OFFICE SPACE

The St. Petersburg Central Business District

Downtown St. Pete had numerous wins on the office front in 2025, bucking national industry-wide uncertainty stemming from the economy, rise of AI and its potential impacts on jobs, interest rates and stock market volatility.

490 1st

The planned demolition of 490 1st marked a loss of 240,000 sq ft of office in Downtown. All tenants who were active occupants of 490 chose to maintain a presence in Downtown, with some “rehomed” within First Central Tower and City Center.

Smith Seckman Reid, Inc.

Nashville-based engineering and consulting firm Smith Seckman Reid, Inc. acquired George F. Young (GFY) and are proceeding with their plans to stay in Downtown following the 2024 sale of GFY’s building on 9th Street.

Bankers Insurance

Bankers Insurance left Gateway to return Downtown, moving into 63,000 sq ft.

Dynasty Financial

Dynasty Financial relocated its headquarters from New York City to Downtown in 2019 and occupied one floor at 200 Central before expanding to a second. In 2026, they will nearly double their existing footprint again, to occupy 44,434 sq ft in 400 Central.
© Courtesy of St. Pete Rising.

Halcyon at The Central

Halcyon at The Central will be Downtown’s first major commercial office tower built since 1990. It begins vertical construction in Q1 2026, following the Q4 2025 subterranean work initiating.
  • ARK will occupy the 11th floor, 13,000 sq ft of the 11-story tower
  • There is a letter of intent for two floors of Halcyon to be used for coworking space.
  • Approximately 91,000 sq ft remain and the building is receiving interest from both in-market and out-of-market relocations.

Many tenant moves from an existing space within Downtown have been backfilled by other existing Downtown tenants, creating limited opportunity for new businesses to relocate to downtown. Office users continue to be drawn to buildings that have recent upgrades, from lobby enhancements, food and beverage installations, gathering spaces—indicating we will continue to hear about “the flight to quality” for some time.

1.7M

SQ FT TOTAL COMMERCIAL space

66%

SHARE CLASS A

$36.96

ASKING RENT

9.1%

VACANCY RATE

By The Numbers

By The Numbers

Downtown employs approximately 40,000 workers and has experienced notable growth that outpaces the city and significantly outpaces county, state and national growth trends.

LEARN MORE
Growing Tomorrow’s Talent

St. Petersburg is making intentional efforts to invest in strengthening the workforce pipeline - a pipeline that begins long before career decisions are being made.

LEARN MORE
Retail

Downtown’s retail mix appeals to locals as well as visitors, integrates independent retailers with chains and reflects a mix of longtime tenants as well as new operators.

LEARN MORE
Residential

Development activity over the past decade has significantly increased Downtown's housing stock, shifting it from primarily being a condo market to a more diversified housing mix that includes townhomes, rentals and an increasingly incentivized stream of workforce and affordable units.

LEARN MORE

The St. Petersburg Central Business District

Downtown St. Pete had numerous wins on the office front in 2025, bucking national industry-wide uncertainty stemming from the economy, rise of AI and its potential impacts on jobs, interest rates and stock market volatility.

490 1st

The planned demolition of 490 1st marked a loss of 240,000 sq ft of office in Downtown. All tenants who were active occupants of 490 chose to maintain a presence in Downtown, with some “rehomed” within First Central Tower and City Center.

Smith Seckman Reid, Inc.

Nashville-based engineering and consulting firm Smith Seckman Reid, Inc. acquired George F. Young (GFY) and are proceeding with their plans to stay in Downtown following the 2024 sale of GFY’s building on 9th Street.

Bankers Insurance

Bankers Insurance left Gateway to return Downtown, moving into 63,000 sq ft.

Dynasty Financial

Dynasty Financial relocated its headquarters from New York City to Downtown in 2019 and occupied one floor at 200 Central before expanding to a second. In 2026, they will nearly double their existing footprint again, to occupy 44,434 sq ft in 400 Central.

Halcyon at The Central

Halcyon at The Central will be Downtown’s first major commercial office tower built since 1990. It begins vertical construction in Q1 2026, following the Q4 2025 subterranean work initiating.
  • ARK will occupy the 11th floor, 13,000 sq ft of the 11-story tower
  • There is a letter of intent for two floors of Halcyon to be used for coworking space.
  • Approximately 91,000 sq ft remain and the building is receiving interest from both in-market and out-of-market relocations.

Many tenant moves from an existing space within Downtown have been backfilled by other existing Downtown tenants, creating limited opportunity for new businesses to relocate to downtown. Office users continue to be drawn to buildings that have recent upgrades, from lobby enhancements, food and beverage installations, gathering spaces—indicating we will continue to hear about “the flight to quality” for some time.

© Courtesy of St. Pete Rising.

1.7M

SQ FT TOTAL COMMERCIAL space

66%

SHARE CLASS A

$36.96

ASKING RENT

9.1%

VACANCY RATE

By The Numbers

By The Numbers

Downtown employs approximately 40,000 workers and has experienced notable growth that outpaces the city and significantly outpaces county, state and national growth trends.

LEARN MORE
Growing Tomorrow’s Talent

St. Petersburg is making intentional efforts to invest in strengthening the workforce pipeline - a pipeline that begins long before career decisions are being made.

LEARN MORE
Retail

Downtown’s retail mix appeals to locals as well as visitors, integrates independent retailers with chains and reflects a mix of longtime tenants as well as new operators.

LEARN MORE
Residential

Development activity over the past decade has significantly increased Downtown's housing stock, shifting it from primarily being a condo market to a more diversified housing mix that includes townhomes, rentals and an increasingly incentivized stream of workforce and affordable units.

LEARN MORE