A mega construction boom for a little area of St. Petersburg

ST. PETERSBURG — Construction is booming throughout the Tampa Bay area but perhaps nowhere is it more concentrated than along 16th and 17th streets between Central and First avenues N near downtown St. Petersburg. As shown by this photo looking west on Central, four big projects are underway in the area that abuts the city's thriving Edge and Grand Central Districts.

Rising on the south side of Central is a seven-story, 132-room Tru by Hilton, a new moderately priced hotel brand from Hilton. On the north side of Central, Indiana-based Milhaus Development and Ohio-based NRP Group are building apartment communities with 251 units and 231 units, respectively. And the high-rise building on the right, at 16th and First Avenue N, will include 211 loft-style apartments and a roof-top pool. That is a project by DevMar Development of Michigan.

The photo was taken from the roof of the apartment community that started the current boom, Fusion 1560, which opened with 253 units eight years ago. All four projects are expected to be finished next year.

Contact Susan Taylor Martin at smartin@tampabay.com or (727) 893-8642. Follow @susanskate.