Quarterly Membership Event: 2026 Downtown Achievement Awards
May 13, 2026
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
253 2nd Ave N
The St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership will recognize three honorees at the 2026 Downtown Achievement Awards on May 13, 2026, from 5 pm to 7 pm. The award ceremony will be held on the rooftop of the Cordova Inn, 253 2nd Ave N, begin at 5:30 pm and will be followed by a reception for honorees and members of the St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership.
The event recognizes individuals, and organizations for significant contributions to downtown St. Petersburg. Our 2026 recipients include:
The Cordova Inn - The five-story addition rising at 253 2nd Avenue North, imitates the existing facade of the 105-year-old Cordova Inn next door, and is designed to more than triple the hotel’s room count, taking it from 32 rooms to 97, including three luxury suites on the top floor offering panoramic views of downtown. The expansion will also add a new ground-floor restaurant and a fifth-floor rooftop bar, both of which will be open to the public. The project was designed by St. Pete–based Place Architecture and construction by St. Pete–based Reno Boyd Building Co. began in 2023, with the building topping out in mid-2024.
Tim Clemmons - With 35 years of architectural experience, Tim Clemmons has established expertise in urban mixed-use, cultural facilities and multi-family residential projects. Tim is recognized throughout Tampa Bay for his modern designs that promote urban, sustainable lifestyles. With his partners at Place Architecture, Tim is committed to an architecture that works at all levels – from the elegant detail to the community vision. He has extensive experience in public participation processes as both a design professional and civic volunteer, teaching master’s level architecture and urban design classes for ten years as an adjunct professor at the University of South Florida.
Sen. Darryl E. Rouson – Representing Florida District 16 Sen. Rouson sponsored the recent successful Local Funding Initiative Request of $800,000 to be dedicated to capital improvements in Williams Park. Senator Rouson became a community pillar of the Tampa Bay Area by working hard for the people, and community, he represented. In 1981, he became the first African American assistant state attorney in Pinellas County. In 2003, he was appointed the first Chairman of the newly formed Substance Abuse and Addictions Task Force for The National Bar Association. He also served as president of the St. Petersburg N.A.A.C.P. branch.
Ken Heretick - Kenneth W. Heretick, who previously served on the Downtown Partnership board for over three decades, founded Vector Commercial Real Estate in 1985. His career in real estate began in 1978 as an analyst for a regional development company. With determination and skill, Ken quickly ascended to senior roles, including Vice President, Executive Vice President, and President. Ken is an established expert in commercial real estate, with a particular focus on the development, acquisition, turnaround, and disposition of distressed properties. His passion for real estate and steadfast dedication to excellence continue to guide the St. Petersburg community.
The Downtown Achievement Awards honor local community leaders for their work to enhance the sense of place that defines St. Petersburg's downtown. This event is for members of the Downtown Partnership, and will include 100 developers, investors and associated real business leaders along with policy makers, and nonprofit institutions
The St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to thoughtful growth and urban redevelopment. The Partnership’s mission is to champion community prosperity through purposeful, transformative projects.
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