The Official Tampa Bay Developments/Urban Enthusiast Thread (Miami, St. Petersburg: 2014, to rent)

[theurbanfiles]

Rumors increasing that the unnamed company seeking relocation is Foot Locker. (Source: Tampa Bay Business Journal's daily blurb)

[castlechurch]

Originally Posted by cavsfan137

Hotel Floridan Palace now under new ownership, sold for 22.5 Million

From the article:

we look forward to opening the restaurant and wedding and group venues at the Floridan by the end of the year.

Good, that place needed a kick to get back in order. I stayed there earlier this year and it was kind of sad. The bars were both closed still, as well as the restaurant. Maybe they can add comforters or duvets to the beds? It is kind of weird that they just have sheets (although it has been like that since they opened after the rebuild).

[FL_Expert]

Originally Posted by cavsfan137

Rumors increasing that the unnamed company seeking relocation is Foot Locker. (Source: Tampa Bay Business Journal's daily blurb)

I’ve read this unnamed company wants to go to St. Pete, but downtown probably doesn’t have enough office space. They might be forced to go to somewhere else like the gateway area instead.

It sounds like St. Pete is due for some more Class A office space. Hopefully a few more office towers go up instead of just condos. (Not that I mind condos, I just want a well rounded community.)

[floridarebel]

Crazy so many people can afford these places.

[theurbanfiles]

FL Expert: That is interesting. Are there any office towers planned down there that we are aware of? Even with Water Street, and I think even before the pandemic this was that there was only one major tower planned amongst all that which was Class A Office Tower, and so perhaps it's part of a mindset change on needing less office space that is driving down the overall rate of construction. Do you think that with the city knowing that they are specifically looking for this office space, that they would consider putting in more work to get an office tower done downtown for them? OR do you think they are likely to just decide on that Gateway area? I guess I'm wondering whether the thinking is more focused on FL's business-friendly atmosphere or desiring being down here in general, or how important, given modern worker tastes, that being specifically in Downtown St. Petersburg would be to actually confirm that they are going to move.

It wouldn't be the first mall sportswear chain to move/have its corporate HQ here, as Champs Sports is a little east of Downtown Bradenton (a somewhat urban location, but at the same time, maybe not the most dynamic immediate spot for campus).

I also wonder if they could look at doing some repositioning of existing government offices, etc. downtown, and leasing or selling that to them to get this done? Bradenton is actually considering selling its city hall, I guess either the existing property to another private company or buyer, or to just redevelop the land it is on entirely. I know St. Petersburg already did something like that with the police station, but I think that maybe had more to do with the age of the structure.

[theurbanfiles]

Originally Posted by floridarebel

Crazy so many people can afford these places.

The question is how many are actually locals or are people from around the country that are retirees, remote workers looking for a seasonal home, that would pick there.

Tampa Bay (both rentals and housing values) have been increasing at the fastest or 2nd fastest rate of any metro in the entire US among the Top 50 cities over the past year.

Perhaps to jump on the comment in the last segment, the advent, and growth (near double, since the start of the pandemic), of high-paying remote work, the number of potential eligible buyers who have a high-paying job out of state has significantly increased. I can personally tell you that I have a friend who works in California who has had some thoughts about relocation while working there, just because of how much work there has become partially or fully remote and the fact that St. Pete is considered increasingly to some degree an "it" city with the coastal location and increasing urbanization.

[OptimusPrime69]

Originally Posted by cavsfan137

The question is how many are actually locals or are people from around the country that are retirees, remote workers looking for a seasonal home, that would pick there.

Tampa Bay (both rentals and housing values) have been increasing at the fastest or 2nd fastest rate of any metro in the entire US among the Top 50 cities over the past year.

Perhaps to jump on the comment in the last segment, the advent, and growth (near double, since the start of the pandemic), of high-paying remote work, the number of potential eligible buyers who have a high-paying job out of state has significantly increased. I can personally tell you that I have a friend who works in California who has had some thoughts about relocation while working there, just because of how much work there has become partially or fully remote and the fact that St. Pete is considered increasingly to some degree an "it" city with the coastal location and increasing urbanization.

This is exactly my case. I'm in California with a remote job and I'm actually relocating in St. Pete in mid-November and am bringing my job with me. The goal is to rent for the first three months and purchase a home in that timeframe. I feel very fortunate to be able to do this, however I am mindful of the people that are already there, struggling to make ends meet, however as I struggle to purchase a home in CA, the St. Pete area is affordable for me, thus the move. I want to buy a home and be in a warm-ish climate and have access to beaches and a lifestyle where I can take advantage of being outdoors. Additionally, I'm socially liberal and I also want an area that is relatively liberal. I believe people are entitled to rights without the impediment of religion or personal like or dislike of the way someone decides to live their own life. I think St. Pete offers that as well as a modicum of cultural diversity.

[Kid Ashbury]

Originally Posted by OptimusPrime69

This is exactly my case. I'm in California with a remote job and I'm actually relocating in St. Pete in mid-November and am bringing my job with me. The goal is to rent for the first three months and purchase a home in that timeframe. I feel very fortunate to be able to do this, however I am mindful of the people that are already there, struggling to make ends meet, however as I struggle to purchase a home in CA, the St. Pete area is affordable for me, thus the move. I want to buy a home and be in a warm-ish climate and have access to beaches and a lifestyle where I can take advantage of being outdoors. Additionally, I'm socially liberal and I also want an area that is relatively liberal. I believe people are entitled to rights without the impediment of religion or personal like or dislike of the way someone decides to live their own life. I think St. Pete offers that as well as a modicum of cultural diversity.

Kindly consider staying in California. Folks like yourself made the situation there what it is, especially with the NIMBY-ism severely hampering development for decades and driving costs way up, and you deserve to live with those consequences. If you come, karma will follow you anyways.

[Arcenal813]

Originally Posted by Kid Ashbury

Kindly consider staying in California. Folks like yourself made the situation there what it is, especially with the NIMBY-ism severely hampering development for decades and driving costs way up, and you deserve to live with those consequences. If you come, karma will follow you anyways.

Or... Employers in Florida should maybe just pay more?

[OptimusPrime69]

Originally Posted by Kid Ashbury

Kindly consider staying in California. Folks like yourself made the situation there what it is, especially with the NIMBY-ism severely hampering development for decades and driving costs way up, and you deserve to live with those consequences. If you come, karma will follow you anyways.

Folks like myself? I'm a millennial. I had nothing to do with any "NIMBY-ism." Regardless, It's happening. Plans are already in motion. I've enlisted a realtor, rented a place and have been pre-approved for a mortgage. St Pete, here I come.