ST. PETERSBURG, Florida. – There is a push St. Petersburg making part of Mirror Lake a local historic district.

The St. Pete City Council will hold its first reading of the proposal on Thursday. Critics, however, fear the designation could make development more difficult.

The National Register of Historic Places recognized this area in 2004 with historic designation as part of the Downtown St. Petersburg Historic District. City staff, however, say the additional local historic district designation would give the area and its historic buildings another level of protection to preserve the character here.

There is a push in St. Petersburg to make part of Mirror Lake a local historic district. (Image provided by the City of St. Petersburg.)

It could also mean a more difficult approval process for proposed developments, which is a concern for some.

The proposal to create a local historic district is a citizen request through an application process and vote. It includes approximately 142 parcels in the Mirror Lake neighborhood.

Mirror Lake was St. Pete’s public water supply in the late 1800s. It also has several century-old spaces, like the Shuffleboard Club, the oldest and largest shuffleboard club in the world. The historic Colosseum also just celebrated its 100th anniversary.

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Earlier this month, the St. Pete Community Planning and Preservation Commission voted unanimously in favor of the designation, saying the local historic district designation protects and enhances the character of St. Pete.

The majority of residents in the Mirror Lake neighborhood agree. Of the 91 landowner votes received on the topic, 77 were in favor of the designation while 14 opposed it.

“I have lived in the St. Petersburg area for over 50 years and own property in the proposed neighborhood,” Cheryl Steimle said at the Community Planning and Preservation Commission meeting earlier this month. “Mirror Lake is a unique neighborhood and we should keep it that way.”

This map shows the area around Mirror Lake that may soon become a local historic district. (Courtesy: City of St. Petersburg.)

Residents say Mirror Lake has retained its sense of peace and quiet in the middle of a bustling downtown.

“Mirror Lake is my neighborhood,” said resident Kristen Allukian. “It’s a special neighborhood, and I want my neighborhood to stay special. Mirror Lake is not like the rest of downtown, but its zoning treats it like the rest of downtown. One of the reasons for why I support this request, and I am one of the candidates, is because designating my neighborhood as a district will help city planners by giving them another tool in the toolbox to help keep my neighborhood special.

There is a push in St. Petersburg to make part of Mirror Lake a local historic district. (Image provided by the City of St. Petersburg.)

Opponents of the proposal say thoughtful development in the area is essential to the city’s continued success, especially with available land already limited in St. Pete.

The city council’s second reading on the subject and a public hearing are scheduled for December 12.

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