YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg Redevelopment
Update
06/29/22
YMCA Looks at Redeveloping Site of Facility in St. Petersburg
The YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg is considering redeveloping the site of the Jim & Heather Gills YMCA. The site, located in St. Petersburg’s Union Central District, is one block south of the intersection of Central Avenue and 31st Street.
The current YMCA is one of the main YMCA facilities in St. Petersburg, featuring a full-sized gym, indoor pool, and rock-climbing walls. With the growth of St. Petersburg development and revitalization spreading to areas west of downtown, YMCA officials feel the time is right to explore potential opportunities to better utilize the facility. The site, which is 11.47 acres, is one of the largest contiguous developable parcels in St. Petersburg.
While exploring the potential for future development, the YMCA will continue operating at the site, either in the existing building or a new facility.
The process is in the early stages, and redevelopment would require approval by the YMCA Board of Directors. After initial meetings with 10 developers, five semi-finalists have been selected:
A joint bid by St. Petersburg-based Eastman Equity and Blake Investment Partners
A joint bid by Green Mills Group, a Fort Lauderdale-based affordable housing developer and Altman Companies, based in Boca Raton
Gorman & Company, based in Wisconsin
Related Group, the Miami-based developer that projects in St. Petersburg and Tampa, including mixed-income, affordable and workforce housing.
Discussions with developers are expected to continue until later in 2022.
Photo: YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg
