads the United States in terms of job growth (U.S. labor statistics) and has been ranked by Southern Business and Development as the No. 1 mega-market in the south and the best place for business and careers by Forbes magazine. Downtown St. Petersburg - with its diverse mix of museums, waterfront attractions, attractive residential developments and strong business center - has been named one of the “Best Downtowns in the South.” St. Petersburg is at the heart of the St. Petersburg-Clearwater-Tampa MSA, the largest metro in Florida and No. 12 in the United States.
Rick Baker, Mayor
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st. petersburg at a glance Population:: • • • • •
City of St. Petersburg . . . . . . . . Pinellas County . . . . . . . . . . . . . St. Petersburg MSA. . . . . . . . . . Average Household Size . . . . . . Number of Households . . . . . . .
Age: 253,902 947,744 2,636,972 2.2 110,794
• • • • •
Under 18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22% 18-44 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35% 45-64 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26% Over 64 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17% Median Age . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Wealth: • Total Household Expenditures. . $4.4-billion • Total Retail Spending. . . . . . . . . $2.7-billion • Total Banking Deposits . . . . . . . $7.6-billion
Employment: • Labor Force (MSA). . . . . . . . . . . 1,318,101 • Unemployment Rate (County) . . . 3.2% • Average Annual Wage (County) . . $34,311
BayWalk, located in the heart of downtown St. Petersburg, offers some of the area’s best dining, shopping and entertainment. Every weekend, there is something going on at BayWalk, from the seasonal special events, entertainment, such as the popular “Salsa Saturdays” going on weekly, and the ultra cool”BayWalk Jazz Series,” which happens the last Friday of every month.
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[“…an overnight success story twenty years in the making.”] good decisions create huge dividends for st. petersburg St. Petersburg’s downtown, “an overnight success story twenty years in the making” according to Mayor Rick Baker, continues its renaissance. Key decisions to construct parking facilities and assist in the restoration of the historic Vinoy Hotel have paid huge dividends for the city.
renaissance
Retailers have been flocking to downtown in the forms of larger scale developments such as BayWalk and University Village, street-level retail incorporated into residential projects, and also smaller niche retailers along the city’s pedestrian-friendly sidewalks and bay front. The unparalleled environment of downtown has resulted in $1.4-billion of construction currently underway.
Downtown also offers a wide array of activities for the sports fanatic. Major League Baseball’s Tampa Bay Devil Rays play at Tropicana Field and hold their spring training at Progress Energy Park – Home of Al Lang Field - both located in Downtown St. Petersburg. Boaters can dock at the southeast’s largest public marina, or join one of the area’s yacht clubs. In April 2007, the city streets will once again host the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. This event, slated for major network television broadcast, will reinforce the city’s reputation as a great place to live, work, and play in the sunshine.
st. petersburg
It is not all nightstands and pillows in downtown of course. Progress Energy’s new 16-story office tower, currently under construction, will consolidate their 700+ county employees into one central location. More than 28,000 employees report for work each day in financial services, high-tech computer software development,and medical services. Additionally, St. Petersburg is home to the largest marine science cluster in the southeast United States.
The Mahaffey Theater, which recently reopened following a $20-million renovation, is home to the acclaimed Florida Orchestra and hosts a multitude of events from opera to comedy throughout the year. Taking full advantage of its magnificent 7-mile downtown waterfront park system and its fabulous climate,St.Petersburg hosts numerous outdoor events such as the Mainsail Art Festival, the Festival of States, the Martin Luther King Holiday Festival, A Taste of Pinellas and First Night St. Petersburg.
DOWNTOWN UPDATE
While ultra-luxury condominium high-rises such as Parkshore Plaza, the Cloisters, the Florencia, and the like certainly attract the eye, they are but part of the redevelopment success story. Numerous smaller scale town homes and village style projects have also lent themselves to the creation of a true urban neighborhood.
Visitors and residents alike can find art, science, and history in abundance. Museums include the internationally recognized Salvador Dalí Museum, the Florida International Museum, the St. Petersburg Museum of Fine Art, the St. Petersburg History Museum, the Florida Holocaust Museum, Great Explorations Hands-On Museum, the Pier Aquarium and more than two dozen art galleries.
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tropicana field
Tropicana Field features the world’s second-largest cable-supported domed roof (Georgia Dome is the largest). It’s made of six acres of translucent, Teflon-coated fiberglass, and it virtually supports itself with 180 miles of cables connected by struts. Opposing forces of tension and compression keep the roof in an arc. Tropicana Field's roof is slanted at a 6.5-degree angle, dropping from 225 feet above second base to 85 feet at the center field wall.
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[“National retailers ‌ are seizing the opportunities in this area.â€? ] retailers, residents & developers eyeing southside/midtown area South St. Petersburg is in the midst of a redevelopment boom as well. Several retail centers are being refurbished, and in the case of Twin Brooks Plaza, newly constructed. National retailers of every variety are seizing the opportunities in this area.
new targets for redevelopment
Midtown is a historically underserved area of the city, and the purpose of the Midtown Strategic Planning Initiative is to provide guidance for the successful implementation of the City's overall redevelopment and
Most businesses and projects in the Midtown area can take advantage of numerous redevelopment programs, such as the Enterprise Zone, the Brownfields and Main Street Programs. Several adaptive reuse projects have come to fruition in Midtown with the assistance of these programs: the Royal Theater, the Manhattan Casino, the Johnnie Ruth-Clark Health Care Center at the Historic Mercy Hospital, and the St. Petersburg Clay Company.
SOUTHSIDE/MIDTOWN
In addition to retailers, builders and institutions are also adding to the exciting changes in the southern-most parts of the city, where you are never more than ten minutes from the sun-kissed waters of Tampa Bay or the Gulf of Mexico. Numerous waterfront residences and new single-family subdivisions within established quiet neighborhoods give a new shine to this area of St. Petersburg.The brand-new Carter G.Woodson Museum, as well as new projects from Eckerd College and St. Petersburg College also add to the livability and quality of life found throughout the Sunshine City.
economic development efforts in Midtown. Targeted initiatives such as the Tangerine Avenue Community Redevelopment Area have resulted in a brand new SweetBay grocery, accessory retail establishments, and banking facilities.The Dome Industrial Park has seen several businesses relocate or expand, including Euro-Bake, Greeno Painting, and Alvarez Photo Studio. Successful economic development in Midtown incorporates community development and contains employment opportunities that offer living wages and benefits, opportunities for entrepreneurship, and expansion/ enhancement of existing businesses.
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valpak moves in
Valpak, the flagship brand of Cox Target Media, is currently constructing a production facility in the La Entrada development. Its $200-million facility will cover 470,000 square feet and result in the relocation of 1,000 employees, in addition to generating close to 200 brand new jobs within St. Petersburg. Still in construction, an artist’s rendering shows what the facility will look like once construction is complete.
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[“Amid the peaceful neighborhoods … lies a true commercial center.” ] tyrone/westside goes commercial Amid the peaceful neighborhoods of western St. Petersburg lies a true commercial center. Tyrone Square Mall just recently completed a multi-million dollar redevelopment and addition of a lifestyle center including restaurants and high-end retail. Along the major corridors are other retailers of all shapes and sizes, who find Tyrone’s central location within the state’s most densely populated county very fertile for growing their businesses. Several other shopping centers have recently undergone extensive renovations, including Tyrone Corners and Crossroads Center North. In addition to these larger developments, a multitude of other projects has added 342,000 square feet of renovated or
newly constructed retail in the last five years. In addition to retail businesses, defense and medical industries contribute to the 15,000 employee/1,500 business base.These industrial businesses in the Tyrone area have a $1-billion dollar annual impact on the local economy. Seeking to add the “live” to live/work play, several developers have proposed plans for residential projects incorporating recreation and retail opportunities, such as The Shoppes at the Royale. The location provides quick access to St. Petersburg’s gulf beach, park facilities, brand new libraries, the numerous attractions of downtown, and peaceful places to get away from it all.
gateway area mixes it up
Large industrial and light manufacturing projects have a home in Gateway. Valpak, the flagship brand of Cox Target Media, is currently
In the state’s most densely populated county, St. Petersburg’s Gateway area remains one of the best options for greenfield and build-to-suit projects. This fact, combined with a talented workforce and easy access to transportation, makes Gateway development smart business, and that’s the bottom line.
a new home for industries
Residences of every variety – single family,town homes, luxury waterfront condominiums, and apartments – along with primary care and outpatient medical facilities and a host of retail and entertainment options make the Gateway address a first choice for business and pleasure among professionals. Several of St. Petersburg’s largest employers – Jabil Circuit, Raymond James Financial, and Home Shopping Network, to name a few – are located in this area, due to its physical amenities, as well as logistical ones. The area provides quick access to the interstate, major local roadways, as well as two international airports.
constructing a production facility in the La Entrada development. Their $200-million facility will cover 470,000 SF and result in the relocation of 1,000 employees in addition to generating close to 200 brand new jobs within St. Petersburg. Additionally, Halkey Roberts, a manufacturer of components and valves for the medical, inflation and container industries, is nearing completion on a new 160,000 SF facility that includes a large clean room for its medical products, resulting in the retention and creation of 260 jobs. The planned expansions of just those companies will project to reach 2,000 jobs. At build out, La Entrada could potentially add an estimated 35,000 new jobs to the community.
TYRONE & GATEWAY
Long an employment center, the Gateway area on the north side of St. Petersburg has also attracted many mixed-use developments in recent years. Corporate campuses are the name of the game in this region, and a town within a city has risen among them.
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sunken gardens
Sunken Gardens features an exotic collection of more than 50,000 tropical plants and flowers, including more than 200 species. One of the most popular roadside attractions in Florida in the 1930s, Sunken Gardens was bought by the city of St. Petersburg in 1999. The city restored the six-acre garden and added more than 6,000 plants and a butterfly garden.
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[ “Finding a neighborhood to call your own is a breeze …” ] sunshine city has no rivals when it comes to amenities What truly makes the Sunshine City one of America’s best cities is its unmatched amenities. It is a place where friendly bay breezes blow, native birds take flight and neighbors discuss the latest news while strolling through a waterfront park. Every year, the area welcomes over 10-million visitors and the City of St. Petersburg hosts more than 1,000 events.Visitors and residents alike enjoy amenities ranging from world-class beaches to Major League Baseball. Residents of St. Petersburg know that their high quality of life is the perfect complement to St. Petersburg’s outstanding business environment.
The City of St. Petersburg strives to preserve its natural beauty by maintaining more than 125 parks for its citizens. Most notable of the parks are Weedon Island Preserve, a 626-acre conservation area with more than 2 miles of trails and a 50-foot observation tower; the 205-acre Boyd Hill Nature Park offering many educational programs throughout the year; and Sunken Gardens, a tropical botanical gardens featuring exotic plants, tropical birds and a butterfly aviary. When you’re ready to hit the water, visit one of the area’s nationally ranked beaches at Fort
i t ’s g o o d t o l i v e i n s t . p e t e
Residents of St. Petersburg have a wealth of higher educational opportunities from which to choose including the University of South Florida, St. Petersburg College, Eckerd College, Stetson College of Law, and Pinellas Technical Education Centers, to name a few. Besides higher educational opportunities, the local public schools provide outstanding educations, including numerous magnet
Since assuming office, Mayor Baker has stepped outside the traditional role of city government to become a leading national advocate for city-based education initiatives and has encouraged the community to work to support schools. Through the "Mayor's Mentors & More" initiative, Mayor Baker and the city have: generated $2.84-million for college scholarships for 400 sixth grade low-income students, recruited mentors for these students by offering city employees paid time to mentor students in public schools, and recruited approximately 70 corporate partners - at least one for each of the 45 public schools in St. Petersburg.These and other efforts have led to St. Petersburg’s naming as one of the “100 Best Communities for Young People,” as listed by America's Promise - The Alliance for Youth.
QUALITY OF LIFE
Finding a neighborhood to call your own is a breeze in St. Petersburg, where your options abound. From single-family residences to urban condominiums to palatial waterfront estates, you are sure to find that one of the more than 100 neighborhoods fit your lifestyle. Design elements of homes in St. Petersburg include elegant Mediterranean revival homes, charming wooden bungalows and contemporary loft projects. Waterfront views, pink streets and tree-lined historic neighborhoods are some of the unique features of St. Petersburg.
programs and two International Baccalaureate (IB) programs; Newsweek Magazine recently listed St. Petersburg High School among the top 100 high schools in America.
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De Soto Park – America’s No. 1 Beach for 2005. Residents also enjoy hiking and biking on the 47-mile Pinellas Trail – the longest urban linear trail in the eastern U.S. – and plans are now well underway with more than twenty separate planning, design, and construction projects to improve bicycle and pedestrian safety throughout the city.
enhance its quality of life. In honor of these efforts, the city was named as one of the decade’s “Most Livable Communities” by the Partners for Livable Communities, a national nonprofit organization that recognizes cities that are innovative in bringing vitality, growth and an improved quality of life to their communities.
This strong foundation of amenities in a subtropical paradise is causing an unprecedented and high quality development cycle in St. Petersburg, with more than $1.4-billion of construction underway currently in the downtown alone. Amid the wave of development are thoughtful planning processes that will allow the City to grow while continuing to
Perhaps summing it up best was a recent Southern Living Magazine article on St. Petersburg, which stated, “What you have in the combination of commercial, residential, educational, and entertainment facilities are tourists and locals enjoying activities all day and night. Such action approaches the dream of every central city planner in America.”
The most successful businesses are constantly one step ahead of their competition, J2 Creative Group specializes in helping business rise above even the most competitive marketplace. To find out what J2 Creative Group can do for your business contact us at 1.800.274.2812.
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sunshine city The average temperature in St. Petersburg is 73.7 degrees. Average days of sunshine per year is 361. The “Sunshine City� holds a Guinness World Record for logging the most consecutive days of sunshine - a stretch lasting 768 days that began in 1967.
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