The Skyway Marina district is about to get some much-needed attention from developers.

  • Developer planning 300 unit residential/commercial space
  • St. Pete spending more than $2.5 million on area improvements
  • Improvements include landscaping, lighting

Phillips Development Realty just purchased a nine-acre lot along 34th Street South. There, developers plan to build a 300-unit living complex, complete with storefront shopping, as well as room for restaurants and recreation.  

"It's going to be kind of like a beach vacation for residents for people in the area," Phillips spokesman Parker Homans said.

The space was set to be a new Home Depot location several years ago, but the project never materialized.

A result of that was an area business owner Peter Mustafa described as "dormant."

"The south side of St. Pete has been very dormant, very dormant," Mustafa said. "With this project coming up right now, first of all it's going to help people like us. Small businesses unload a lot of our furniture. It's a big plus for the neighborhood."

In support of the new project, the city of St. Petersburg will spend more than $2.5 million to improve landscaping, lighting and other improvements around the site. Construction is expected to be completed by 2019.

To view the conceptual art for the project, including views of the proposed facade for the building and its location on 34th Street South, click here.