A 1905 Queen Anne-style downtown building, former residence of one of St. Pete’s first mayors, Albert Blocker, and the recent location of the Russian-inspired restaurant Yummy Mama’s is available for free to someone who can move it to another site. A. T. “Bert” Blocker was councilman in 1904-05 and then Mayor in 1910-11. The building has been known by several names, including “The Mansion By the Bay,” the “Blocker Mansion”, and the “Blocker Residence.”

It is a prime example of early twentieth century residential buildings in St. Petersburg and forms a significant part of the 4th Avenue historic corridor, stretching from 4th Street North to Beach Drive North. The building is just west of Beach Drive on 4th Ave N between Beach Dr and 1st Street. There are three other historic buildings on the 100 block of 4th Ave NE. Two of those buildings, Bay Gables and the Henry Bryan House, are local historic landmarks.

The house was sold last year for $525,000. The cost to move the house is estimated to be more than $100,000 while the renovation cost of the house at the current site is projected at around one million dollars. Another colonial in the vicinity was moved six years ago for around $130,000; it was later renovated and priced at $750,000.

St. Petersburg Preservation was unsuccessful in gaining historic landmark status for the building, but prefers for it to be used at the present location.  However, it is in danger of demolition as there were plans for replacing this building with a mid-rise condominium development. The city approved the development, provided the developer moved the building to a new location.

CONTACT INFO

St. Petersburg Preservation, Inc.
(727) 824-7802
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