A public parking garage’s rooftop garden will offer St. Petersburg office workers, hotel guests and residents a prehistoric amenity – rare dinosaur bones.
Ellison Development announced Monday that The Central, an under-construction mixed-use project in St. Petersburg’s EDGE District, will feature a 76-million-year-old Gorgosaurus skeleton. The dinosaur predates its relative, the Tyrannosaurus Rex, by 10 million years.
Sidd Pagidipati, co-founder of Tampa-based Ellison Development, named the ancient skeleton Devaiah after his father. The Central’s 11-story office tower, known as Halcyon, and 15-story Marriott Autograph Collection Hotel will overlook the only privately–owned Gorgosaurus specimen among 20 worldwide.
“I don’t know how many rooms can be marketed as dinosaur-view rooms, but something tells me there’s not a lot in the country,” CEO Casey Ellison told the Catalyst. “You get a great sunset from the west, and you get to look at a Gorgosaurus out of your window.”
The bones are part of Pagidipati’s personal collection. Ellison said his business partner purchases fossils from private collectors to increase accessibility.
“He believes these types of assets should be out in the public, and everybody should have access to them in some way or form,” Ellison added.
The Central’s 540-space public parking garage opened at 1301 Central Avenue in June. As part of a partnership between Ellison Development and the City, the development will also feature 42 workforce housing units and 14,000 square feet of retail shops and public gathering spaces designed to foster community and connectivity.
A sculpture from renowned artist Ya La’Ford will honor St. Petersburg’s Courageous 12, a group of Black police officers who successfully sued the city in 1965 to receive the same rights and treatment as their Caucasian counterparts. While the parking garage already provides a public benefit, Ellison Development decided to create a rooftop park.
The firm had already planned to replace the equipment and rain puddles typically found on the top level of an open-air garage with a garden featuring native plants and flowers. However, Ellison said Pagidipati was “super excited about getting this Gorgosaurus out to the public,” and thought the rooftop greenspace would provide an ideal location.
In January 2023, Pagidipati donated Big John, the world’s largest triceratops skeleton, to the Glazer Children’s Museum in Tampa. However, Ellison never expected his developments to showcase prehistoric fossils.
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“If you would have asked me five years ago if I was going to be dealing with dinosaurs, I probably would’ve not had a point of reference to even say it was possible,” he said. “The response for Big John has been incredible, so we think the response for the Gorgosaurus will also be equally impactful for this area of Central (Avenue) in St. Pete.”
Ellison added that “it’s very likely” the firm’s next few deals will involve dinosaur bones. He did not announce an opening date for The Central’s glass-enclosed exhibit.
In a prepared statement, Pagidipati said the “first-of-its-kind park” will offer an outdoor experience “unlike anything else in the world.” He is “thrilled to bring my passion for dinosaurs and real estate together at The Central.”
Ellison noted the uniqueness of showcasing a “very complete,” nearly 80-million-year-old skeleton outside of a museum. He believes it will drive traffic to the $200 million development and the surrounding EDGE District.
An unknown buyer purchased a Gorgosaurus skeleton at an auction for $6.1 million in July 2022. Ellison said Deviah’s enclosure “will be very secure.”
Public viewing will require a ticket from The Central’s visitor center, to manage occupancy levels. Ellison said those will remain free for children and students.
“I think our goal right now is probably not to charge (anyone),” he continued. “But that may change.”
Hotel guests and Halcyon tenants will have continuous access to the rooftop park. ARK Invest will anchor downtown St. Petersburg’s first “trophy-class” office tower since the 1980s.
“They have the whole top floor, so they’ll have balcony space overlooking it,” Ellison said. “They’re pretty excited about it.”
Ellison Development will provide additional details about the garden and dinosaur experience “at a later date.” Mayor Ken Welch credited the firm for bringing “fresh, innovative ideas to our city with The Central.”
“Unique attractions like the rooftop garden not only provide entertainment but also draw more people to St. Petersburg, encourage families to spend more time here, and contribute to the vibrant energy that defines our community,” Welch said.
This content provided in partnership with StPeteCatalyst.com
