Church sells land to make way for new tower in St. Pete

ST. PETERSBURG (FOX 13) - Another new development will be making its way to downtown St. Petersburg in the near future. 

Christ United Methodist Church is selling its parking lot -- prime real estate -- in the 400 block of 1st Avenue North to a developer that will build a mixed-use tower in the location. The developer, Mild River Development,  is paying more than $5.6 million for the site.

Rev. Jacqueline Jones-Smith says this is great for Christ United and even better for the city's growth.
"This is going to be good for the church since we are going to have resources and parking."

Rev. Jones-Smith says there will be a parking garage in the new building, allowing even more spaces for its parishioners.

The church site is one of dozens of developments happening or planned in and around St. Pete.   Alan DeLisle with the city of St. Pete says last year hit a record of $670 million in construction.  Delisle forecasts this year that figure will ring-in at just under $1 billion. 

"You have an increase in the number of millennials that are attracted to St. Petersburg, which also drives demand,” DeLisle said. “Another thing we are seeing is a lot of empty nesters." 

Right now the sale of the lot is under contract, Rev. Jones-Smith expects it to be complete within 90 days.