Condos outperform local businesses in Central St. Pete
Aaron Mesmer reports
st.petersburg, florida – While downtown St. Pete is booming and many neighbors are excited about the future of the area, some business owners are unhappy with the current situation.
According to a city spokesperson, there are 10 construction projects within a one-mile radius around 200 Central Avenue, and the Art House, a 42-story condominium tower, broke ground last year. Most of the other projects are hotels and apartments with retail space.
Ray Lampe, who goes by the name of ‘Dr. I’m here.
Dr. BBQ will close after the building is sold to a developer.
“The property was very valuable and we could not say no. “I think we’re creating a situation where people don’t want to come here. See, that’s why. Go to a neighborhood that doesn’t have a lot of construction.”
Another recently closed business, the owner of The Mill restaurant, blames construction next door for the closure. A city spokesman told Fox 13 that construction was taking place next to The Mill, altering the building’s foundations, but said the restaurant may have remained open.
10 new developments underway in downtown St. Petersburg
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However, in a post on The Mill’s Facebook page, the owner wrote: It has become so invasive to our space that we feel we can no longer ensure the safety of our staff and patrons. “
Central Avenue in downtown St. Pete
FOX 13 has reached out to the factory owner for comment but has not received a response.
Meanwhile, some downtown residents said they were disappointed with the situation at The Mill, but were excited to see what the area would look like when all the work was completed.
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“I don’t like it because I like it and I don’t know what it brings to the community,” says Dawn Palermo, who lives a few blocks away.
“I think it’s kind of a short-term, long-term gain,” added Steve Quillen, who also lives nearby. I am launching.”
Lampe said he could stay in his current location for another 18 months if he could find a new business partner. Either way, he hopes to find a new location in downtown St. He Pete.
“It’s going to be a great district when it’s all done,” Lampe added. “The transition is the hard part.”