In 1977, when Saint Petersburg Preservation (SPP) was organized as a charitable nonprofit corporation, the group chose as its mission: (1) educating the public about local historic architectural resources, (2) landmarking or assisting in the landmarking of deserving sites and structures, and (3) preserving sites and structures previously landmarked.
Since then they’ve been working to secure the preservation, rehabilitation, restoration, maintenance, and/or acquisition of important natural, scenic, historic, and architectural sites and structures. In other words, SPP is a group of people who want to see important and significant places of St. Petersburg’s history be saved and preserved. SPP is not against development, but rather support thoughtful growth that honors our past.
They accomplish this by working with the City, County, businesses and individuals to identify historic districts and sites, landmark significant structures, and foster appreciation of St. Petersburg’s historic environment. And no matter what projects are undertaken, the overarching goal is to instill in St. Pete’s citizens an appreciation of our shared heritage and culture and how this contributes to our quality of life and economic success.
Active All-Volunteer Board
The SPP is headed by an all-volunteer board, with Peter Belmont as President and spokesman. He told Paradise News, “Besides the very popular neighborhood walking tours (see accompanying story), among the other things we do on the fun/educational side includes: preservation awards (every other year) … porch parties (informal events in historic homes) … program series, with the most recent addition one called ‘Perspectives’ … and movies in the park.
“We also have our ‘advocacy’ side, which includes submitting applications to designate buildings as landmarks, with several presently pending; seeking to find solutions to historic buildings that become threatened; and encouraging the St Petersburg City Council to be more preservation-minded through quarterly updates to the Council on preservation and other vital issues.
“Our application to designate the ‘First Block’ (area with Detroit Hotel building between Central Avenue and First Avenue North, and between Second and Third Streets) as a local historic district is pending. We will soon submit an application with the Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood Association for the North Ward School building on Fourth Street and 11th Avenue North, for sale by the School Board. This summer our application to designate the Bishop Hotel building in First Block on First Avenue North was approved. Other applications sponsored over the last few years include Jenny Hall Pool and the Detroit Hotel, both approved, and the Blocker Home on Fourth Avenue NE, formerly Mansion by the Bay, which was denied by City Council.
“St. Pete has five areas/neighborhoods listed on the National Register of Historic Places: Kenwood, Old Northeast, Round Lake (Uptown), Downtown and Roser Park. There are also two ‘mainstreet’ areas, which is a program started by the National Trust for Historic Preservation to revitalize commercial corridors — Grand Central and 22nd Street South. Studies have consistently shown that historic neighborhoods retain values across both good and bad economic times better than non-historic areas.
“Looking around St. Pete also reinforces the concept that historic neighborhoods are good for the economy as they are among the most attractive and desirable in which to live. A landmark district designation helps to ensure the neighborhood will continue to thrive and maintain its character and sense of place while also enabling property owners to take advantage of various incentives offered for properties contributing to a historic district. Among the city’s various historic neighborhoods, it is Kenwood, Roser Park (the city’s first historic district) and Uptown (Round Lake) where one best sees how renovating historic homes leads to neighborhood revitalization, stability and increasing home values.”
Re-use of Historic Buildings
Belmont noted that St. Pete has great examples of historic buildings being put to re-use, a number of which have occurred recently or within the last couple years and include:
– The former YWCA building and historic Endicott Funeral Home in the 600 block of 2nd Avenue South, reopened as Rococo Steak House & Brass Tap
– The Birchwood on Beach Drive in the historic Lantern Lane Apartments, reopened last spring with Birch & Vine restaurant
– The 600 Block of Central Avenue with various galleries
– Mecca Apartments at 916 First Street North (SPP award winner)
– Coleman Law Offices at 2091 First Avenue North (SPP award winner).
– Also, Manhattan Casino on 22nd Street South, reopened as Sylvia’s Soul Food Restaurant
– Green Bench Brewing on Baum Avenue (First Avenue North and 11th Street)
– Jordan Park Elementary on Ninth Avenue Street (SPP award winner)
– Hollander Hotel at Fourth Street and Fourth Avenue North
– Watergarden Inn (historic Bay Gables) on Fourth Avenue NE in the 100 block.
Some of the re-use projects that have been around a bit longer but still worth checking out include:
– Historic Rose Cottage at 2955 Central Avenue, now the Craftsman House Gallery (SPP & Florida Trust for Historic Preservation award winner)
– Renaissance Vinoy Hotel (SPP and Trust award winner)
– Princess Martha at 401 First Avenue North (SPP award winner)
– Dickens House B & B on Eighth Avenue NE
– Historic Monticello Apartments relocated from downtown to Eighth Avenue North and Third Street (now Grimes family residence).
– Nolen Grocery Store on First Avenue North near 20th Street, a great loft project by Bob
– Jeffrey who has also done additional historic re-use projects in Historic Kenwood (SPP award winner)
– Studio@620 at 620 First Avenue South, which just added roof solar panels
– The Seaboard Train Station at 22nd Street South and Fifth Avenue, now artist studios
– The Pennsylvania Hotel on Fourth Street and Third Avenue North (SPP award winner).
SPP has about 200 paid members and sends its Enewsletter to over 2,000. You can find out more about SPP and how to join and volunteer on the informative website www.stpetepreservation.org or via email: info@stpetepreservation.org.
Belmont’s final words are from the Mission Statement: “Get Involved! From donating time or resources to taking action to save local landmarks, we need YOUR help!”
Story by Steve Traiman and Photos Courtesy of St. Petersburg Historic Preservation
[Steve Traiman is President of Creative Copy by Steve Traiman in St. Pete Beach, offering freelance business writing services. He can be reached via email at straiman@mindspring.com.]
Popular St Petersburg Preservation Walking Tours
St Pete Preservation President Peter Belmont believes the Walking Tours are one of the great “deals” in St. Pete: free to SPP members, $5 for non-members. The current 2013-14 season offers a different tour each Saturday morning from October through April. There’s also a monthly lunchtime and evening tour, which ends at various downtown local restaurants where people can remain for food, drink and more conversation.
The monthly schedule is:
– First Saturday, Original Downtown Tour;
– Second Saturday, Waterfront Tour;
– Third Saturday, Historic Old Northeast, The Deuces or Mirror Lake; and others;
– Fourth Saturday, Historic Kenwood,
– Occasional Fifth Saturday, Special Tours including The Deuces or Mirror Lake.
SPP recommends that those interested confirm the schedule by checking the SPP message line, 727-824-7802, web calendar at www.stpetepreservation.org/calendar or the St. Petersburg Preservation Facebook page.
Highlights of the recently completed October-November tours:
Westward Ho to Historic Kenwood, one of the most popular tours now in its fifth year, starts/ends at Craftsman House Gallery, offering a chance for participants to enjoy the feel and character of Historic Kenwood, one of the country’s premier bungalow neighborhoods. Features include looks inside one of the restored bungalows and the neighborhood’s original model home.
Downtown Evening Stroll starts in front of Café del Mar at 243 Central Avenue and ends at the Hollander Hotel. Participants learn about the city’s history, experiencing its past and getting insight about the different architectural styles.
First Friday Downtown Lunchtime Tour starts/ends in front of Café del Mar as a special one-hour lunchtime tour with historian Emily Elwyn. Tourgoers get to see some of the best of the city’s architecture, led by a historian offering a unique perspective on the growth of the “Burg.”
The Original Downtown Tour starts/ends in front of Café del Mar with participants taking a trip through historic downtown St. Pete between Central Avenue and Fourth Avenue North. Included are grand hotels, stately churches and architectural treasures like the Snell Arcade, the Open-Air Post Office and the Veillard residence.
The Waterfront Tour starts in front of Café del Mar and ends at the Saturday Morning Market. Participants learn about the civic visionaries who transformed a working waterfront into one of the largest waterfront park systems in the country, and what the city has done to encourage good design in the newest waterfront buildings.
The Deuces 22nd Street South Walking Tour starts /ends at Carter J. Woodson Museum, coves an often overlooked but important part of the city’s history. During the segregation era, it was the vibrant main street of St. Petersburg’s African American community. Special tour was led by Jon Wilson, a former St. Petersburg Times journalist, and Gwendolyn Reese, President of the African American Heritage Association of St. Petersburg, Inc. The legendary Manhattan Casino, host to such top performers as Louis Armstrong, James Brown and Duke Ellington, was a cornerstone; the segregated Mercy Hospital and Royal Theater were landmarks; and memories still remain of Geech’s Barbecue, Henderson’s Sundries, Harden’s Grocery and Doctors Pharmacy.
Central Avenue in the 50’s & 60’s Tour starts in front of Café del Mar and ends at Wood Fired Pizza. Jon Wilson also led this fascinating tour down Central Avenue, looking back at the post-World War II era into the early 1960‘s when Central was still the heart and soul of downtown and Webb’s City was still thriving.