Universal Health Care moving to 100 Bay Central

Vacant for more than a year, 100 Bay Central, the copper-domed former headquarters of Progress Energy in downtown St. Petersburg, has landed its first big tenant.

Universal Health Care Group plans to leave nearby Wachovia Tower and take up 31,000 square feet on the second story of 100 Bay Central in November.

Building owner Lutz Real Estate Investments hopes the deal motivates other prospects to fill the rest of the 134,000-square-foot building, known for its Mediterranean architecture, at 100 Central Ave.

Universal Health Care's cross-downtown move does little to ease high office vacancy in downtown St. Petersburg. As of June 30, the city's "Class A" office vacancy stood at a much-higher-than-average 22 percent.