ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Work on what's set to be the tallest residential building in Tampa Bay is now halfway complete.
"400 Central" will be a mixed-use complex, 46 stories and roughly 515 feet tall, taking up one square block of downtown St. Petersburg.
The developer said he initially wanted it even higher, to 50 stories, but their height was capped because of the nearby Albert Whitted Airport.
On Wednesday, 10 Tampa Bay got an inside look at the progress.
Currently, the build is at the 26th floor, with 20 more floors to go.
"We're doing about a floor a week, so we're making really quick progress," project developer Kevin King explained.
"400 Central" is being developed by the Red Apple Group and is a passion project of its Founder and CEO, New York billionaire John Catsimatidis.
"I'm 75 years old. and I want to build ten more buildings before it's time for me to check out. And I want to build 'wow buildings'," he explained.
But the "wow factor" is costly, with the two to four-bedroom condos selling between $1.1 and $8 million. Catsimatidis said his residents will boost the local economy.
"We're bringing in people that are going to be spending money. They're going to be spending money on the restaurants. They're going to be spending money on the taxis," Catsimatidis said.
Not all the locals are thrilled to see a skyscraper emerge in the heart of downtown.
Katie Frank works in St. Petersburg and said, "It used to feel like a smaller town, I guess, and it just feels like it's getting so big lately."
But the developers insist the mixed-use space, anchored with shops and restaurants, will be a bright spot in the Sunshine City.
"We're not turning it into Miami. I believe in the quaint look, I believe in great restaurants. I believe in just keeping St. Pete the way St. Pete should be," Catsimatidis said.
Construction is expected to be complete by next Spring, with people set to move in by Summer.