The City of St. Petersburg is experiencing a construction boom and it is not just housing.
There are about 1,500 current building permits in use right now in the city. That equates to a lot of construction jobs and chatter about what is to come next for the city.
St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman answers that by saying big things are next.
"You're going to see not just residential (construction)," Kriseman said. "You're going see commercial and business development happen in and around downtown, in south St. Pete, on 34th, out west in the Tyrone (Blvd.) industrial area. So there are a lot of opportunities here in the city."
Documents obtained by Bay News 9 map out key St. Pete projects either under permit or already under construction. They include an 18-story apartment building, a 100-room hotel and a museum.
Kriseman says there is even more.
"I'm not at liberty to divulge who they are yet," Kriseman said, speaking about upcoming projects. "But we've had some really exciting discussions with several different businesses who're looking to relocate into the downtown area."
However, Kriseman said the area still has needs, which include a high-end hotel with at least 200 beds and meeting space. He also said a permanent home for the Saturday market and additional use of the city's port are necessary.
Even existing office space is a hot commodity. New owners stepped in for the vacant Universal Healthcare office with the hopes of luring new tenants.