Welcome to the neighborhood, Don Phillips

Did you see the article in Business Observer about Don Phillips, who heads the Tampa development firm that's building a major project on the Home Depot property on 34th Street? It gives some insight into the man and the company. This quote is particularly of interest: “I’ve learned production does not reward creativity. That’s been a huge transition for me. To have the time to conceptualize and create has been very rewarding" And this: “I’m much more contemplative now, and interested in the body of work I’m going to leave behind. What do I want my legacy to be — another apartment complex or something that adds, in a meaningful way, to the community?” Welcome to the neighborhood, Don.

Apartment-restaurant complex developers seeing a great future for our community

Late last year, you may remember, we had an item about a new development project coming to South St. Petersburg. It's to be a mixed-use development on 34th Street just north of the Ceridian complex and the St. Petersburg College Allstate Center. It is to include one- and two-bedroom apartments, shops, and restaurants. Phillips Development & Realty in Tampa has been working with our friend Keri Melshenker at the Skyway Marina District to bring about the complex. Word comes now that the purchase of the property from Home Depot has been completed ($4.2 million) and construction is supposed to begin in five to nine months. “The Skyway Marina District is screaming for retail, luxury living and involvement from the St. Petersburg art scene,” said Donald Phillips, managing director of the development company, according to Business Observer. Mayor Rick Kriseman is all for the project and has been championing the prosperity of the Skyway Marina District for years.

Apartment, shopping, and restaurant project coming for 34th Street near SPC Allstate

South St. Petersburg is on the move. Phillips Development & Realty is filing site plans today for a mixed-use project on 34th Street just north of the Ceridian complex and the St. Petersburg College Allstate Center. It is to include one- and two-bedroom apartments, shops, and restaurants. The people at Phillips have been working with Keri Melshenker, executive director of the Skyway Marina District. This is just one part of work the city has been doing to ramp up business development in our community. To Phillips, we say welcome. To Keri Melshenker and the Skyway Marina District, we say bravo! Here's a story in the Tampa Bay Business Journal with all the details.