Real Estate Views from St Pete

Downtown St Pete is a hub for marine sciences and ocean technology. Employing over 1,600 people in downtown St Pete, the various new and old buildings are basically between the Albert Whitted Airport and Bayboro Harbor, in and around the University of South Florida St Petersburg (which now has 6,000 students). The Ocean Team members include:

• University of South Florida, College of Marine Science, Center for Ocean Technology & Research Foundation
• Florida Fish and Wildlife
• SRI 
• US Geological Survey
• NOAA National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration
• IOI  International Ocean Institute
• Tampa Bay Estuary Program
• Florida Institute of Oceanography
• US Coast Guard St Petersburg
• USF St Petersburg
• Pier Aquarium

Taken this morning with my iPhone 4, looking west down a canal in the Broadwater neighborhood in St Petersburg.

St Petersburg's Beach Drive

is the best place to be reads the headline in this morning's St Pete Times. Their article talks about some of the history of Beach Drive and how it's become a very desirable place to live, work and play.

We saw this in 2008 when an optical shop moved out along Beach Drive - before there was even a sign saying the space was available, we grabbed it - and opened our new boutique real estate company, ALVA International. Beach Drive has become real estate row, in addition to the many restaurants, shops & museums and of course the parks and waterfront. We love being right in the middle of all that.

Dog walkers, joggers, bicycles and horse-drawn carriages - you never know what's coming next along Beach Drive. Several places to have your morning coffee, and sidewalk cafes offer lunch and dinner as well. 

Friday architect Yann Weymouth was in St Petersburg to discuss the Salvador Dali Museum here in downtown St Pete that he designed. He's frequently here to oversee the construction, of course, but rarely do we have a chance to listen to him and ask questions. He was the speaker at the Vinoy Business Alliance lunch at the Renaissance Vinoy Hotel on Friday. The screen is showing a view of the spiral staircase in the lobby which extends up to what is perhaps the world's largest finial. It was fascinating listening to how his designs came about. You can see some renderings of the new museum here. The new building will open 1-11-1111.  Yann found that he really likes St Pete so has recently moved here to Pinellas County.  Welcome, Yann!

Want an Apple store at Baywalk in downtown St Petersburg?  

Someone at Apple said that they would consider opening an Apple store if there was an outpouring of community support.  Now THAT would be a great addition to BayWalk in downtown St Pete.  Talk about a rebirth and excitement!

Respond to Hal Freedman's plea on ilovetheburg and add your support there, as well as sending it directly to Apple.

It would be great to have Apple here instead of having to go to International Mall in Tampa.

Yes, Apple, YES!

Please remove any reference to our company from the internet. You are no longer affiliated with our franchise (actually my company at that time had dropped the franchise) and we don't want any connection of your name with ours on the internet. 

This was over 10 years ago and they even threatened legal action if ALL references weren't removed.

I just read Norma Toering's blog about "Please remove my home from the internet". Similar issues arise from sites you don't control.

Even 10+ years ago that was an impossibility.  The biggest problem is sites that you don't control. Some of those sites had been abandoned. Others were vendors we'd used years before who had our name and then affiliated company on a list of their clients. Some were news articles. Some were archive sites.

Mission: Impossible.

Future Implications ????

The Simms Team is Splattered for Chihuly!  Remember my recent post on Painting Your Shoes to support the Chihuly Collection that is opening in downtown St Pete in July? Following that, ilovetheburg offered to splatter photos in anticipation of the Chihuly opening.  So here's our splattered photo.  We're using that on our ALVA International facebook page for the next month or so.

The Chihuly Collection is opening July 11th at 400 Beach Drive NE in downtown St Petersburg.  We've been watching the construction for months and can't wait to welcome Dale Chihuly to downtown St Pete.  Thanks to Morean Arts Center for making it happen.

St Petersburg is named the top mid-size art city by American Style magazine. St Pete has an eclectic art community, from the Salvador Dali Museum which opens in its creative new building on January 11, 2011 to the new Chihuly Collection opening in July to the Museum of Fine Arts which has expanded twice. Our Mainsail Arts Festival keeps moving from downtown park to park as it grows. Mehaffey Theater has Broadway plays, the orchestra, ballet and so much more. Private art galleries are all around. The Crisp Arcade has been revitalized into a number of galleries and workshops. We know that St Pete has more than sunshine - now more people know it!

Paint your shoes and help Morean Arts Center in St Petersburg by attending one of their Paint Your Shoes sessions:

• Saturday, May 22nd  10-3
• Thursday, May 27th  5-7

On July 11th the Morean Arts Center will open The Chihuly Collection on Beach Driove. The suggested donation for attending one of the above paint sessions is $5.

Why paint your shoes? What does this have to do with Chihuly? Chihuly is known for his glass work, but he also does splatter painting, which generally results in his shoes always being aplattered.

What a great time to show your creativity. Bring in a pair of shoes, from sneakers to high heels, or even Cowboy Boota and use acrylic paints to show your style.  Read Chihuly, Shoe-huly.

Originally posted at florida.ssimms.com

Movies in the Park in downtown St Petersburg are the fare for May. As part of the St Petersburg Parks 100th anniversary celebration there will be a free movie every Thursday evening in North Straub Park, along Beach Drive NE just north of the Museum of Fine Arts.

Live Florida folk music will start at 7 pm and the movies will start at dark. You can bring a blanket or you can rent a chair for $5. You can bring your own picnic or you can buy food there in the park or you can get a Meal To Go from any of the surrounding restaurants. What a great place to enjoy a movie - look out over the yacht basin and Tampa Bay, see the lights of the downtown luxury condos as they come on, and hopefully enjoy a balmy breeze.

North Straub Park is right across from our ALVA International, Inc. real estate ofice - one more event just steps from our door.

Stop&Shop Market has the best Cuban sandwiches in downtown St Petersburg. It's at the edge of downtown, at the corner of Fifth Avenue N and 1st St N (432 1st St North) and is very unpretentious. Yet - people line up for their hot pressed Cubans - I like mine "Original", thanks. They make lots of other sandwiches to order, so if you're going in to pick it up at lunchtime, you should call ahead (727) 822-0276. Then take it back to your office, your condo, your hotel, or even better - take it to one of the parks and enjoy the Florida weather and lifestyle.

There are no tables inside or outside Stop&Shop Market so it's Take Out only.

Downtown St Petersburg has lots of waterfront parks, so enjoy your lunch, peoplewatch and boatwatch, maybe get a walk in for a little exercise, and enjoy your Stop&Shop Cuban.  Prices are reasonable - I can send Rob to get my Cuban and buy one for each of us for less money than many places charge for just one Cuban.

The Hangar restaurant opening in downtown St Petersburg is this weekend April 10 and 11 at the Galbraith Terminal of the Albert Whitted Airport. Sunday evening at The Hangar from 7 - 10 pm there will be complimentary hors d'oeuvres, cash bar and free parking. A $10 donation is requested for the Albert Whitted Airport Preservation Society. The Hangar, the third downtown restaurant venture by Steve Westphal, joins Parkshore Grill and 400 Beach Seafood and Tap House. 

Albert Whitted Airport was named 2009 Florida general aviation airport of the year. Approx8imately 185 aircraft are based there and there are about 80,000 general aviation operations annually. The 10,000 sq ft terminal building was completed in 2007 and the Galbraith Terminal was named after local philanthropists, John and Rosemary Galbraith, who have been great supporters of the city for many years, perticularly to the airport project and the marine science center at Eckerd College. The Hangar Restaurant is on the second floor of the Galbraith Terminal at 540 1st Street S in downtown St Petersburg.

Sunday, April 11 will be Family Day from 4-7 pm with complimentary snacks, non-alcoholic beverages and free parking. Donations are welcome.

The Hanger Restaurant in downtown St Petersburg officially opens on Monday, April 12th at 8:00 am.

An Eleazer book signing in downtown St Petersburg Florida is scheduled for Saturday, May 1st, from 10 a.m. til 1 p.m. at The Simms Team real estate office, ALVA International, Inc. in downtown St Pete at 238 Beach Drive NE, St Petersburg, just across from the Museum of Fine Arts.

Bill Eleazer is a St Pete resident and was a professor at Stetson Law School for many years. His legal acumen as well as his Georgia upbringing are evident in this crime thriller, Savannah Law.

Enjoy the legal strategy when a law student is pitted against a notorious national criminal attorney; watch the foibles at a dysfunctional faculty meeting; feel the warmth of the local Cheers bar.

Eleazer builds plot suspense, inside and outside the courtroom, as well as memorable characters and has us hoping that this will be the first of a series of crime thrillers with continuity.

Bring your copy of Savannah Law to the Eleazer book signing in downtown St Petersburg or buy a copy at the book signing, but do come and meet the author, William Eleazer at ALVA International on May 1st.

Kahwa Coffee in downtown St Petersburg Florida continues to be a favorite neighborhood place - so popular, in fact, that they've opened a second place 7 blocks away, also in downtown St Pete.

Just recently Kahwa Espresso Bar at 475 2nd Street North in downtown St Pete celebrated their second anniversary - and to thank their customers, gave away coffees for the whole day: coffees, lattes, espressos, etc. I was there that morning, sitting at the counter, and enjoyed watching the reactions of the surprised customers. I splurged with a croissant that morning, wanting to give them some revenue. Thank you, Kahwa!

Mornings bring a mix of people having coffee there - business meetings, arts discussions, people on their way to work, people there to read the newspaper or check their email on the free wifi. Outside seating, too, so there are children and dogs among the familiar faces.

Recently Kahwa opened the Kahwa Cafe at 204 2nd Ave South, which also offers a lunch menu with fresh sandwiches and salads.Both shops are environmentally conscious, promoting the use of ceramic cups, and using recycled paper cups and products. Any plastics used are biodegradable.

Downtown St Petersburg has lots of choices for coffee, from Starbucks to NOLA, with its chicory coffee and beignets. Marketplace Express is in the building next to ours, and Vinoy Club members can enjoy free coffee at the Vinoy - and with all the choices, I still like Kahwa.Keep us with them on their Kahwa Coffee Roasting blog.

Come to downtown St Petersburg to enjoy some coffee ... and if you want to live in downtown St Pete, call The Simms Team at ALVA International, Inc., a real estate broker on Beach Drive in downtown St Pete.

     Read about Kahwa 

     More about Kahwa

The Tampa Bay Blues Fest St Petersburg will be held in downtown St Pete April 9-11 in the waterfront Vinoy Park. For the last 15 years people have been coming from all over the world to hear great blue played here between the Renaissance Vinoy Hotel and Tampa Bay.

The Blue Fest St Petersburg this year features names such as Jimmie Vaughan, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, J.J. Grey & Mofro, Bettye Lavette, Little Ed and the Blues Imperials, Magic Slim, Joe Lewis Walker and Shemekia Copeland.A 3 day ticket is $80.  After hours shows continue at NOVA 535 in  St Petersburg and go on until 2 am.

Throughout the festival grounds, you will enjoy tasty food, including seafood, barbeque, Cuban cuisine, and other culinary treats. Festival vendors also include arts & crafts. Premium beer and wine are also available. Enjoy the great waterfront location while you listen to great blues music.

And if you decide that you want to live here in St Petersburg, contact The SIMMS Team at ALVA International, Inc., a boutique real estate company in downtown St. Petersburg Florida.

Yes, Chihuly is coming to downtown St Petersburg and the opening of the Chihuly Exhibit at 400 Beach Drive is scheduled for the Fourth of July. The Chihuly Gallery will be at the corner of Beach Drive and 4th Avenue North, taking the vacant corner space as well as the space previously occupied by Davis Anthony Home & Garden, which has moved to another location in the same building, just around the corner on 4th Avenue N.

The Chihuly exhibit at the Museum of Fine Arts, also on Beach Drive in downtown St Petersburg, a few years ago had crowds lined up along the waterfront park, waiting to get in. They passed along umbrellas to keep the sun off.

Downtown St Petersburg and Beach Drive in particular are becoming the Place To Be.  The "art district" which overlooks Tampa Bay will be anchored on the north by Chihuly Collection and on the south by the new Salvador Dali Museum, scheduled to open 1/11/11. In between are waterfront parks, shops, and a variety of restaurants, most of which have outdoor seating.

Come to visit Beach Drive and downtown St Pete - or even better, come and buy a place to live in this wonderfully walkable downtown.

Last night I attended the Grand Opening of the Cassis Brasserie restaurant in downtown St Petersburg - it was certainly worth waiting for. Two rows of tables line the sidewalk under green umbrellas, overlooking the marina, the park and the bay. Inside it inviting seating for 150 people. The decor is certainly reminiscent of the Paris brasseries we enjoyed so much.

Flowing champagne was enhanced by a touch of cassis, and waiters carrying enticing amuse bouche circled through the crowd all evening. My favorite was the scallops, that just melted in my mouth, followed by the tuna tartare and the steak tartate. I also enjoyed the lamb chops, the shrimp cocktail, and so much more.

Dinner this week is by reservation only, and lunch starts next week. Judging by the comments of the guests last night, I think Cassis will certainly be a favorite downtown restaurant, adding much to Beach Drive, our "restaurant row" along the parks and waterfront.

Will Power won the 2010 St Petersburg Grand Prix yesterday, showing lots of will power. This Australian driver for the Penske Team recovered from a broken back to win the first two Indy Races this year, the first in Brazil and the second here in downtown St Petersburg Florida. He had the fastest qualifying times, started in pole position, and won by nearly a second. The St Petersburg Grand Prix brings spring excitement to downtown St Pete - roads and a runway are turned into tracks for this race, streets lined with concrete barriers, tires and high chain link fence. You either love it or hate it!

This year the Grand Prix in St Pete had some completed races on Sunday, but torrential rain and lighning as well as up to 6" of standing water on some parts of the road caused a postponement of the Final Race until 10 am on Monday morning. Monday started out with rain, too, but cleared up so that shortly after 10 the race started.

Bayfront Tower has always been the prime condo location in downtown St Pete for watching the Grand Prix. This year it is joined by Signature Place, the new condo on the block. What a panoramic view of the Grand Prix course from most of the condo balconies!

Video of 2010 St Petersburg Grand Prix

2009 Grand Prix St Petersburg

Following up on the Signature Place auction 2 weeks ago, including the condos sold at the auction, there are now 92 condo units at Signature Place that are under contract or already sold during the last 2 weeks. In addition to 102 units sold before the closing, that's 194 units out of 244 or 79.5%. I'd say that the Signature Place condo auction was a successful auction!

The remaining units are only being shown by appointment and appointments are filled up days in advance.

The auction at Signature Place has been creating buzz in downtown St Pete for the last few weeks. Today was it - the auction.  As we expected, all 41 sold, as well as 10 additional ones they put up for bid. Also as we expected, all of them sold above the minimum bids.So - 51 times this afternoon we heard GOING ONCE, GOING TWICE ....  SOLD!

It was interesting to watch the bidders - some people would bid each time to their limit and stop; some were coaxed a bit higher. Some had two determined bidders going back and forth. Yes, it was an exciting place to be.

Sale prices ranged from $174,000 to $742,000.

We've posted more details on the Signature Place condo auction in downtown St Petersburg ...