FK Architecture, a Fugleberg Koch Company, is pleased to announce its design for Whitney Village, a new development of a portion of the Jim & Heather Gills YMCA property in St. Petersburg’s Grand Central District. In collaboration with Wannemacher Jensen Architects (WJA), hired to design the YMCA redevelopment, and Place Architecture, which will oversee retail and mixed-use development, the new St. Petersburg development will feature a mixed-use, pedestrian-friendly retail village alongside residential units. It will also include some elevated live/work units that will face the retail village.

The YMCA’s recreational center will be renovated to be more modern and resident-friendly. Parking and athletic fields will be relocated to make way for new retail and residential buildings. An artificial turf field, designed for evening events, will be added along 1st Avenue South.

On the eastern side of the site, a new 325-unit, five-story multifamily building called The Bellamy at Whitney Village will showcase a modern industrial aesthetic, featuring a façade of modern materials including stucco, fiber cement panels, brick, and large windows with black frames. The windows will offer stunning views and ample light into the living spaces. The garage design, using precast materials, will complement the residential building’s aesthetic. Units will range from studios to three-bedroom apartments. Whitney Village’s first retail component will have approximately 32,000 square feet of new  retail, tailored to match the urban, mixed-use aesthetic local to the area.

“As the St. Petersburg Grand Central District continues to serve as a key area of the city, the opportunities for living, shopping, and dining must evolve alongside it,” said Ken Linehan, Managing Principal at FK Architecture. “Increasingly, people want to walk to retail and other business establishments near their homes, and Whitney Village offers that model with many amenities just steps away.”

Image Courtesy of: FK Architecture & Place Architecture

The Bellamy at Whitney Village units will be listed at an affordable market rate, enabling YMCA employees to live close to their jobs and be integrated into the community even during their off-hours.

“The aesthetic for Whitney Village effectively blurs the lines between where people work and live,” said FK Architecture Project Manager Amy VanderMeer. “Residents of The Bellamy will be neighbors not only with other YMCA users but also its employees, broadening the concept of modern living in an affordable and sustainable model.”

Construction is set to commence next year and is expected to be completed in mid-2026.

FK Architecture, a Fugleberg Koch Company, is a full-service, multi-discipline firm of architects, designers, and planners providing architectural design services nationwide. Established in 1963, the firm’s diverse experience includes hospitality, multifamily, student housing, senior housing, mixed-use, and commercial sectors. For more information, visit www.fkcompanies.com

Feature Image Courtesy of: FK Architecture & Place Architecture