Reimagining the 900 and 1000 Blocks
A few blocks south of downtown St. Petersburg, the 900 and 1000 blocks of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street S. represent a distinct transition point in the city. This area sits at the edge of South St. Petersburg, a region where the history of segregation, Black entrepreneurship, and uneven investment remains visible in the surrounding neighborhoods. The Looking Glass Initiative is now taking shape at this threshold, targeting several long-neglected properties on both sides of the thoroughfare.
Developer John Barkett has observed these specific blocks for over 20 years. He presented his vision to the South St. Petersburg Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) Citizens Advisory Committee on September 1. He explained that the project name draws from the literature of Lewis Carroll, reflecting a goal to reverse long-held expectations regarding what happens when people cross into this part of the city. Barkett noted that for decades, the community felt largely overlooked by local investment cycles.
Financial Strategy and Public Support
Barkett and his family are currently investing roughly $3.5 million of private capital into the properties. The city government may soon supplement this with public funds. Mayor Ken Welch has proposed a $325,000 grant through the South St. Petersburg CRA’s Economic Development Incentive Program. This allocation awaits final approval from the City Council. If passed, it will support the CRA’s stated objectives of reducing neighborhood blight, improving commercial corridors, and generating local employment.
This would serve as the first usage of the incentive program, which the City Council established in 2023. The tool exists to provide bridge loans, loan guarantees, or low-interest financing for projects that show a direct benefit to the local economy. City staff identified that the Looking Glass project aligns with these requirements as renovations move forward on an aging retail strip and a former American Legion building located at 927 MLK S.
Tenant Recruitment and Neighborhood Impact
The project focuses on neighborhood-oriented services rather than high-end retail. Current plans include Café Aura, a Black-owned coffee shop and art gallery; CodeWiz, a robotics and programming center for children; and The Nest, which provides social-skills therapy for children on the autism spectrum. Barkett has prioritized recruitment within the local Black business community, noting that three of the first seven businesses are Black-owned. He even reworked a 1,000-square-foot storefront into a smaller 600-square-foot incubator to better accommodate the needs of Sober Roots, a local business.
Barkett describes this as an intentional effort to build generational wealth. He has structured rent payments based on debt service requirements rather than market-rate volatility. He estimates that his tenants will pay 55% to 60% less than they would for similar space on Central Avenue. Beyond these storefronts, the project includes the Healthy Roots Garden & Community Center. This space is designed for teaching gardens, produce sales, and eventually, public health services, with potential partnerships being discussed with Orlando Health and Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital.
Long-term Sustainability and Integration
Public investment is now beginning to overlap with these private efforts. The city has proposed spending $1.05 million for new crosswalks at 9th, 10th, and 14th Avenues S. and another $175,000 to study traffic lane changes. These infrastructure updates aim to improve pedestrian access and calm traffic on a street where motorists frequently exceed speed limits. For Barkett, these improvements are vital to reconnecting the neighborhood.
Construction progress is steady, with the first tenant space expected to open by late September 2026. The broader goal remains the transition of these spaces to community management. Barkett believes his work is complete only when the infrastructure supports itself without his direct involvement. He views his role as building the scaffolding that allows the community to manage its own growth. If the center runs effectively after he steps away, he will consider the venture a success.