The charming Mirror Lake neighborhood, nestled in the heart of St. Pete's vibrant downtown, will now see limitations on future development and modifications to existing buildings.
After years of discussions and a lengthy debate during Thursday's City Council meeting, members voted 5-2 to approve a local historic district designation for properties within 200 feet of Mirror Lake, home to the largest collection of intact historic structures in St. Pete.
The decision was met with applause from Mirror Lake residents, who largely supported the citizen-initiated application led by the preservation advocacy group Preserve the Burg. The initiative aims to maintain the community's pedestrian-friendly, low-rise character.
Council member Gina Driscoll, who proposed the historic designation in 2020, expressed satisfaction with the outcome, noting that the initial proposal covered a much larger area.
Council member Lisset Hanewicz, who opposed the measure along with Copley Gerdes, questioned the logic behind the 200-foot boundary, describing it as arbitrary. She acknowledged the historic significance of parts of Mirror Lake but struggled with the boundary's rationale.
Matthew Weidner, a registered opponent who recently sold a property in the proposed district, argued that the designation application was incomplete and that the ballot process was flawed. He also claimed the designation would reduce density rights.
Will Conroy of Backstreets Capital, which recently received approval to preserve a historic property and build a new luxury condo building facing Mirror Lake, urged the council to carefully consider the designation, suggesting it could downzone a key downtown area. He acknowledged the efforts of neighbors and Preserve the Burg in bringing the application forward.
The historic district designation will not affect properties already listed on the St. Petersburg Register of Historic Places, such as the Mirror Lake Community Library, the original home of St. Petersburg High School, and the St. Petersburg Shuffleboard and Lawn Bowling Club. However, the council faced a dilemma regarding the city-owned Sunshine Senior Center, located within the historic district. They voted 6-1, with Gerdes dissenting, to amend the district's language to allow for potential redevelopment of the center.
Hanewicz criticized the decision, arguing it was unfair for the city to exempt its property while other owners were not given the same opportunity.
The city first notified residents about the potential historic designation in January 2024. Regulations required support from over half of the district’s tax parcels to file a designation application. Of the 142 parcels, 77 supported the designation, surpassing the required threshold.
This is the first citizen-initiated request for a local historic district in Mirror Lake. A previous proposal in 2021 was deferred due to concerns it might affect the city's bid for a new Florida Second District Court of Appeal courthouse, which is now under construction.
The new historic district requires properties within its boundaries to obtain a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) for any exterior changes, new construction, demolition, or relocation. It does not impact developments that have already received site plan approval.
Several approved projects are set to proceed, including Backstreets Capital's luxury condo building and Skyward Living's 11-story Lake House condo. The district is expected to increase the value of properties just outside its boundaries.
New York-based Red Apple Group, behind the 46-story Residences at 400 Central, recently acquired a property across from the historic district, with plans for a similar development. Pinellas County Schools announced a partnership to build a 225-unit apartment community, with half designated as workforce housing for teachers and district employees.
Additionally, the newly completed 18-story Reflection condo tower on the west side of Mirror Lake has begun welcoming residents.
