Historic Restoration in St. Petersburg

We serve all of St. Petersburg's designated historic districts including the Old Northeast Historic District (featuring 1920s bungalows, Colonial Revival, and Mediterranean Revival homes), the Downtown St. Petersburg historic core, the Kenwood Historic District, Roser Park Historic District, and the Historic Uptown neighborhood. Each district has specific preservation standards under Pinellas County and City of St. Petersburg Historic Preservation guidelines, and we have extensive experience navigating local review board requirements.

The Bay Pines VA Healthcare System restoration was a $2 million federal historic compliance project that Florida Construction Specialists completed with full Section 106 compliance and SHPO coordination. The facility, established in 1933, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and serves as a critical healthcare facility for veterans. Our work preserved the original Mediterranean Revival architecture while upgrading critical healthcare infrastructure, demonstrating our expertise in both federal compliance and healthcare facility restoration.

Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act requires federal agencies to consider the effects of their undertakings on historic properties. For St. Petersburg projects involving federal funding, permits, or licenses, Section 106 review is mandatory. This includes projects at facilities like Bay Pines VA Hospital. FCS has extensive experience navigating Section 106 consultation, preparing documentation, and coordinating with the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) to ensure projects proceed smoothly while protecting historic resources.

The Old Northeast Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003, represents St. Petersburg's premier historic residential neighborhood. Developed primarily between 1910-1940, it features exceptional examples of Mediterranean Revival, Colonial Revival, Craftsman, and Bungalow architecture. The waterfront location along Tampa Bay means many properties face unique challenges from salt air, humidity, and storm exposure. Our restoration approaches address these environmental factors while preserving the architectural character that makes Old Northeast one of Florida's most desirable historic neighborhoods.

St. Petersburg's historic preservation program operates through the Community Planning and Preservation Commission (CPPC). Properties in local historic districts require a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) for exterior alterations visible from public rights-of-way. The application process involves submitting detailed plans and specifications, and some projects require full board review at monthly meetings. FCS prepares comprehensive COA applications, presents projects to the Commission when needed, and has established relationships with city preservation staff to facilitate approvals.

Yes, St. Petersburg property owners may be eligible for multiple historic tax incentives: the Federal Historic Preservation Tax Credit (20% for income-producing properties), Florida's ad valorem property tax exemption for historic properties (up to 100% exemption on improvements for 10 years), and federal tax deductions for facade easement donations. Properties must be listed on the National Register (individually or as contributing structures in a historic district), and work must meet Secretary of Interior Standards. We coordinate all SHPO documentation required to qualify for these programs.

St. Petersburg's waterfront historic properties face unique preservation challenges including salt air corrosion of metals and masonry, hurricane wind and water damage, elevated humidity causing wood deterioration and mold, foundation issues from water table fluctuations, and sea level rise considerations. Our restoration approaches address these environmental factors through appropriate material selection, enhanced waterproofing, storm protection systems, and maintenance planning that accounts for the coastal environment while preserving historic character.

Historic restoration in St. Petersburg typically ranges from $175-375+ per square foot for full building restoration, $45-125 per square foot for facade restoration, and $125-275 per square foot for interior historic restoration. Costs vary based on building condition, preservation requirements, waterfront exposure, and whether the project pursues tax credits. Federal tax credits (20%) can substantially offset costs for income-producing properties, and Florida's property tax exemption provides additional long-term savings. We provide detailed budgeting during pre-construction.

Timeline depends on project scope and approval requirements. Typical ranges: facade restoration 3-8 months, full building restoration 12-24 months, complex adaptive reuse or federal compliance projects 18-36 months. Additional time is needed for COA approvals (1-3 months), SHPO review for tax credit projects (4-6 months for Part 2 approval), and Section 106 consultation for federal undertakings (3-12 months depending on complexity). Our Bay Pines VA Hospital project required extensive federal coordination, demonstrating our ability to manage complex compliance timelines.

Mediterranean Revival restoration is one of our specialties, and St. Petersburg has exceptional examples of this style throughout Old Northeast, Downtown, and the Snell Isle area. These 1920s-era properties feature distinctive barrel tile roofs, stucco exteriors, arched openings, decorative ironwork, and courtyard layouts. Restoration requires expertise in historic stucco formulations, terra cotta and tile sourcing, ironwork restoration, and wood window rehabilitation. We've restored numerous Mediterranean Revival properties, preserving the romantic character that defines St. Petersburg's architectural heritage.