February 26, 2026
Bruce Rector was sworn in as the 36th Mayor of Clearwater, Florida in April 2024. Before entering public office, he served as General Counsel for The Sports Facilities Companies and held leadership roles across Clearwater’s business and nonprofit community.
February 26, 2026
Downtown Clearwater project obtains $160 million in financing
A major downtown Clearwater residential and mixed-use development is getting a financial boost as its developers secured a financing package worth more than $150 million.
February 26, 2026
Downtown Clearwater project The Bluffs lands nine-figure construction loan
A New York developer and its Florida partner landed more than $100 million in financing to transform the former Clearwater City Hall site.
January 9, 2026
Latest news: Loan to build in Florida; NOLA Sonesta sells; Criterion adds in London
$60M construction loan in Florida. Cambridge, Massachusetts-based The DeNunzio Group, LLC has secured a $60.25 million first lien construction loan to develop The Ballad Hotel, a Tapestry Collection by Hilton property, in Clearwater, Florida.
January 9, 2026
HALL Structured Finance originates $60.25M loan for The Ballad Hotel
HALL Structured Finance has closed on a first-lien construction loan totaling $60.25 million to develop The Ballad Hotel, a Tapestry Collection by Hilton property in Clearwater, FL. The project sponsor is The DeNunzio Group LLC. The deal was brokered by Clint Frease and Tyler Dumon of Newmark.
https://hotelbusiness.com/hall-structured-finance-originates-60-25m-loan-for-the-ballad-hotel/?amp=1
December 18, 2025
Construction Begins On Downtown Clearwater Waterfront Hotel
The 10-story Ballad Hotel will be part of a larger 230,000-square-foot, mixed-use development along the downtown Clearwater waterfront.
December 16, 2025
Downtown Clearwater Celebrates Groundbreaking of The Ballad Hotel to Revitalize Waterfront
Last week, downtown Clearwater witnessed the inaugural step towards a major development project with a ceremonial groundbreaking for The Ballad Hotel.
November 26, 2025
Hilton hotel to break ground in downtown Clearwater
The Ballad Hotel will break ground on Dec. 11, 2025, in downtown Clearwater as part of The Bluffs mixed-use project.
https://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/news/2025/11/26/the-ballad-hotel-the-bluffs-groundbreaking.html
November 3, 2025
Clearwater, Fla., to Break Ground on The Ballad Hotel, Expanding Downtown Amenities
Construction on The Ballad Hotel, a 10-story, 230,000-square-foot hospitality project, is scheduled to begin in December 2025 in downtown Clearwater, according to local officials.
November 3, 2025
Clearwater leaders say city has ‘urban renaissance’ feel with downtown construction projects starting
The renaissance is taking shape as development in downtown Clearwater.
November 1, 2025
Major construction projects coming to downtown Clearwater
Downtown Clearwater is set to undergo a construction boom that will include the addition of a hotel, high-rise apartment building, a parking garage, and a major streetscape project.
https://www.wfla.com/news/pinellas-county/major-construction-projects-coming-to-downtown-clearwater/
September 23, 2024
Inside Reflection, the newly completed 18-story condo tower soaring above Mirror Lake
Soaring 18 stories above Mirror Lake, the newly-completed Reflection condominium tower has started welcoming its first wave of residents.
October 29, 2024
Best Landscape/Urban Development – City of Clearwater – Coachman Park
Once an asphalt parking lot that covered much of Clearwater’s waterfront, the city envisioned the 19-acre site as an urban bayfront destination that could be a catalyst for downtown economic development.
https://www.enr.com/articles/59524-best-landscape-urban-development-city-of-clearwater-coachman-park
January 30, 2024
Clearwater set to OK scaled-down apartment project on downtown bluff
Clearwater City Council members say they are willing to approve a developer’s scaled-down plan to build apartments on the downtown bluff, arguing it’s better than walking away from a chance to bring new residents, visitors and retail to the struggling area.
January 24, 2024
Imagine Clearwater, future developments aim to make city more vibrant
CLEARWATER, Fla. — When you think of Clearwater, you may think of the white sandy beaches that bring millions of visitors every year.
February 6, 2023
Nauset Construction Begins Final Phase of Cambridge Data Center
Cambridge, MA – Construction is underway for the third and final phase of renovations to 300 Bent Street.
https://bostonrealestatetimes.com/nauset-construction-begins-final-phase-of-cambridge-data-center/
October 6, 2022
Clearwater voters have a chance to help the city’s downtown
The city’s downtown has been sleepy for too long.
April 22, 2022
Construction begins on Reflection, an 18-story condo tower, on 8th Street in St. Pete
Construction has begun on an 18-story condominium tower, Reflection, near Mirror Lake in downtown St. Petersburg.
April 11, 2022
Mirror Lake condo tower in St. Pete lands $73 million construction loan
Hemmer Group, the developer of Reflection Condominiums on downtown St. Petersburg’s Mirror Lake, has taken out a $73.375 million loan for the project.
https://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/news/2022/04/11/reflections-condos-construction-loan.html
March 31, 2022
Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach resort sells in $170M deal
The Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach resort, owned by Tampa serial entrepreneur and philanthropist Dr. Kiran Patel, has sold in a $170 million deal.
https://stpetecatalyst.com/wyndham-grand-clearwater-beach-resort-sells-in-170m-deal/
March 30, 2022
A record spike in rents hits Tampa Bay after newcomers flocked to Florida during the pandemic
The average rent for single-family homes, condo units and small multi-unit buildings increased more than 28 percent over the past year.
March 14, 2022
Three Real Estate Investing Trends To Watch In 2022
We’re two years into the pandemic, and the economy is segmented into those who are thriving, those who are not doing well and those who are just getting by.
January 7, 2021
Plans for 22-story apartment tower near Mirror Lake move forward
On Thursday, a 0.94-acre property in downtown St. Pete was sold for $15.5 million to Las Vegas-based Ault Global Real Estate Equities (AGREE), a subsidiary of BitNile Holdings.
December 3, 2021
Pinellas transit authority completes first SunRunner station
A bright yellow and teal-colored bus station now stands on the corner of 1st Avenue and 5th Street in downtown St. Petersburg, marking the completion of the first station for the new SunRunner line.
https://stpetecatalyst.com/pinellas-transit-authority-completes-first-sunrunner-station/
November 24, 2021
18-story condo tower, Reflection, to break ground in February in downtown St. Pete
An 18-story condominium tower near Mirror Lake in downtown St. Pete is moving closer towards becoming a reality.
October 23, 2021
City council OKs extension for hi-rise tower with ‘innovative’ solution to help housing affordability
A developer’s plans to build a hi-rise that would offer a lower cost of living for residents are moving forward.
October 12, 2021
Cathie Wood says exodus from high-cost cities will push down inflation as Ark heads to St. Petersburg
Closely followed innovation investor Cathie Wood said the migration trend playing out in her own company is further evidence that investors should fear deflation instead of inflation.
October 6, 2021
Cathie Wood’s investment firm to relocate HQ to St. Pete, collaborate with Innovation Center
New York-based ARK Investment Management LLC, an investment adviser focused solely on investing in disruptive innovation, will relocate its corporate headquarters to St. Petersburg and will also take part in building an incubator.
January 28, 2020
Reflection, a proposed 18-story condo tower, exceeds $20M in reservations in two months
Two months ago when sales launched for Reflection St. Pete, a condominium tower planned near Mirror Lake in downtown St. Petersburg, many saw the location as pioneering.
December 1, 2020
Renderings reveal 28-story DeNunzio Group project at 450 1st Avenue North
The redevelopment of a surface parking lot in the heart of downtown St. Pete is closer to becoming a reality.
November 10, 2020
Mirror Lake condo tower in St. Pete lands $73 million construction loan
Hemmer Group, the developer of Reflection Condominiums on downtown St. Petersburg’s Mirror Lake, has taken out a $73.375 million loan for the project.
https://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/news/2022/04/11/reflections-condos-construction-loan.html
April 26, 2019
DeNunzio Group plans second St. Pete project
The DeNunzio Group plans to build a hotel with some retail and residential components on the northern edge of downtown St. Petersburg.
https://stpetecatalyst.com/denunzio-group-plans-second-st-pete-project/
April 26, 2019
Developer buys Stop & Shop site in downtown St. Pete with visions of hotel rooms and retail
The developer, which has plans for a mixed-use tower on another site in downtown St. Pete, has acquired the colorfully painted convenience store.
March 29, 2019
Partner play: Developer works the system with its approach to deals
With some $10 million in recent purchases, the DeNunzio Group is in for the ongoing downtown St. Pete boom. It even has a secret to getting city approvals.
https://www.businessobserverfl.com/article/denunzio-group-stpete-development-partnership
March 7, 2019
Another tower planned for downtown St. Petersburg
Another tower is on the horizon for the city’s downtown, rising where churchgoers now park for Sunday services and promising critical office space that’s in short supply.
https://www.tampabay.com/st-petersburg/another-tower-planned-for-downtown-st-petersburg-20190307
February 27, 2019
Boston developer plans mixed-use project one block from St. Pete City Hall
The DeNunzio Group LLC has proposed a new high-rise with retail, office, hotel and residential space on what’s now a parking lot at 1st Avenue North and 5th Street, one block south of St. Petersburg City Hall….
February 27, 2019
Mixed-Use High-Rise to Bring Office and Boutique Hotel to Downtown St. Pete
Another surface parking lot in the Downtown St. Petersburg, FL core is poised to become a high-rise mixed-use development according to a resolution that will go before the St. Pete City Council on March 7th. The resolution, if approved, will allow
July 17, 2018
Work begins, at last, on new Salem hotel
SALEM — Construction is expected to start this week on a long-awaited development that could transform the south end of downtown with a new hotel, a housing complex, restaurant and retail stores. It could be two more years, however, before everything is up and running.
December 29, 2017
Salem hotel work gears up for 2018
SALEM — After a year of inactivity at a barren site downtown, the company looking to build a Hampton Inn is on track to get its project rolling midway into the coming year.
September 10, 2017
Hampton Inn switches developers
Builders aim to have $50M hotel project open by 2019
SALEM — The delayed Hampton Inn project at Washington and Dodge streets is rebooting with a new developer and some tweaks to the plans.
September 7, 2017
Agreement reached on Madeira Beach development at former Leverocks site
MADEIRA BEACH — A legal challenge to the controversial Holiday Isles Marina multi-million-dollar hotel/condominium development project has been resolved, clearing the way for construction to begin in the months ahead.
March 14, 2017
Holiday Isle development gets final OK
The second major development proposed for the Madeira Beach east gateway area got a final approval from the city commission at its March 7 meeting.
https://www.tbnweekly.com/beach_beacon/article_28efb4ff-ca17-5fd3-9fe0-acffdd494813.html