The Jaxson has long supported what we call Clustering, Complementing uses within a Compact (CCC) setting as a key downtown redevelopment tool. CCC is a subliminal key to successful urban revitalization that works by locating people, activities (like special events or outdoor dining), and uses (like restaurant or bars) together in close pedestrian scale proximity, allowing them to feed off one another, which in turn stimulates more market rate growth, activity and economic opportunity.
In addition, there is an old English language adage stating that “A picture is worth a thousand words”, referring to the notion that a complex idea can be conveyed with just a single picture more effectively than a description does. When it comes to understanding CCC and how it can manifest itself in an urban setting, nowhere is this more evident than downtown St. Petersburg.
St. Petersburg is Florida’s fourth-largest city and the most populous municipality in Pinellas County, at the heart of the Tampa Bay region.
The city traces its origins to 1876, when Detroit businessman John C. Williams and Russian immigrant Peter Demens helped establish the community. According to local legend, the two men flipped a coin to determine who would have the honor of naming the new city. Demens won and named it after St. Petersburg, Russia, where he had spent part of his youth. Williams’ consolation prize was naming the city’s first hotel after his hometown—the Detroit Hotel, which still stands today.
For much of the 20th century, St. Petersburg was known as a popular retirement destination. Its growth accelerated dramatically after World War II with the widespread adoption of air conditioning, expanding from just 60,812 residents in 1940 to 238,647 by the late 1970s. By that time, the city had largely reached its buildout limits.
Long nicknamed “God’s Waiting Room” because of its large retiree population, St. Petersburg has undergone a significant transformation in recent decades. Driven by a thriving arts and cultural scene, downtown revitalization, and a growing innovation economy, the city has attracted a younger and more diverse population while maintaining the qualities that have long made it one of Florida’s most desirable places to live.
Today, it’s a place where green space, history, authenticity, adaptive reuse, new construction infill and a mix of complimentary uses all come together within a compact pedestrian scale setting. No additional text is needed to describe its vibrancy. The following pictures below convey downtown St. Petersburg’s vibrancy more effectively.
Article by Ennis Davis, AICP. Contact Ennis at edavis@moderncities.com