Neighborhood News Bureau

Author: April Borjon

  • St. Pete’s EDGE District balances preservation amid growth 

    St. Pete’s EDGE District balances preservation amid growth 

    By Jack Hernandez  

    Once a quiet industrial zone, St. Petersburg’s EDGE District has blossomed into a lively hub for arts, dining and entertainment. As new businesses, high-end shops and luxury residences transform the area, the district stands at a pivotal moment, balancing its historic character with the pressures of modernization. 

    The EDGE District’s journey parallels the nationwide conversation on urban redevelopment, particularly as St. Petersburg undertakes the $6 billion Historic Gas Plant District project, adding complexity to the growth-versus-preservation debate. 

    For longtime resident Eleanor Grant, 78, who has lived in St. Petersburg for over 50 years and visits the EDGE District often, the changes bring both excitement and concern.  

    “With all the new construction and redevelopment plans, especially around the Historic Gas Plant District, I’m not sure how these changes will impact tourism,” Grant said. 

    While Grant said she appreciates economic growth, she worries that the unique qualities that drew people to the area may be overshadowed by rapid development. 

    The EDGE District’s transformation from an industrial area to a cultural destination exemplifies the power of urban redevelopment. Initially defined by its warehouses, factories and industrial roots, the district fostered a resilient community. 

    In the late 20th century, artists and entrepreneurs began converting spacious industrial buildings into galleries, studios and shops, sparking an art-driven revival that drew wider attention and investment. 

    Now, the influx of high-end retail and luxury condominiums presents a new challenge: how to maintain the district’s essence while fueling economic growth.  

    This tension is a common thread in urban redevelopment, where modern infrastructure and historic preservation often clash. 

    Debbie Reeser, the Board President of the EDGE Business District Association, emphasized the unique challenges faced by long-standing businesses.  

    “Escalating lease rates are the largest challenge for small business owners who do not own the property where their business is located,” Reeser said.  

    Reeser also mentioned that parking has been an issue, though a new garage under construction is expected to alleviate this. Along with this, for property owners, rising insurance costs and increased product expenses threaten profit margins. 

    Despite these pressures, Reeser said, many established business owners are excited about the neighborhood’s transformation, recognizing that growth brings more customers to their doors. 

    Newer businesses, meanwhile, are actively contributing to the district’s evolving identity. Reeser highlights the role of new hotels and other establishments in enhancing what the EDGE District has to offer. However, these businesses face the challenge of fitting into a historically rich district while pursuing modern business goals.  

    “I believe these are not mutually exclusive,” Reeser said, acknowledging the higher costs for developers who choose to renovate and preserve older buildings. “We like to remind all developers that it is our unique historic character that brings customers to our district and, consequently, adds to their profitability.” 

    Jeremy Cunningham, 32, has lived in St. Petersburg for a decade, witnessing firsthand the area’s rapid transformation. As a frequent visitor to the EDGE District, along with living nearby, he enjoys the growing number of local shops, galleries and bars, but also feels the impact of rising rent costs, he said. 

    “When I first moved downtown, rent was affordable, and it felt like a tight-knit community of artists, young professionals and families,” Cunningham said. “Now, the rent has nearly doubled, and some of the people who made this area so vibrant can’t afford to stay.”  

    Cunningham said he appreciates the new businesses and infrastructure, but worries about long-term affordability.  

    The EDGE District’s development reflects broader trends in urban redevelopment across the United States, where unique, arts-focused areas face potential dilution as luxury establishments move in. 

    “Growth is good, but it should be balanced,” Cunningham said. “If we do not preserve what makes downtown unique, we risk losing the community that brought it to life in the first place.” 

    His concerns reflect a common sentiment: while progress is positive, it should support inclusivity and diversity, ensuring that residents, artists and small businesses remain integral to the community. 

    The EDGE District’s transformation illustrates the broader challenge of balancing urban growth with cultural preservation. As St. Petersburg continues to evolve, the EDGE District’s journey offers valuable lessons for other historic areas navigating similar redevelopment pressures.  

    The perspectives of residents, business owners and city officials underscore the importance of preserving community character amid change. With thoughtful planning and active community involvement, the EDGE District has the potential to thrive as a dynamic neighborhood that honors its past while embracing new opportunities.  

    This balanced approach could ensure that the district continues to serve as both a cultural landmark and an evolving urban space, preserving its legacy as it grows. 

  • Pinellas County journalism students write St. Pete’s story  

    Pinellas County journalism students write St. Pete’s story  

    By Hannah Edgeman

    Pinellas County student journalists are reporting the stories that shape St. Petersburg, and they are doing it all before they get their high school diploma. 

    Journeys in Journalism is a countywide magnet program that trains students in journalism as part of their curriculum. The program is open to young students and teenagers alike, and it is currently available to attendees of Melrose Elementary School, John Hopkins Middle School and Lakewood High School. 

    “I like to say we don’t practice journalism, we do journalism,” said middle school journalism teacher Joyce Pink. “They’re doing all the things that journalists do in the professional world.” 

    Recently, the students published a documentary examining the redevelopment of the Gas Plant District. The project is posted on their website under the title “Addressing a Broken Promise: The redevelopment of St. Petersburg’s Gas Plant District”, a fitting descriptor as the video shows former residents of the area heartbroken over the destruction of the streets that, decades ago, they called home. 

    The neighborhood went through a controversial redevelopment 40 years ago during the construction of the Tropicana Field. Residents of the district were displaced to make way for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, and the assurances of new jobs and affordable housing were never fulfilled. Now, the creation of a new baseball stadium feels to some like history repeating itself. 

    “We talked to people who lived in the area and reexamined their childhood,” Pink said. “How do they feel now that the area had been torn down, and now they’re talking about doing something very similar with yet another redevelopment of the area? So we’re looking at the promises that weren’t kept then, and asking will those promises be kept now?” 

    John Hopkins students interviewed Gas Plant District residents and Tampa Bay Rays officials for their podcast, “Oral Histories.” 

    “Oral Histories” tells two sides of the same story; former residents of the area who feel grief over the redevelopment of the area and the businessmen who see the change as a brighter future for Tampa baseball.  

    The Gas Plant reporting was part of a capstone project the students completed in the 2023-24 school year. Aside from capstone projects, each school has a news site where they publish articles, opinion pieces and photos. They have a goal of posting content weekly, according to their teacher. 

    Despite the articles and podcasts that are published each week, deadlines are not the central focus of the leaders of the program. 

    “We don’t look at it like we’re training the next generation of journalists,” said Journeys in Journalism adviser Christopher Mosher. “We’re really looking at it like there’s a hundred students who come through our school and they’re building the writing skills, the rationality skills and their people skills.” 

    The courses offered by Lakewood High School foster skills that students can bring into their everyday life, even if they do not graduate to become journalists. Freshmen begin their courses by learning a foundation of ethics and factual reporting, and they finish their academic journey as seniors with the ability to write effectively, work with peers and adhere to the firm deadlines they will encounter after graduation. 

    “Media literacy is almost like a dying understanding right now,” Mosher said. “I think the students, they really need that practice of how to fact check, how to interview, and really there’s a lot of soft skills that go along with it as well. Like, how do you talk to people? How do you look people in the eye?” 

    The program was founded in 2001 with this same hope. According to Margo Hammond, friend of Journeys founder Cynda Mort, the curriculum was created with the hope that it would teach new generations important life and communication skills. 

    “I’ve grown a lot because I’m learning more about the software we’ve been using, so when it comes to editing and all that other stuff, I’m like way better now,” junior Ja’Nes Lyons said. “And then I’ve learned about different angles and how I should take pictures. So, the photos have definitely progressed from when I was in ninth grade.” 

    As for the future of Journeys in Journalism, readers can expect to see another capstone project by the end of this school year. Until then, the student journalists will continue their weekly 
    publishing on current events.  

  • Displaced seniors in St. Petersburg face uphill battle after twin hurricanes 

    Displaced seniors in St. Petersburg face uphill battle after twin hurricanes 

    By Abby Duke

    The streets of St. Petersburg have become a sobering reminder of the raw power of nature, as back-to-back Hurricanes Helen and Milton leave a trail of destruction in their wake. Many of the city’s senior citizens are now facing the unimaginable, as their homes have become unlivable. Left vulnerable and displaced, St. Pete’s seniors grapple to find housing and resources.

    Many seniors lived in older homes or properties that have not been updated to withstand dual hurricanes. Now, their lives are uprooted as they find themselves with damaged roofs, shattered windows and flood damage. 

    “These hurricanes left so many vulnerable,” said Pinellas County’s Florida Department of Health Public Information Officer Samantha Goodfellow. “It’s hard enough making it through the storm and then face finding a new home after.” 

    With so many in need of help, Goodfellow directs seniors in search of assistance to the We Are St. Pete Fund. Through a collaboration between the City of St. Pete and Pinellas Community Foundation, the contributions help those impacted by the hurricanes. 

    “As of right now, there is over $800,000 raised to help assist residents in need,” Goodfellow said. “Seniors of St. Pete need that help, [and] many are on fixed incomes and need that financial assistance right now.” 

    In the aftermath of these hurricanes, seniors face a unique set of challenges. When limited in financial resources and compounded by mobility issues, this can restrict their ability to relocate or rebuild quickly.

    Many rely on public transportation or the goodwill of neighbors to get them where they need to go, and seniors may be unable to access online resources for locating emergency shelter or assistance. Efforts by Sunways Senior Living Concierge have attempted to help those seniors facing such challenges by becoming a vital resource for those struggling in times of need. 

    “Sunways is stepping in to offer long-term solutions, from housing to transportation, but the need is overwhelming,” said Co-Founder and President of Sunways Senior Living Concierge Elli Baldwin. 

    Baldwin’s team connects displaced seniors in need of short or long-term housing with facilities and shelters that can assist, offering relocation services as well. They offer their services for free for seniors and their families, helping to compare care options that best suit their needs. 

    “The biggest thing was urgency when it came to moving seniors into a safe spot between the two storms and then reassessing the damage after Milton,” Baldwin said. “It was an aggressive deadline that our team had to move quickly for seniors.” 

    With limited inventory in the housing market, seniors face difficulty finding shelter that meets their needs, specifically when senior living facilities are unavailable. 

    “Rentals for displaced seniors looking for shelter are a huge help,” Baldwin said. 

    Beyond immediate relief, community members are encouraged to help support their elderly neighbors directly. Through volunteer work and engaging with the senior community, checking in can make all the difference, she said. 

    “Volunteering with Meals on Wheels and just checking on your senior neighbor are great ways to be involved,” Baldwin said. 

    Baldwin’s team continue their service outside of assisting seniors, spending time to thank case managers in hospitals and rehabs by serving breakfast and coffee. According to Linda Burhans, a caregiver advocate and coach, the emotional toll of displacement cannot be forgotten, as many seniors find themselves leaving behind their lives to find aid. 

    “St. Pete has a large senior community,” Burhans said. “We must make sure they’re safe and supported. It’s important we make that effort during times like this; no one can go through it alone.” 

    Burhans rallied behind caregivers who faced the difficulties of finding shelter for their loved ones and providing support to seniors that lost everything in the storm’s wake. Calling to check in on one senior, Burhans found that she had to be rescued from her home. 

    “I called to check in on a senior I was close to who hadn’t been able to evacuate, [and] she told me her house had flooded, and water was up to her breasts before a neighbor was able to get to her,” Burhans said. 

    As St. Petersburg recovers, it’s clear that special attention must be given to its senior citizens, whose long-standing ties to their homes and neighborhoods make their losses particularly painful. With the help of organizations like Sunways Senior Living Concierge and the We Are St. Pete Fund, the city’s senior community will not face this recovery alone.  

  • St. Pete Pride hosts annual FrankenPride event amid statewide LGBTQ+ restrictions 

    St. Pete Pride hosts annual FrankenPride event amid statewide LGBTQ+ restrictions 

    By Skyla Rogers

    Florida’s largest pride organization, St. Pete Pride, held its fourth annual FrankenPride event Oct. 27 from 12-5 p.m. on the 2800 through 3100 blocks of Central Avenue, creating a safe environment for all ages and identities.  

    Founded in 2003 following the abrupt shutdown of Tampa Bay’s pride event, St. Pete Pride works year-round to promote education, self-expression and a safe community for queer individuals 

    In recent years, Florida’s policy regarding the LGBTQ+ community has made headlines for the increasing restrictions on speech within classrooms (HB 1069), medical freedoms (SB 254) and more.  

    However, the city of St. Petersburg has been dubbed a success story through the Human Rights Campaign 2023 Municipal Equality Index, which examines how inclusive municipal laws, policies and services are for LGBTQ+ people who live and work there. Despite Florida’s state policies, St. Petersburg earned a perfect score, making it one of the most inclusive cities in the state for LGBTQ+ residents and visitors. 

    The president of St. Pete Pride, Byron Green-Calisch, said the organization’s goal is to promote a safe community while uplifting the individuals in it.

    “We encourage people to express themselves in ways that makes sense for them at all of our events,” Green-Calisch said. 

    Many of St. Pete Pride’s events are geared toward education, focusing on exposing people to the culture of queer communities, he said.

    “It’s hiding the vegetables in the sauce,” Green-Calisch said. “In how we push our mission of educating people and creating a better space where they can be their true authentic selves.”  

    A portion of street art displays a message at the entrance of St. Pete Pride’s FrankenPride event on Oct. 27, 2024. (Photo by Skyla Rogers/NNB)

    Green-Calisch also emphasized the organization’s close relationship with local officials and police to make sure that “the organization uses [its] privilege to push back” when opportunities to engage in self-expression are in jeopardy. 

    One attendee, Carys Mullins, noted that events like FrankenPride, designed to be family-friendly, often encourage people to adjust their behavior to accommodate a younger audience.

    “At LGBTQIA+ events specifically, adult gatherings tend to feature more political activism and sometimes more intense protests,” Mullins said. “Just like I think it’s important to have family-friendly concerts or parties, kids should be able to experience festivals and concerts that are mindful of them.”  

    According to Mullins, while there should still be spaces reserved for adults to have fun, exposing kids and teenagers to LGBTQ+ topics can help minors understand their own feelings.

    “At the end of the day,” they said, “attempting to hide kids from the idea that princes can love other princes sometimes is simply silly.” 

    Former USF LGBTQ+ resource coordinator, Callen Jones, said they believe education plays a large role in continuing to build a more inclusive St. Petersburg.

    “Pride and LGBTQ+ inclusion is a simple conversation about respecting people for who they are even when that is different than who you are,” Jones said, “[and] that has a place for all children and families.” 

    A forgotten piece of memorabilia from St. Pete Pride’s FrankenPride exhibits themes of self-expression on Oct. 27, 2024. (Photo by Skyla Rogers/NNB)

    Green-Calisch explained that from the perspective of the organization, most resistance he has seen comes from outside queer communities due to large amounts of misinformation.

    According to researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles, only 5.4% of adults in Florida are estimated to identify as a part of the LGBTQ+ community, yet 22.5% of hate crimes are targeted at queer people, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
    Despite the statistics, when asked if he believed the city was becoming more progressive, Green-Calisch said he has witnessed the city face challenges and its people rise to meet them.  

    While Green-Calisch sees the city as an ally in “maintaining safety while still celebrating difference,” Mullins expressed concern about the future safety of the LGBTQ+ community in St. Petersburg after seeing Florida’s recent political trends. 

    “I know several people who’ve left the Tampa Bay and St. Pete area for other states due to the new discriminatory laws,” Mullins said. “So, while the city feels safe and inclusive now, I worry about its future as well as the future of the whole state.” 

    Mullins’ concerns reflect real challenges, they said. In 2023, Governor Ron DeSantis signed HB 1069, a bill that restricts discussions on sexual orientation and gender identity in elementary and middle schools. This is just one of several recent measures that limit LGBTQ+ rights and education in Florida. 

    “We have opportunities to show [kids] that it gets better than what you’re currently experiencing,” Green-Calisch said. “So that we can turn queer youths into queer adults.”  

    Green-Calisch alluded to the growing suicide rate of children who identify with the LGBTQ+ community compared to their straight peers. According to The Trevor Project, LGBTQ+ youth are four times more likely to attempt suicide than others their age. 

    “Pride means being unafraid to be yourself,” Mullins said. “It means having pride in your community and supporting and empowering your neighbors. I think pride can teach kids to be confident and help them feel safe being their authentic selves, rather than stressing about the pressure to fit into an ever-shrinking box of arbitrary expectations.”