Preserve the 'Burg

For more than 40 years, Preserve the 'Burg has worked to protect & celebrate our city’s history. Follow us on Twitter! http://www.twitter.com/PreserveTheBurg

06/01/2026

Thank you to our expert speakers and panelists at the Restoration & Design Expo for energizing conversations about how historic preservation can be part of our day-to-day lives!

05/29/2026

11 TO SAVE: Pasadena Community Church

Each year, the Florida Trust announces its 11 to Save sites, which are nominated by the public and reflect the historic places that matter to local communities. The program is designed to increase the public’s awareness of the urgent need to save Florida’s historic resources, highlight the breadth of Florida’s unique history, inspire unique collaborations and empower local preservationists and community groups in their work to preserve Florida’s rich history.

The Pasadena Community Church sanctuary represented the crowning achievement of the Rev. Dr. J. Wallace’s ministry when it was completed in the 1960s. This mid-century modern, 2,000-seat sanctuary features a dramatic folded-plate roof and floor-to-ceiling glass walls that create a luminous, garden-like worship space. Embracing the congregation’s historic tradition of both indoor and outdoor worship, the sanctuary stands as a defining landmark in St. Petersburg.

The sanctuary embodies the postwar era’s optimism and spirit of innovation in structure, materials, and spatial design. Constructed during St. Petersburg’s westward suburban expansion, it reflects the evolution of religious architecture in response to technological advancements while also honoring the congregation’s origins as a “drive-in” church.

In February 2026, Pasadena Community Church members approved a resolution proposed by the church’s Discernment Committee to demolish and replace the sanctuary with a new worship center. The committee concluded that the cost of renovating and preserving the building would exceed that of constructing a new facility. The sanctuary has remained unused since sustaining damage during Hurricane Milton.

Inclusion in Florida’s 11 to Save is a starting point for the Florida Trust’s advocacy and education efforts and is intended to be part of a collaborative effort to identify custom solutions for each property.

See the full 11 to Save list here: https://floridatrust.org/11-to-save/

05/28/2026

It’s official! You can now research in the Peter Belmont Preserve the 'Burg Collection at the Nelson Poynter Memorial Library on the St. Petersburg campus of the University of South Florida.

The collection consists of materials related to Preserve the 'Burg's activities and governance, historic preservation activities (including legal proceedings and other documentation) for historic districts and individual properties, clippings, ephemera, photos, media, and blueprints. The collection also contains documents related to other St. Petersburg historic preservation organizations and publications related to historic preservation in St. Petersburg and Florida.

Preserve the ‘Burg donated the collection in 2022 to ensure that decades of knowledge, experiences, and activism is also preserved for the future!

Learn more about the Peter Belmont Preserve the 'Burg Collection here:
https://archives.lib.usf.edu/repositories/3/resources/750

05/27/2026

Congratulations to our newest class of tour guides! After completing several weeks of training on local history and storytelling, these dedicated volunteers are ready to lead engaging walks that bring St. Pete’s past to life.

We’re proud to welcome Dawn Goddard, Mary Dowd, and Susan Jacobson as ambassadors who will help preserve, promote, and celebrate the places that make our city special!

Stay tuned for our summer programs and tours and say hi to our new tour guide cohort!

05/26/2026

We still have some spots available for our special tour of Heritage Village celebrating its 50th Anniversary. Join us Saturday May 30 for the last program this spring.

Located on a 20-acre wooded park in Largo, Heritage Village is home to more than two dozen historic structures from around the Bay Area, including the 1852 McMullen Cabin and the House of Seven Gables, which was originally constructed in Clearwater in 1907.

For this special Preserve the ‘Burg tour, Heritage Village Executive Director Monica Drake will offer a behind-the-scenes look at the work they do to maintain these historic structures. You’ll hear about recent upgrades to the park and see Heritage Village from a preservationist's perspective.

Register here:
https://ptb.wildapricot.org/event-6627640

05/25/2026

Past board president Robin Reed was honored by St. Petersburg City Council at the May 21 meeting. Colleagues and friends paid tribute to Robin's tireless dedication to historic preservation in St. Petersburg.

In addition to serving as Preserve the 'Burg board president for many years, Robin served two-terms as a commissioner on the City of St. Petersburg’s Community Planning and Preservation Commission. Robin also served as a board member of the Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood Association and the St. Petersburg Museum of History. She co-founded the Sunken Gardens Forever Foundation in 2016.

“Robin understood that preserving history is not simply about protecting buildings or landscapes,” council chair Lisset Hanewicz said at the Thursday meeting. “It’s about protecting identity, memory and the character of a place that we call home.”

Read more about Robin's work in the Catalyst feature: https://stpetecatalyst.com/local-preservationist-robin-reed-honored-at-council-meeting/

Or watch the memorial tribute recorded as part of the City Council meeting (Item B8) here: https://stpete.granicus.com/player/clip/7167

05/21/2026

We were thrilled by the response to our Restoration & Design Expo this past Saturday! Our generous sponsors helped make this community event possible, and allowed us to make it free for attendees.

Thank you Austin Historical, Sherwin Williams, John Barie AIA, Cask Construction, St. Pete Shuffleboard Club, Florida Trust, Southern Roots Realty, and the City of St. Petersburg, we are grateful for your support!

05/15/2026

PTB Restoration & Design Expo Speaker Feature: "Old House, New Life: A Guide to Thoughtful Renovation" by John Barie, Architect and Owner, John Barie Design, LLC

Thinking about remodeling an older or historic home? Don’t swing that sledgehammer just yet. Join Preservation Award-winning architect John Barie for a look at how to plan your project the right way—from preserving historic charm to making smart, modern updates that actually work for today’s living. Perfect for homeowners, prospective buyers, and anyone who loves old houses and wants to get it right the first time.

John Peter Barie, AIA Emeritus, is an award-winning architect specializing in residential design and historic preservation. A former preservation board vice chair, he continues shaping community-focused projects in St. Petersburg.

RSVP for this free program here: https://ptb.wildapricot.org/event-6667129

Join Preserve the ’Burg for a day dedicated to historic homes, thoughtful design and St. Pete’s architectural heritage at the annual Restoration & Design Expo. Held at the iconic St. Petersburg Shuffleboard Club, this free community event brings together local vendors, preservation tradespeople and experts in historic restoration, home décor and period-appropriate design.

05/14/2026

PTB Restoration & Design Expo Speaker Feature: "Florida’s Preservation Toolkit: How to Make Small Changes for Better Resiliency" by Jenny Wolfe, President of Planning 2 Preserve

Practical, effective improvements to address sea level rise, extreme heat and more severe storms can be made in your very own home or small business. Jenny's experience across Florida, particularly St. Augustine, and in Charleston helps her understand different approaches that balance risk and historic preservation.

Jenny Wolfe is a cultural resource advocate and president of Planning 2 Preserve. With 20 years in government and nonprofit preservation planning, she specializes in community engagement and adaptive strategies, and is certified by the American Institute of Certified Planners.

RSVP for this free program here: https://ptb.wildapricot.org/event-6667120

Join Preserve the ’Burg for a day dedicated to historic homes, thoughtful design and St. Pete’s architectural heritage at the annual Restoration & Design Expo. Held at the iconic St. Petersburg Shuffleboard Club, this free community event brings together local vendors, preservation tradespeople and experts in historic restoration, home décor and period-appropriate design.

05/13/2026

Thanks I Love the Burg St. Pete for featuring our Restoration & Design Expo!

"Do you love local history, architecture, or thoughtful design? Then pull up to St. Pete Shuffle at 559 Mirror Lake Dr N on May 16. Preserve the ‘Burg is hosting a Restoration & Design Expo, and it’s a showcase of the people, projects, and stories that make St. Pete special. It’s a tour through the city’s past, present, and future, all in one big event."

Read the article here: https://ilovetheburg.com/preserve-burg-restoration-design-expo/
The link to RSVP is in the article too. Or you can just stop in between 10 am and 3 pm!

Address

Saint Petersburg, FL
33731

Telephone

+17278247802

Website

https://www.preservetheburg.org/events

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