Alton Skyway will replace the former St. Petersburg College Allstate Center at 3200 34th St. S. All images: City documents.
A 17.25-acre property in St. Petersburg’s rapidly evolving Skyway Marina District will soon feature an upscale, 619-unit apartment community, despite ardent opposition to the project.
The city’s Development Review Commission approved a site plan for Alton Skyway on Wednesday in a 5-1 vote following a lengthy debate. Delray Beach-based developer Kolter Multifamily will build the garden-style complex at 3200 34th Street South, formerly home to St. Petersburg College’s Allstate Center.
Kolter will demolish multiple existing educational buildings to make way for Alton Skyway. Concerns centered on the two-phased development’s lack of retail space.
A local developer, district representatives, and commissioners agreed that the project diverges from design standards outlined in the Skyway Marina District Plan. However, attorney Elise Batsel of Stearns Weaver Miller, who represents Kolter, noted that the city never codified what amounts to a development guide.
“Would I like to see it perhaps integrate more into the vision of the Marina plan? Sure,” said Commissioner Sarah Jane Vatelot. “But can we enforce it? No. And I think that it meets the requirements of the land development regulations as they stand today.”
An overhead view of the 17.25-acre site (red).
Once complete, the project will feature eight five-story buildings, a large stormwater pond with a trail, and 883 parking spaces, another point of contention. Additional amenities include two pools, a dog park, and a clubhouse.
Kolter will complete the project in two phases, each with four buildings. The first will feature 342 units and 484 parking spaces on the southern half of the site.
Alton Skyway’s second phase includes an additional 277 apartments and 399 parking spaces. Kolter dedicated a one-acre parcel on the property’s southwest corner for up to 5,000 square feet of commercial space, which the commission will review separately.
Registered opponent Frank Guerra, founder of Altis Cardinal, believes the retail component is an afterthought that may never materialize. He said the district plan, adopted by the city council in 2014, called for more commercial development, increased walkability, and parking structures rather than sprawling surface lots.
Guerra’s firm is building Sky Town, a 34.3-acre, $800 million development to the west of Alton Skyway. His project will feature 2,084 apartments, 69,000 square feet of retail space anchored by a recently opened Sprouts Farmers Market, and a 120,000 square-foot self-storage facility.
The district’s plan “wouldn’t have been adopted by the city council and wouldn’t have been followed by all other developers” of market-rate multifamily projects if it were not applicable, Guerra argued.
Alton Skyway will offer one, two, and three-bedroom apartments.
Chris Isaacson, a Skyway Marina District board member, said there was “no meaningful engagement for this community.” His group met with Kolter’s team twice in the past two months and “clearly outlined our concerns.”
“Once the plans came back, they were unchanged,” Isaacson added. “We’re seeing that as not really a good faith engagement.”
One-story bike storage sheds will shield what one commissioner called a “sea of asphalt.” Alton Skyway will also feature an extensive sidewalk network that connects the ungated complex to the surrounding area.
“There’s a lot I like about the project,” said Commissioner Tim Clemmons. “I think the building is really quite handsome, and there’s a lot of effort to create this sort of internal street that runs through the middle of the project. But I think all of that is to the detriment of 34th Street.”
However, multiple commissioners said the district needs additional residents with disposable incomes to support the sought-after commercial development. “Today, there is over 47,000 square feet of vacant retail space seeking tenants,” Batsel said.
The commission ultimately found that the site plan aligned with land-use regulations, with Commissioner Joseph Griner dissenting. Kolter is under contract to purchase the property from St. Petersburg College for $26 million and can now close on the deal.
Alton Skyway’s site plan, with potential retail space in the upper left corner (grey).
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