**Images in slideshow belong to: Vickstrom Engineering Services, Place Architecture, Google Earth, & FK Architects
St. Petersburg investor Blake Whitney Thompson and multifamily developer Greystar Real Estate Partners have formed a joint venture with hopes to redevelop a portion of the Jim & Heather Gills YMCA at 3200 1st Avenue South into a vibrant live-work-play neighborhood across 4.5 acres of the 11.5 acres the YMCA sits on.
Blake Investment Partners (BLAKE) was selected in 2023 to redevelop a portion of the YMCA property, and now they have submitted a special exception application to the City of St. Petersburg’s Development Review Committee to redevelop the property alongside Greystar.
The project has been dubbed Whitney Village and could add 375 apartments, a parking garage, and 32,000 SF of retail space. The 55,000 SF YMCA would also undergo an extensive renovation funded by proceeds from the sale of 4.5 acres of the property for the mixed-use development. Part of that renovation includes installing an artificial turf field fronting 1st Avenue South.
The east side of the property will have a 32,000 SF pedestrian-only retail village. Above the retail space, the developers have proposed 50 smaller apartments and studio units, at an attainable price point. The units are designed to help local employees – such as those of the YMCA find attainable housing.
The southeast corner of the property would then have a five-story apartment community to be named The Bellamy at Whitney Village. This development would have 325 apartments, with a mix of units ranging from studio up to 3-bedroom units. Residents at the community would receive YMCA memberships to take advantage of the amenities.
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