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St. Petersburg’s Skyway Marina District, located 4 miles from Downtown St. Petersburg, is the proposed location of a 300-unit multi-family, mixed-use development. Respected real estate developer, Donald Phillips and his firm, Phillips Development and Realty (PDR), are at the helm of this sweeping project.

With this project, Phillips will develop a property that has held promise for years but has yet to see significant improvement. The 9-acre parcel has a long history of unmet potential due to economic conditions. With the economy on the rebound and St. Petersburg seeing enormous growth, the timing could not be better for this endeavor. In fact, last year, according to the Florida Chamber of Commerce, Pinellas County saw an increase in sales tax revenue, housing permits, and a decrease in the overall poverty rate. Another interesting statistic shows that in 2016, Pinellas saw $229.44M worth of income migrate into the St. Petersburg area.

The Skyway Marina District, established in 2013, is located along 34th Street South, between 30th Avenue and 54th Avenue. The vision for the district was developed in partnership with elected officials of St. Petersburg, its residents, city planners, and business owners. The plan, which can be found at StPete.org, includes new streetscaping, guidelines for land use, transportation solutions, economic development initiatives, and even marketing and promotion recommendations. According to St. Petersburg Mayor, Rick Kriseman, “The Skyway Marina District is the southern Gateway to St Petersburg and Pinellas County. This site is in an urban infill area with mixed socio-economics, strong income levels, and easy access to major transportation nodes, beaches, sports, and major employers.”

Phillips’ $70M project would the first mixed-use project in the Skyway Marina District and has been well-received by local stakeholders. PDR, a development firm based out of Tampa, Florida, has identified the project as an opportunity to capitalize on the initiatives for the district and drive economic prosperity to the area. PDR has been involved in large-scale, mixed-use, and upscale residential real estate projects all over the Southeast, including current projects in Charlotte, NC and Cary, NC. According to their website, “PDR chooses projects with the interest of communities, the environment, and investors in mind.”

Donald Phillips himself has developed a strong working relationship with the local community as well as local elected officials. These relationships have ensured plenty of local buy-in not just from local government but also local neighborhood associations, businesses, and regional economic development groups.