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Demolition clears way for luxury downtown
By SHARON L. BOND © St. Petersburg Times, published May 27, 2001 ST. PETERSBURG -- A worn 1920s two-story house with the blinds still hanging on the windows was leveled last week to make way for downtown's latest luxury residences, the Madison at St. Petersburg, a 277-unit rental complex. The house at 242 Fourth Ave. S was the last structure on two blocks being cleared for the ZOM Development Inc. project. Mayor Rick Baker climbed in a backhoe to start the demolition of the house. "What a great day for St. Petersburg this is," Baker told the small crowd of city development officials, council members and former officials, including former Mayor David Fischer. "What you are seeing more and more ... is people are seeing downtown St. Petersburg as a great place to live. There's no better example of this than the ZOM project," Baker said before he got in the backhoe. The $30-million project was announced last year and covers two city blocks between Fourth Avenue S and Delmar Terrace and First and Third streets. The Madison at St. Petersburg includes 24 townhouses and 253 flats, according to Greg West, development vice president for ZOM, which is based in Orlando. One-, two- and three-bedroom units will be available. The first apartments are expected to be ready in nine months, West said, and the project will be finished in 16 months. Rents will range from $795 for a small one-bedroom to $1,715 for a three-bedroom. The Madison will include two five-story buildings on separate blocks. The townhouses will be at the front of each block facing Fourth Avenue S. The first floor of each building will be dedicated to parking. The units will surround courtyards on each block that will have swimming pools, outdoor fireplaces and spas. Before ZOM acquired the site, baseball player Gary Sheffield planned to build a spa on one portion. But his project never got off the ground, and Sheffield left St. Petersburg. Madison at St. Petersburg is one in a line of luxury residences announced or built in the past three years downtown. Most have been condominiums. West said he thought downtown was prime for luxury rental units.
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
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