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St. Pete's luxury-fueled identity crisis

From a $30K lounge to a possible Four Seasons, wealth is transforming the city.

News

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="St. Petersburg" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2025/04/21/wayward-goose-st-petersburg-closing" data-vars-content-id="4e33dd72-a0e2-4e5e-98e6-c9ad996b8f6c" data-vars-headline="St. Pete&#x27;s luxury-fueled identity crisis" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2025/04/21/wayward-goose-st-petersburg-closing" target="_self">St. Petersburg</a> City Council member Richie Floyd&#x27;s jaw hit the floor when he <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="read" data-vars-click-url="https://www.tampabay.com/life-culture/food/2026/02/21/st-pete-food-hall-kojo-bar-hanna-central-park/" data-vars-content-id="4e33dd72-a0e2-4e5e-98e6-c9ad996b8f6c" data-vars-headline="St. Pete&#x27;s luxury-fueled identity crisis" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.tampabay.com/life-culture/food/2026/02/21/st-pete-food-hall-kojo-bar-hanna-central-park/" target="_blank">read</a> how much it&#x27;ll cost to join a members-only lounge coming soon to downtown&#x27;s new <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Central Park food hall" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2026/01/06/new-restaurants-2026-tampa-st-pete" data-vars-content-id="4e33dd72-a0e2-4e5e-98e6-c9ad996b8f6c" data-vars-headline="St. Pete&#x27;s luxury-fueled identity crisis" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2026/01/06/new-restaurants-2026-tampa-st-pete" target="_self">Central Park food hall</a>.<ul><li>For Tampa Bay&#x27;s once-gritty <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="city of the arts" data-vars-click-url="https://www.tampabay.com/viewpoints/2026/02/24/is-st-pete-still-city-arts-column/" data-vars-content-id="4e33dd72-a0e2-4e5e-98e6-c9ad996b8f6c" data-vars-headline="St. Pete&#x27;s luxury-fueled identity crisis" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.tampabay.com/viewpoints/2026/02/24/is-st-pete-still-city-arts-column/" target="_blank">city of the arts</a>, where many residents are struggling with rising costs, $30,000 is a jarring figure. Yet, the co-owner told Axios he&#x27;s been flooded with interest.</li><li>&quot;We actually can&#x27;t keep up,&quot; said Mark Levey, who recently moved from Tampa to a condo on the 28th floor of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="The Residences at 400 Central" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2025/12/03/inside-400-central-st-petersburg" data-vars-content-id="4e33dd72-a0e2-4e5e-98e6-c9ad996b8f6c" data-vars-headline="St. Pete&#x27;s luxury-fueled identity crisis" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2025/12/03/inside-400-central-st-petersburg" target="_self">The Residences at 400 Central</a>, St. Pete&#x27;s newest luxury high-rise.</li></ul>Why it matters: The project is one of several that signal a burgeoning movement toward luxury and exclusivity intensified by a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="pandemic-induced influx of new residents" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2023/09/19/florida-population-income-moving-migration" data-vars-content-id="4e33dd72-a0e2-4e5e-98e6-c9ad996b8f6c" data-vars-headline="St. Pete&#x27;s luxury-fueled identity crisis" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2023/09/19/florida-population-income-moving-migration" target="_self">pandemic-induced influx of new residents</a> — and wealth.

Hillsborough County sues state over Live Local Act

Local governments have long been on the losing end of a tug-of-war with Tallahassee over home rule.

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Hillsborough County" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2024/02/07/hillsborough-county-affordable-housing-program-ended" data-vars-content-id="d04717b1-9dbc-40e9-b8c4-c6906b322d0d" data-vars-headline="Hillsborough County sues state over Live Local Act" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2024/02/07/hillsborough-county-affordable-housing-program-ended" target="_self">Hillsborough County</a> sued the state over the constitutionality of a 2023 law that preempted local governments&#x27; authority over development in an effort to expand the supply of affordable housing.Why it matters: Local governments have long been on the losing end of a tug-of-war with Tallahassee over home rule, with the state having wrested control of everything from <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="guns" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2023/10/18/gun-related-homicides-rise" data-vars-content-id="d04717b1-9dbc-40e9-b8c4-c6906b322d0d" data-vars-headline="Hillsborough County sues state over Live Local Act" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2023/10/18/gun-related-homicides-rise" target="_self">guns</a> to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="immigration" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2025/02/12/desantis-undocumented-immigration-trump" data-vars-content-id="d04717b1-9dbc-40e9-b8c4-c6906b322d0d" data-vars-headline="Hillsborough County sues state over Live Local Act" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2025/02/12/desantis-undocumented-immigration-trump" target="_self">immigration</a>. <ul><li>Land use is the latest front. </li></ul>

Bucs lose franchise legend Mike Evans to 49ers in free agency

Evans has been a mainstay for Tampa Bay since he was drafted in 2014.

Sports

After 12 seasons in pewter and red, Bucs legend Mike Evans is moving on to the San Francisco 49ers, per <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="multiple" data-vars-click-url="https://x.com/adamschefter/status/2031075093103698080?s=42" data-vars-content-id="d73d7eef-e05d-49c7-a5f0-ab2b54c5aa46" data-vars-headline="Bucs lose franchise legend Mike Evans to 49ers in free agency" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://x.com/adamschefter/status/2031075093103698080?s=42" target="_blank">multiple</a> <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="reports" data-vars-click-url="https://x.com/RapSheet/status/2031075124846162381" data-vars-content-id="d73d7eef-e05d-49c7-a5f0-ab2b54c5aa46" data-vars-headline="Bucs lose franchise legend Mike Evans to 49ers in free agency" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://x.com/RapSheet/status/2031075124846162381" target="_blank">reports</a>.Why it matters: Evans has been a mainstay for Tampa Bay since he was drafted in 2014 — a two-time All-Pro and six-time Pro Bowler who helped the Bucs win <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="their last championship" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2021/02/08/tampa-bay-buccaneers-beat-chiefs-win-super-bowl-lv" data-vars-content-id="d73d7eef-e05d-49c7-a5f0-ab2b54c5aa46" data-vars-headline="Bucs lose franchise legend Mike Evans to 49ers in free agency" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2021/02/08/tampa-bay-buccaneers-beat-chiefs-win-super-bowl-lv" target="_self">their last championship</a>.

HOA fees climb in Florida as more homes list with dues

Roughly 64% of Florida homes listed for sale on Realtor.com in 2025 had HOA dues.

Real Estate

The majority of homes for sale in Florida last year came with <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="homeowners&#x27; association" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/09/29/condo-hoa-fee-state" data-vars-content-id="9ce57830-8925-45ae-950a-8f380b5715d2" data-vars-headline="HOA fees climb in Florida as more homes list with dues" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/09/29/condo-hoa-fee-state" target="_self">homeowners&#x27; association</a> fees, according to data from <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Realtor.com" data-vars-click-url="https://www.realtor.com/research/homeowners-associations-2025" data-vars-content-id="9ce57830-8925-45ae-950a-8f380b5715d2" data-vars-headline="HOA fees climb in Florida as more homes list with dues" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.realtor.com/research/homeowners-associations-2025" target="_blank">Realtor.com</a>.Why it matters: The Sunshine State has more homeowner associations than any state except California — and the cost of belonging to one has risen.

From Olympics to Tampa meetup, more women and LGBTQ+ people are skateboarding

Participation among women and gender non-conforming people has exploded in recent years, data shows.

The same weekend Japanese teen Coco Yoshizawa shredded her way to a gold medal in <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Paris" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/07/30/paris-olympics-2024-highlights-photos" data-vars-content-id="c337542b-1bf7-41fa-a0e6-6c2a882a0a4e" data-vars-headline="From Olympics to Tampa meetup, more women and LGBTQ+ people are skateboarding" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/07/30/paris-olympics-2024-highlights-photos" target="_self">Paris</a>, 55-year-old Paula MacDonald readied her cat-adorned skateboard for her first-ever death race in Tampa.<ul><li>The challenge, in which competitors speed through checkpoints along a course, was part of last month&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Florida Girls-SK8" data-vars-click-url="https://girls-sk8.com/" data-vars-content-id="c337542b-1bf7-41fa-a0e6-6c2a882a0a4e" data-vars-headline="From Olympics to Tampa meetup, more women and LGBTQ+ people are skateboarding" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://girls-sk8.com/" target="_blank">Florida Girls-SK8</a> meetup, a monthly event for girls, women and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="nonbinary" data-vars-click-url="https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-news/unapologetically-themself-nonbinary-olympian-shares-powerful-message-rcna1520" data-vars-content-id="c337542b-1bf7-41fa-a0e6-6c2a882a0a4e" data-vars-headline="From Olympics to Tampa meetup, more women and LGBTQ+ people are skateboarding" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-news/unapologetically-themself-nonbinary-olympian-shares-powerful-message-rcna1520" target="_blank">nonbinary</a> skaters at Skatepark of Tampa.</li></ul>

Tampa Bay athletes to watch at 2024 Paris Olympics

They include two tennis players, a sailor and a swimmer.

Opening ceremonies for the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Summer Olympics" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2024/07/09/chicago-athletes-2024-paris-olympics" data-vars-content-id="36989ee5-032c-4508-b810-299393ad8f60" data-vars-headline="Tampa Bay athletes to watch at 2024 Paris Olympics" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2024/07/09/chicago-athletes-2024-paris-olympics" target="_self">Summer Olympics</a> in Paris are on Friday, and there are plenty of hometown athletes to keep an eye on.The big picture: 37 Olympians from Florida will be competing in the games, many from Tampa Bay.

Olympics

Tracking our Olympians

From Olympics to Tampa meetup, more women and LGBTQ+ people are skateboarding

3 medals to go

How our olympians are doing

Tampa Bay athletes to watch at 2024 Paris Olympics