ST. PETERSBURG -- Pinellas commissioners are calling for more "due diligence" on a project planned for the site of the former St. Petersburg police headquarters.
The Edge project, officially "Orange Station at the Edge," would replace the old HQ building with five separate buildings, including office and retail space, 61 condo units, and eventually a hotel and rental apartments. The developers are asking for $3 million from the county to make up for their inability to fully exploit the property due to density restrictions and the high cost of building in St. Petersburg. The county's report describes the Edge as the first speculative office project in the city in 25 years.
County commissioner Dave Eggers said he wants to bring the issue back at the county commission meeting in two weeks. He calls it a good mixed use development and wants to hear more about how density rules in St. Petersburg are preventing the developer from making full use of the property. Commissioner Rene Flowers, whose district is made up of south and central St. Petersburg, says that even where the city has tried to increase density, it has faced pushback from residents.
The former police HQ property is at 1300 1st Avenue North.
Photo: Canva
Downtown St. Petersburg WaterfrontPhoto: Canva