Cuba's first ambassador to the United States in more than 50 years has seen the impact of renewed bilateral ties between the two countries continue to grow over the last two year.

José Ramón Cabañas, the former head of the Cuban Interests Section in Washington, D.C., and one of three main Cuban negotiators to help re-establish ties, shared the changes he's observed with a crowd of about 250 people at St. Petersburg College's downtown campus Saturday. 

Mayor Rick Kriseman is trying to find the sweet spot between preserving the funky vibe of Central Avenue and chic charm of Beach Drive while respecting the lucrative property rights of the owners of those sizzling stretches of downtown real estate.

It's a problem costing you millions of dollars and threatening our beautiful waterways. St. Pete has another new fix for it's massive sewer issues.

he summer storm season is just days away - and the City of St. Petersburg is feeling the pressure when it comes to upgrading their sewage system.

Revenues from the new Pier could, in the first year, equal or exceed the construction costs, according to a report from Lambert Advisory, a real estate economic consulting service firm hired by the city.

A well-respected developer from Michigan has unveiled plans to build an 11-story apartment tower just outside of Downtown St. Pete's trendy EDGE District.  DevMar Development is in the process of assembling 1.9 acres of land located at the corner of 16th Street and 1st Avenue North.  With the exception of a small car wash, a majority of the land has been sitting vacant for over a decade. 

                  

An economic impact study on the new St. Petersburg Pier predicts the attraction will draw $80 million to the city in its first year of operation.


St. Pete officials say the money is based on what residents and tourists will likely spend at restaurants, stores, and hotels once they are drawn to the city by the new pier.       
            

The crowds doubled this year at the Art Conservatory for Teens (ACT) fundraising breakfast. With a mission of educating, empowering and enriching the lives of youth and teens through arts education, it's no wonder so many people showed up to Morean Center for Clay May 4.

ACT is an afterschool magnet performing arts program with sites at the University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, the Enoch Davis Center, Childs Park Recreation Center, John Hopkins and Tyrone Middle Schools. With 280 kids currently enrolled in the program, they are in talks with the Pinellas County School board to add more locations.