What has long been a Tampa Bay Times parking lot could soon be a new downtown apartment complex, if approved by the St. Petersburg City Council Thursday.

The “Fourth Avenue South Residences”, would be a four-story, 323-unit complex located at 4th Street South and 4th Avenue South.

According to city documents, the $47 million project will have 36 studios, 155 one-bedroom, 125 two-bedroom and seven three-bedroom units. The parking garage, which will hold 624 spaces, will be located within the project. 

Sitting as the Community Redevelopment Agency, council decide if the project meets zoning requirements for the area. According to city staff, the proposal has met those requirements. 

"The project is inspired by the design principles of classical architecture ... Although each facade is visually different, the essential form and detail are repeated on each elevation lending an important continuity to the project design.

... By breaking the four elevations into building bays to diminish the mass, while repeating architectural features on each, the design is both coherent and visually interesting. With its classical architectural theme, the project provides stylistic variety to the area."

The proposal said the project will enhance the urban and downtown living within the InTown Redevelopment area. 

"The project design enhances the pedestrian environment in downtown. On all four sides of the site, the design provides for 8-foot concrete sidewalks with brick paving to the curb as well as decorative street lights. Canopy street trees with ground cover plantings will also be included."