DOWNTOWN DIALOGUE: Beyond Central — Rethinking Downtown St. Pete

What makes a downtown street inviting, walkable, and vibrant—and how can St. Petersburg plan for the next 10, 20, or even 30 years of growth?

On this episode of Downtown Dialogue, Karen Carmichael talks with Mack Feldman, Vice President of Asset Management at Feldman Equities and Vice Chair of the St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership, and Jason Mathis, CEO of the St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership.

The conversation focuses on downtown St. Petersburg’s A and B street designations, which determine how much pedestrian-oriented activity—such as restaurants, shops and other businesses—must be incorporated into new development.

Mack and Jason explain why they believe some current B streets could be changed to A streets, particularly along portions of First Avenue North, First Avenue South, Second Avenue North and Second Avenue South. They discuss how expanding pedestrian-oriented corridors could create more vibrant places to walk, give local businesses more options for affordable retail space, and help distribute downtown activity beyond Central Avenue and Beach Drive.

The conversation also explores pedestrian and cyclist safety, the relationship between new development and retail, the challenges developers face when incorporating commercial space, and what downtown could look like 10–20 years from now.

The Downtown Partnership is currently gathering feedback from residents, businesses, developers and community leaders as it works on proposed downtown land-use updates.

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