400 Central Avenue in St. Petersburg is about to become home to a luxury condominium tower of the same name.
Red Apple Real Estate Founder John Catsimatidis Sr. was joined by St. Pete Mayor Rick Kriseman last month, along with various other community and business leaders to celebrate the groundbreaking of what will become the tallest residential tower on the state’s Gulf Coast – The Residences at 400 Central.
“St. Petersburg is such a special community, and we are honored to help contribute to the growing vibrancy of this wonderful city,” said Catsimatidis Sr. “The pace of reservations already far exceeds our expectations, and I am immensely proud of the development team that is bringing this project to life. This is a community where I have had family ties for more than 30 years and I can hardly wait to greet our future residents as they move into their new homes in the sky.”
Years ago, he said, his father-in-law urged him to invest in St. Petersburg. “Now, I am. This tower will be a wonderful connection point for St. Petersburg – to the restaurants, to the arts, to the arena and downtown.”
The Red Apple Group, which consists of Margo, John Jr., John Sr. and Andrea Catsimatidis, all took part in the festivities. The new condominium tower will soar 515 feet above downtown’s Central Avenue, offering panoramic views of Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico.
The Residences at 400 Central is considered a full-service tower and will include 301 condominium homes with floorplans for 1 to 4 bedrooms, in addition to various custom penthouse options. Residents will have access to more than 35,000 square feet of private outdoor and indoor amenities.
The tower will take up an entire city block bordered by Central Avenue, 1st Avenue South, 4th Street South and 5th Street South, amid a variety of shops, galleries and restaurants.
The tower already has its own state-of-the-art sales gallery, opened recently by Red Apple and exclusive real estate broker Michael Saunders & Company. It features interactive displays and an advanced digital system so potential buyers will get an idea of what the experience will be like.
Potential buyers can set private appointments to check out floor plans, view directions and design, with pre-construction pricing. The sales gallery also features a scale model of the Residences at 400 Central.
Internationally renowned architectural firm Arquitectonica designed the Residences at 400 Central, which includes high-end interior finishes, wrap-around balconies and of course, those water views.
Pre-construction pricing for condominiums begins at $800,000.
The Sky Lounge, which will be located on the 46th floor, is open only to residents, with wide views on the Gulf and Bay. There is both interior and exterior lounge space.
“Just imagine sitting up there, seeing the stars and having a glass of wine,” Catsimatidis Sr. said. “You’ll fall in love all over again.”
Other owner amenities include a boardroom, working space, a fitness and wellness center, co-working space, a theater room and a private dining room and entertainment area.
The 7th-floor deck features a rooftop terrace and resort-style pool and spa, a putting green, bocce court, outdoor kitchen, fire pit and dog-walking area.
Last year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, several construction projects in St. Pete were put on hold or canceled altogether. However, developer interest has not disappeared. The 5-story Museum of the American Arts and Crafts Movement is now open at 355 4th Street North. Designed by Alfonso Architects, the $90 million museum features a grand atrium, skylights, a spiral staircase and more than 40,000 square feet of gallery space, graphic studio and park.
Domus Urbana, under construction now, will transform an empty lot in downtown St. Pete into 40 condominiums. It will be located at 644 3rd Ave. South, where an 18-unit three-story apartment complex stood until it was demolished in 2019.
The Exchange Hotel at 234 3rd Ave. North is undergoing a complete renovation to modernize the building where Hotel Indigo once operated. Jeff Gigante’s Next Level Brands is expected to introduce a new restaurant concept for the ground floor. It should open in December.
One St. Petersburg, at 100 1st Ave. North, is also new on the scene, with 174 hotel rooms, 253 luxury condominium residences and contemporary architecture by SB Architects of Miami and San Francisco. Amenities will include a private bar, cabanas, a catering kitchen, a social room and fitness complex, a whirlpool spa, resort-style pool and more. It is located in the Central Arts District and will be the tallest building in downtown St. Petersburg at 41 stories.