St. Pete Closes $6.4 Million Land Sale for The Central

The city of St. Petersburg closed a $6.4 million land sale for The Central on November 3, 2026, clearing the way for continued construction on the mixed-use development at 1300 1st Avenue North (1301 Central Avenue). The 2.1-acre project redevelops the former St. Petersburg Police Department headquarters site and was originally called Orange Station. It will include 42 residential units and a 165-room Marriott Autograph Collection hotel in a 15-story tower. Ellison Development is part of a joint venture with J Square Developers, DDA Development and Backstreets Capital, with architecture by Place Architecture.

The post-closing agreement, recorded November 4, requires the office, retail and workforce housing components to be completed by January 1, 2030. Construction started February 28, 2024.

A 531-space public parking garage opened in June 2025 and remains the only completed component. The office portion, called Halcyon, is downtown St. Pete's first Class A office building since the 1980s. ARK Invest announced plans to relocate its headquarters to Halcyon, occupying 13,000 square feet on the 11th floor. The 42 workforce housing units are reserved for residents earning up to 120 percent of area median income.

Amenities include a rooftop pool, a signature restaurant by Geoffrey Zakarian, a theater, a piano bar, a ballroom, conference space, a fitness center, an amenity deck and a public plaza. Central Plaza will honor the Courageous 12 with a monument by artist Ya La'Ford.