Current Issues, Projects, and Upcoming Dates Affecting Azalea and Vicinity
Upcoming Events
- Mar 7 CommUNITY Festival in Azalea Park →
- Mar 7 Farragut Hall Soirée →
- Mar 28-29 West St. Pete Food Drive →
- Apr 1 Azalea Meeting
- Apr 25-26 Multi-neighborhood Yard Sale Weekend →
- Apr 25-26 Green Thumb Festival →
Azalea Gateway
Planned redevelopment of the 29-acre former Raytheon site (1501 72nd St. N.) would be built in three phases totaling over 1,000 apartments. Phase 1 calls for 340 units, including 102 income-restricted affordable/workforce apartments (51 at ≤80% AMI and 51 up to 120% AMI). The City of St. Petersburg approved $6M and Pinellas County approved $5.25M toward Phase 1.
Groundbreaking expected late summer/fall 2026.
Science Center
The St. Petersburg Science Center site is being redeveloped as a renewed science and technology education facility. Building on nearly 60 years of STEAM programming (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics), the project aims to expand educational opportunities with an increased focus on emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI).
When complete, the center is intended to support educational programs, research partnerships, and community engagement around new technologies in the Tampa Bay region.
Projected reopening in summer 2027.
Traffic safety at Pinellas Trail crossings
Forward Pinellas is now studying the trail crossing at 22nd Ave due to safety concerns. Since that’s similar to the crossing on 5th Ave, the agency may be able to recommend safety improvements to both.
SPC Athletic Site
The City of St. Petersburg purchased the former St. Petersburg College Gibbs Wellness Center property (the former SPC athletic fields near 66th St. N. and 5th Ave. N.) in 2024 with the goal of creating attainable homeownership opportunities on the roughly 5-acre site. Plans call for 80–100 workforce townhomes, aimed primarily at buyers earning moderate incomes. The project concept has been approved and several development proposals have been submitted, though a final developer selection has not yet been announced. Unlike many recent housing projects in St. Petersburg, the homes are expected to be for sale rather than rentals, helping local workers remain in the area. The effort is part of the city’s broader push to address the shortage of attainable housing in west St. Petersburg.
The athletic fields were previously used by St. Petersburg College sports programs, but the college discontinued intercollegiate athletics several years ago.
Pasadena Card Club
The storm-damaged Bridge/Card Club building in Sunset Park is scheduled for demolition. City funding has been approved, and the removal of the structure will expand the park’s open greenspace.
Jungle Prada Pier
An engineering report commissioned by the city determined that the pier cannot be repaired and must be fully replaced. The estimated cost for demolition and reconstruction is about $5.6 million, with permits currently valid through July 2027.
Because the city is facing an $18 million budget deficit, funding has not yet been secured. City leadership has identified the pier as a District 1 priority for FY27, and staff are exploring grant opportunities, preservation options, and competitive bidding to help reduce costs.
White Peacocks
Neighbors continue to keep an eye on the two rare white peafowl that hatched in Azalea last summer. They are now juveniles and are doing well. Some neighbors have noticed that one bird has been spending more time with the male peacocks while the other tends to stay closer to the females, though at this age it’s still difficult to determine their gender.
If one of them turns out to be male, we may eventually see the famous white peacock fan. Male peafowl typically begin developing their train around their first year, though the full dramatic display usually appears when they are two to three years old.
For now, we’ll keep watching and enjoying the neighborhood’s most unusual residents.
