What’s Planned for the Hilton Site?
The 15-story Hilton St. Petersburg Bayfront at 333 1st Street South is slated to give way to a mixed-use residential project, ending the site’s current hotel use.
Sale and redevelopment timeline
According to SEC filing coverage, Kolter Group Acquisitions LLC signed a reported $96 million agreement to buy the hotel property in December 2025. Early 2026 reporting noted that formal redevelopment plans had not yet been announced.
Subsequent reporting identified Kolter Urban as the developer behind a proposal for two 44-story towers, approximately 509 feet tall, on the 3.01-acre downtown waterfront site. The proposed project is valued at $325 million.
The site plan has been circulated to neighborhood and business associations, indicating early-stage review rather than a completed approval process. The proposal includes 325 condominiums, 17,988 square feet of commercial space, and a 519-space parking garage. Like other downtown proposals, the plan may prompt debate over historic preservation and the scale of new development.
The proposal would shift the site from hospitality toward high-density residential use, making fuller use of its Tampa Bay views.
What the St. Petersburg Condo Towers Include
Plans call for 325 condominiums, 17,988 square feet of commercial space and a 519-space parking garage across the proposed two-tower development. The condo-only residential program forms the core of a mixed-use redevelopment of the hotel property.
The proposed unit mix has not been detailed in the available project information. The 325-unit total nevertheless places the plan among downtown St. Petersburg’s largest condo proposals, adding a substantial residential component to the city center.
The commercial space is intended to bring activity to the site, with ground-floor uses consistent with nearby downtown mixed-use projects. Its 17,988 square feet expands the development beyond residential use.
A structured garage with 519 spaces is planned to serve residents and commercial visitors. The application lists 1.32 million square feet of building area, compared with about 344,000 square feet for the existing hotel.
The redevelopment would replace the hotel with a much larger condominium-focused complex. The proposal comes amid broader downtown growth as St. Petersburg pursues major urban development projects.
How Tall Will the Hilton Towers Be?
Each proposed Hilton condominium tower would rise 44 stories, reaching up to 509 feet on the 3.01-acre downtown site. The twin towers would substantially exceed the existing 15-story Hilton hotel, though their proposed height would remain below two taller residential projects.
Height comparison
| Building | Height | Relative scale |
|---|---|---|
| Waldorf Astoria Residences | 539 feet | Taller |
| Residences at 400 Central | 515 feet | Taller |
| Proposed Hilton towers | Up to 509 feet | Reference |
| Art House | 450 feet | Shorter |
The proposed towers would tie for the city’s third-tallest buildings by height category. They would also stand above Saltaire, which reaches 408 feet.
The 44-story count provides the clearest public marker of tower scale, while the 509-foot estimate offers a direct comparison with other high-rises. These figures describe the project as proposed, not a completed or confirmed final height.
Where Would the Hilton Condo Towers Rise?
On the downtown bayfront, the proposed Hilton condo towers would replace the 15-story Hilton St. Petersburg Bayfront hotel at 333 1st Street South. The 3.01-acre property occupies the northeast corner of 2nd Street South and 4th Avenue South, directly across from the Salvador Dalí Museum and near Al Lang Stadium.
- Street access: Planned access would come from 1st Street South, 2nd Street South, and 4th Avenue South.
- Tower placement: One tower is planned toward 1st Street South; the other would face the 2nd Street South and 4th Avenue South corner.
- Urban setting: The hotel parcel sits close to downtown’s core, with Bayfront views and Downtown connectivity shaping its location.
The proposal would redevelop an established hotel and event site rather than an undeveloped parcel.
Replacing the existing structure would place the residential project on a prominent waterfront-adjacent downtown block.
How the Redevelopment Would Change St. Petersburg’s Skyline
At about 509 feet, the proposed 44-story towers would rank among downtown St. Petersburg’s tallest buildings, tying for third place if completed as proposed. Only the planned Waldorf Astoria Residences and Residences at 400 Central would rise higher.
The project would replace a 15-story Hilton with a paired-tower silhouette, adding a prominent residential landmark to the Bayfront.
| Skyline feature | Proposed change |
|---|---|
| Height | About 509 feet |
| Ranking | Tied for third tallest |
| Form | Two towers |
From multiple downtown vantage points, the buildings would increase waterfront skyline density and reinforce the city’s shift toward a more vertical core. Their 325 condominiums would add residential activity, while commercial space would support a mixed-use street edge.
On a 3.01-acre site, the project would intensify development at a major intersection and strengthen the cluster of high-rise residential buildings near the waterfront.
Assessment
The proposed twin 44-story towers would replace the existing Hilton site with a major residential development in downtown St. Petersburg.
The project’s final design, approval status, and construction timeline will determine when the redevelopment moves forward. If built, the towers would add a prominent new feature to the city’s skyline.
