St. Petersburg’s Development Review Commission (DRC) approved an application at their September meeting to develop several parcels along Mirror Lake Dr., including the historic Cade Allen home at 250 Mirror Lake Dr.
The proposal from Backstreets Capital is the result of months of planning and community conversations – including with Preserve the ‘Burg - resulting in a plan that will save the historically important 1937 home constructed by revered St. Petersburg builder Cade Allen.
The three-phase development plan will begin with the restoration of the historic home, followed by the construction of a new single-family residence. A seven-story condominium for which the variance was needed, is planned for the site in a later phase.
While not a locally designated landmark, the Cade Allen home is a contributing structure to the Downtown St. Petersburg National Register Historic District. Allen is one of the city’s most renowned builders, best known for his distinctive stone-clad houses in the Allendale neighborhood.
“We’re excited to bring this historic gem back to life,” said Elizabeth Hallock of EDAD Studio, an award-winning St. Petersburg-based architect overseeing the restoration design. “Our goal is to honor Cade Allen’s vision while integrating modern conveniences that make the home functional and comfortable for today’s living.”
Notably, the previous owner of 250 Mirror Lake secured a demolition permit for the home, which would have allowed a prospective buyer to demolish the Cade Allen home and combine three vacant surrounding lots to construct a much larger structure.
Instead, the approved plan retains and restores the Allen home, proposes a similarly styled single family home next door, and positions a modest seven story structure off the lakefront.
“It’s a reasonable compromise,” said Preserve the ‘Burg board member Emily Elwyn. “Builders are allowed to build up to 125 feet in the Mirror Lake neighborhood without a public hearing, and any buyer could, on day one, demolish the Allen home. This plan saves an important contributing historic structure and keeps the newer structures compatible with the neighborhood,” she said.
Mirror Lake, historically, was celebrated as the heart of the city. Urban planner John Nolen described Mirror Lake as a respite from the bustle and commotion of downtown life. In the 1930s, he was quoted as saying, "no matter what any wrong-minded administrations may do to it, or what other municipal developments may be undertaken to mar or change its nature-intended mission, Mirror Lake was made by nature the civic center of St. Petersburg."
Mirror Lake is home to many of the entertainment and recreation options that were available to winter tourists and residents who flocked to St Petersburg after World War I.
Between 1908 and 1920 the city intermittently filled the swampy land around the lake creating land for new public buildings and parkland. The resulting road around the perimeter of the lake became the city's first scenic drive, known locally as "lover's lane." The park is encircled by sidewalks and plazas with benches positioned to take advantage of views of the lake.
The first public building constructed was the Carnegie Library in 1915, also known as the Mirror Lake Library. The Lawn Bowling Club followed in 1917. Space immediately west of the Lawn Bowling Club, along the lake, was dedicated for the increasingly popular sport of Shuffleboard.
Other notable landmarks along Mirror Lake include St. Petersburg High School (1918); St. Petersburg Jr. High School (1922); and the United Universalist Church (1929).
Cassie Gardner of All Trades Historical Restoration will lead the restoration work on the Cade Allen residence. “This is a rare opportunity to work on a home that is not only architecturally significant but also deeply tied to the history of St. Petersburg and in the heart of downtown,” she said.
The restoration is expected to begin in the first part of 2025, followed closely by the construction of the new single-family home. Place Architecture, led by Tim Clemmons and Jenny Miers, will handle the master site plan and the architectural design of the new single-family home and the future condominiums.
At the DRC meeting and in written comments submitted to the Commission, Preserve the ‘Burg executive director Manny Leto offered support for the innovative project. “The developer met with city staff, met with neighbors, consulted with preservation architects, and has crafted a project that not just fits the parcel, but fits the neighborhood,” he said. “Importantly, what this project shows is that it is possible to develop new and exciting projects in historic neighborhoods. It is possible to bring a team of professionals together with intentionality. It is possible to create something new while not just honoring the past with a mural or marker but incorporating the past to create a compelling new development.”
