Location changed from
1201 4th St S Saint Petersburg 33701, United States (27.757875582516, -82.6387076211659)
to
1239 4th St S, Saint Petersburg, FL, 33701, USA (27.758150999999998, -82.6387515)

This issue was recategorized from Other to Codes Compliance.

We have forwarded this complaint about the property at 1239 4th St S to our Codes Compliance Assistance Department, and they will now inspect the location and take any necessary action.

I may be mistaken but to my knowledge Zoning and Fire and Health are the departments that give somebody permission to START a project, Codes comes in after the fact and cites for violations. By turning this issue over to Code‘s we’re just in the same exact place we were with the sugar room strip club: Codes will come in AFTER they open and cute for violations and in the meantime the club keeps operating illegally! Why is this not being assigned to zoning and fire and health? Thankyou.

Update from the Codes Compliance Department: a case has been opened and is being investigated for this reported location. Any further updates or action will be handled by the Codes department. To track the status of this case, or to find contact information for the assigned investigator, use this link:

https://actiononline.stpete.org/Click2GovCE/casesearch.html?caseYear=19&caseNumber=20738

or call 727-893-7373 and refer to the above case number or to the property address.

Codes Compliance 6 assigned this issue to Codes Analyst 2

Issue 6759054 has been marked as a duplicate of this issue.

I saw men building something off of the front porch. I did not see ANY permits. Why is this still being allowed??? What are they trying to make this place into again? We don't WANT OR NEED a "club" in our neighborhood. Can someone PLEASE explain as to why they continue to let this happen??????

Case Number :19-00020738Address :1201 4TH ST S
Below are the details for the select action:

Action Details
Inspector:Inspector ID not found (AR)Schedule Date:08/12/2019Result Status:Completed (IC)Result Date:08/14/2019
This table displays a list of action comments.

You may want to go by this place - they are building AGAIN>
Comment Date
--------------- INSPECTION RESULTS COMMENTS ----------------
September 27, 2019 3:23:35 PM a1rivers. 09/27/2019
No unpermitted work proceeding at-this-time. 09/27/2019

Yup....new activity. We, in the neighborhood, are taking steps to make our places nice. Nice for family, friends, kids, the elderly. This kind of place offers little value. Where are the permits? Where is the plan? Codes wouldn't let me build willy nilly in my yard. Does this owner have some special dispensation? Not good.

If I so much as tried to replace a window without a permit and Codes saw me or a neighbor put it on SeeClickFix I’d be shut down in a heartbeat. Or if I was bringing sheet rock in and out of my home clearly doing construction I’d be shut down immediately! Yet no matter how many times we tell codes and zoning and fire and health that these people are opening something up they come up with all these excuses that they can’t do anything until are actually open. Why are the rules different for rich plaza owners then they are for the rest of us?

Issue 6760614 has been marked as a duplicate of this issue.

Exactly....if I so much as flinch around my house codes come running......soneone is not up and up .is codes officer problem?

Issue 6764848 has been marked as a duplicate of this issue.

Issue 6767646 has been marked as a duplicate of this issue.

Bruce Gramaila and his wife Julia, (owners that live on Snell Island) are they aware of what is going on to THEIR property? I saw men again last night doors were open and they were finishing up painting to the porch and the NEW added addition that extends out to the parking lot.

I would not wait for a 10/16/2019 update. It's happening NOW. Thank you

Any updates.....thanks

Again......they "work" at night. This was Sunday 10.6/2019 around 6pm.

I would like to provide an update on this location. This address has an active Change of Use Permit (19-07000314) with approval to re-open existing 1,780 sq. ft club with an occupant load of 74. The permit indicates they must construct an ADA compliant ramp, which is what we initially received the complaint about with work without permits, and remove all cooking appliances.

The work being conducted at the front of the building is permitted and required for the change of use. Work is permitted to commence at this location. If the work is being conducted outside of permitted construction hours please advise St. Petersburg Police or Construction Services Department.

Please note the construction hours of operation applies to:
exterior building construction, alterations, or improvements, demolition or earth moving, excavation, drilling, coring, pile driving and any other outside activity, and any inside activity which results in exterior noise, dust, traffic, light or other nuisance that differs from typical daily activity in all surrounding blocks are prohibited.
(b) This section shall apply to construction sites, located within 1,000 feet of any lawful residential use. This section does not apply to the moving of structures (see article V of this chapter, moving buildings).
(1) Construction activities shall not occur Monday through Friday prior to 7:00 a.m. and shall cease operations prior to 7:00 p.m.
(2) Construction activities shall not occur on Saturdays and nationally recognized holidays prior to 9:00 a.m. and shall cease operations prior to 6:00 p.m.
(3) Construction activities shall not occur on Sundays prior to 11:00 a.m. and shall cease operations by 5:00 p.m.

Whoever you are thank you for this information. Now how about updating us on the illegal apartments that are in that building?

Also, doesn’t St Pete require businesses to provide parking?

Thank you for the info. Just so I am hearing this correctly, there is going to be a "club" that can only have 74 people in total inside at ANY given time? Who else can I speak too about this? There will NEVER be just 74 people in that place on any given Friday - Saturday night. Now WE as a neighborhood that DOES NOT want this will have too overwork AGAIN our police and fire every single weekend?

Also, yes what about the attached apartments behind the "club" on 13th Ave. South? Permits??? And parking? PLEASE advise. Thank you.

This is a picture of the apartments behind the "club" their apartment #'s are 417 and 419. Are they permitted? Thank you.

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This is from a friend that also lives in the area - that went to the "Innovation District" meeting 2 weeks ago and emailed
Elizabeth Abernethy, AICP

Director, Planning & Development Services

City of St. Petersburg

O: 727-893-7868

E: Elizabeth.Abernethy@stpete.org this email:

First I want to thank you for a very informative meeting last week.

Second, we (our neighborhood) located on 13 th Ave South and 4th St South (Innovation District), have been "dealing" with code violations and permit violations at 1239 4th St South. This was the old Sugar Room Strip club that was shut down April 2018 after a murder took place in the parking lot. Our problem is they are opening up another "club".
After countless letters and emails and complaints on see it click it fix it no one is getting back to us with answers as to why this is allowed?
I understand that they are allowed 74 people total at any given time inside. You do realize there will be way more then 74 people on any given Thursday, Friday and Saturday night?

We are they going to park? On my street like they did before and used our yards as a bathroom and found drug bags in our driveway???

Also there are 2 apartments attached behind this club facing south on 13th Ave South. From what I understand they are not permitted at all or zoned.

I/we just need answers. I believe that we are doing our very best to clean up our neighborhood and now they want to open a place of Nuisance. Where as we will be very taxing on our police officers and fire EVERY weekend when the "club" is over 74 persons capacity.

Is there any way we can find out about this shopping center and get back with me with some answers?
I really think this could be a great neighborhood, however you bring back the "club" element it's not a good look for an up and coming district.

I really appreciate you looking into this and getting back to me.

She forwarded the email too

Jennifer C. Bryla, AICP

Zoning Official-

Development Review Manager

City of St. Petersburg, FL

Planning and Development Services Department

O: 727.892.5344 E: Jennifer.Bryla@stpete.org

And she returned the email with this answer:

I understand your concerns.

The property is zoned CCT-1 which allows for indoor or outdoor bars and restaurants. We did put a condition on the change of use request that any use would be inside only. In addition, we also have a new noise ordinance that requires more stringent noise considerations adjacent to residential uses. This new ordinance is enforced by the police department. So if you find you are being disturbed the facility give them a call at the non-emergency number 727-893-7780. Please let me know if I can help further.

This was the email that was sent back to Jennifer Bryla

Thank you for getting back to me.

What about parking? Will they again be parking on my street and using our yards as a bathroom?

What about the 2 apartments attached to the back of the club that are NOT zoned or permitted?

What kind of "club" reggae?

And with that being said we are going to have to continuously call the police and fire because we ALL know there will be over the 74 person capacity?

We are very concerned neighbors. Do you know who we can speak too to keep this from happening?

Your answers are very much appreciated and I look forward to them.

As of 10/25/2019 - Jennifer Bryla has not responded........

We need ALL the help we can get NOT to have a Nuisance of a club again!!!!!! Call or write these ladies.....we can NOT go backwards!!!!!!

This is from a friend that also lives in the area - that went to the "Innovation District" meeting 2 weeks ago and emailed
Elizabeth Abernethy, AICP

Director, Planning & Development Services

City of St. Petersburg

O: 727-893-7868

E: Elizabeth.Abernethy@stpete.org this email:

First I want to thank you for a very informative meeting last week.

Second, we (our neighborhood) located on 13 th Ave South and 4th St South (Innovation District), have been "dealing" with code violations and permit violations at 1239 4th St South. This was the old Sugar Room Strip club that was shut down April 2018 after a murder took place in the parking lot. Our problem is they are opening up another "club".
After countless letters and emails and complaints on see it click it fix it no one is getting back to us with answers as to why this is allowed?
I understand that they are allowed 74 people total at any given time inside. You do realize there will be way more then 74 people on any given Thursday, Friday and Saturday night?

We are they going to park? On my street like they did before and used our yards as a bathroom and found drug bags in our driveway???

Also there are 2 apartments attached behind this club facing south on 13th Ave South. From what I understand they are not permitted at all or zoned.

I/we just need answers. I believe that we are doing our very best to clean up our neighborhood and now they want to open a place of Nuisance. Where as we will be very taxing on our police officers and fire EVERY weekend when the "club" is over 74 persons capacity.

Is there any way we can find out about this shopping center and get back with me with some answers?
I really think this could be a great neighborhood, however you bring back the "club" element it's not a good look for an up and coming district.

I really appreciate you looking into this and getting back to me.

She forwarded the email too

Jennifer C. Bryla, AICP

Zoning Official-

Development Review Manager

City of St. Petersburg, FL

Planning and Development Services Department

O: 727.892.5344 E: Jennifer.Bryla@stpete.org

And she returned the email with this answer:

I understand your concerns.

The property is zoned CCT-1 which allows for indoor or outdoor bars and restaurants. We did put a condition on the change of use request that any use would be inside only. In addition, we also have a new noise ordinance that requires more stringent noise considerations adjacent to residential uses. This new ordinance is enforced by the police department. So if you find you are being disturbed the facility give them a call at the non-emergency number 727-893-7780. Please let me know if I can help further.

This was the email that was sent back to Jennifer Bryla

Thank you for getting back to me.

What about parking? Will they again be parking on my street and using our yards as a bathroom?

What about the 2 apartments attached to the back of the club that are NOT zoned or permitted?

What kind of "club" reggae?

And with that being said we are going to have to continuously call the police and fire because we ALL know there will be over the 74 person capacity?

We are very concerned neighbors. Do you know who we can speak too to keep this from happening?

Your answers are very much appreciated and I look forward to them.

As of 10/25/2019 - Jennifer Bryla has not responded........

We need ALL the help we can get NOT to have a Nuisance of a club again!!!!!! Call or write these ladies.....we can NOT go backwards!!!!!!

It absolutely amazes me that after MONTHS of asking about those illegal apartments no one in the city will respond. Clearly they know those are illegal and are choosing not to do anything about it. One must assume that these plaza owners have some sort of clout with the city. I’m not sure where that leaves us residents unless we get together and do a class action lawsuit against the city for failing to do their jobs. Doesn’t someone out there know someone at the Tampa Bay Times that they could get to do an investigative report for us? That may be the only way to pressure city employees. The parking, the noise, the public urination and defecation, the public drug use… These are all completely valid issues that the city is just totally ignoring , not only refusing to do anything about it but actually refusing to even respond to our questions! Pathetic.

Jeez....there is a problem city!!!! You are not listening.

Again you (City) say this is a duplicate of FOUR other cases... How many different people/groups have to say that WE the citizens have a problem for YOU to SOLVE?

Thank you.....we need to keep on this..........I'm doing what I can........write and call!!!! WE SHOULD BE HEARD!!! It's OUR QUALITY of life at stake!!!!

Also - reach out to Gina Driscoll our rep.....she is aware as well

In reference to the Apartments, they have been cited as illegal/abandoned units in the Codes Compliance Case 19-10934, which is scheduled to go before the Code Enforcement Board on November 20th. To track the status of this case, or to find contact information for the assigned investigator, use this link:

https://actiononline.stpete.org/Click2GovCE/casesearch.html?caseYear=19&caseNumber=10934

Thank-you Codes Analyst 2. For everyone else out there what this means is exactly what it meant for Kevin Farrow who owns the property at the intersection of fifth Street and 13th Ave. who illegally brought in earthmoving equipment resculpted the land has never maintain the property and the code enforcement board just keeps giving him 45 day extensions… For two years now! So it’s nice that we finally got a response but all it means is this businessman (The owner of the Tony’s meat market Plaza) goes before a board full of other businessman… NOT residents like ourselves who are affected by the decisions and what do you think they’re going to do about it?

Excellent news from Codes Analyst 2.

Abandoned?? There are people living there and dogs??? How long have they been "abandoned"? What is the next step. Also, Where are WE meeting on November 20th and at WHAT time? I appreciate feed back so I can adjust my schedule accordingly. Thank you again.

email to Jennifer

Date: Wed, Oct 23, 2019, 3:14 PM
Subject: Re: 1239 4th St. South St Pete
To: Jennifer C. Bryla

Thank you for getting back to me.

What about parking? Will they again be parking on my street and using our yards as a bathroom?

What about the 2 apartments attached to the back of the club that are NOT zoned or permitted?

What kind of "club" reggae?

And with that being said we are going to have to continuously call the police and fire because we ALL know there will be over the 74 person capacity?

We are very concerned neighbors. Do you know who we can speak too to keep this from happening?

Your answers are very much appreciated and I look forward to them.

This was the answer

Good Morning. I am unclear what additional information you were waiting on from me. The apartments associated with the structure are now legal structures. Let me know how I can help further.

Jennifer C. Bryla, AICP

Zoning Official

Can someone clarify about the building in question? We are getting 2 totally different answers.

Why is that????? She is saying they are legal however on here they are going to a hearing on November 20th. In which I still have not heard about the location and time.......

Also this is her answer regarding parking....

The apartments received a property card interpretation earlier in the year confirming that they are legally grandfathered units.

They have enough parking based on the square footage of the building for a restaurant/bar.

The zoning district for the property is zoned CCT-1 (Corridor Commercial Traditional). This zoning district allows restaurants/bars by right.

“A property card interpretation”. i.e. a 1%-er or someone with connections exerted their influence and the City has now “determined” the apartments are legal.

You are fighting a losing battle Shawny! We all KNOW that you are correct regarding parking etc. but the rules you want the City to enforce do not apply to the wealthy , developers or any businesses south of Central. Just like our homeless issues , NO WAY would the guy on 3rd ave be allowed to live in the right of way on Beach Drive! Another example : Per Code per zoning you have to leave 35% of your land as “permeable“ (basically grass or shrubs ! no stone mulch , sheds, house , etc.). I own five 5 lots that are 50 x 100. I have a little tiny area in my front lawn that you could see from the street that I put stone mulch on. When the city saw that they tried to tell me I wasn’t allowed to do that because of this rule. Even though the rest of my land is all grass! Now look at the new houses along our street here on 13th Ave. S. Do you think that developer left 35% of his land grass and shrubs?

A parking lot that holds 10 cars is large enough for 74 patrons plus staff?? AND parking for the other businesses that are opened at the same time as this new bar AND for the apartments that are accessed via the front of the building. I seriously doubt that...

Good Morning. I checked with codes this morning and the violation on the property is for not having a business tax license for the units. The units themselves are legal. Let me know if I can help further.

That is correct. Which means when they apply for their business license they have to bring the apartments up to current codes and specifications including providing adequate parking among other things.

Can a city code analyst please clarify.......the above mentioned complaints??? Thank you. Also, I have requested a place and time for the November 20th hearing. Thank you

Goldnwolf, I am ready to look into civil claim against the shopping center since we the people that live here were not made aware that there will be another night club at the end of our street. We get notices about everything else ie: new homes, land etc and not ONE PEEP about a CLUB.

There are so many loopholes it makes your head spin. If anyone else is concerned and DOES not want this in our growing community. We don'r need this type of element at the end of our street, we don't want people using our street for parking and we certainly don't want anyone using our yards for drug activity left behind and as their personal bathroom.

Still awaiting a location and time for the November 20th hearing. Anticipating a swift response by the city, thank you.

Why is this case closed???? Can someone answer me as to where and what time the hearing with the owner is going to take place on 11/20/2019?

Issue 6807971 has been marked as a duplicate of this issue.

Issue 6795679 has been marked as a duplicate of this issue.

Issue 6992315 has been marked as a duplicate of this issue.

Update from the Codes Compliance Department: the two codes cases referenced here in this SCF report for the property at 1201 4th St S have been closed. Any further updates or action will be handled by the Codes department. To read the notes of these cases, or to find contact information for the assigned investigator, use these links:

https://actiononline.stpete.org/Click2GovCE/casesearch.html?caseYear=19&caseNumber=20738 - Permit case for business

-Closed 10/29/2019 with comment "No work proceeding, no business operating at this time."

https://actiononline.stpete.org/Click2GovCE/casesearch.html?caseYear=19&caseNumber=10934 - Property maintenance case (illegal units, permits)

-Closed 11/14/2019 with comment "Copy of approved Certificate of Use (19-11000864) forwarded. Violation corrected."

For updates call 727-893-7373 and refer to the above case numbers or to the property address.

Issue 7001100 has been marked as a duplicate of this issue.

Issue 7006305 has been marked as a duplicate of this issue.

Issue 7019364 has been marked as a duplicate of this issue.

Issue 7047756 has been marked as a duplicate of this issue.