The Cloisters of Beach Drive · Penthouse 2A · St. Petersburg, Florida
288 Beach Drive
A full-floor penthouse on Beach Drive. Rarely available. Unrepeatable.
First Year HOA Paid in Full at Closing — $82,692 seller credit. Move in. Year one is covered.
See DetailsThirty-six curated images.
For buyers arriving from out of state or internationally — experience the penthouse before you ever book a flight.
Navigate room to room and experience 5,100 square feet before your visit.
The entire 12th floor. No shared hallway, no neighboring unit. Click to open full size.
Penthouse 2A has changed hands once in twenty-five years. There are no meaningful comparables — not because the market lacks luxury, but because a property like this almost never becomes available. Occupying the entire 12th floor of The Cloisters, it commands 5,100 square feet of sunrise-to-sunset views over Tampa Bay, the Vinoy Basin, and the St. Pete Pier. Designed by architect Randy Wedding — former Mayor of St. Petersburg and a key figure in the early efforts to restore the Vinoy Renaissance. The elevator opens directly into a private foyer — your floor, accessible only by key fob, to no one but you.
One sweeping front terrace and six additional private balconies extend across the front, left side, and back of the unit. The front and left balconies face open water — Tampa Bay, the Vinoy Basin, the Pier. The back balconies face the setting sun and the city skyline toward Tropicana Field. Two gas fireplaces — one travertine-clad and double-sided in the living room, a second in the home office — bring warmth to a residence whose scale and views already make it singular.
This is the penthouse for the buyer who has stopped looking at what is available and started looking for what is irreplaceable.
Seven balconies frame a different story depending on the hour and the direction you face.
Morning gold across open water from the main front terrace — unobstructed horizon, no buildings between you and the bay.
The pink towers of the Vinoy Renaissance and masts of the yacht basin visible from the front terrace. One of St. Pete's most recognizable views.
The city's most iconic landmark sits four minutes on foot from the building and directly in the sightline from multiple balconies.
The arc of the Sunshine Skyway at dusk, lit against the southern sky — a view that reminds you where you are every single evening.
The city's skyline from the back balconies. Towers, lights, and the energy of downtown St. Pete — four minutes on foot from your door.
Pull off Beach Drive. The gate opens. You're parked in seconds. From your car to the penthouse in about a minute — straight in, no structure to navigate.
In a neighborhood where a single parking space is a luxury, this building comes with four — all ground level, all covered, all assigned to this unit.
Thirty-two residences. A staffed building where the staff knows your name and the hallways are genuinely quiet. This is what boutique actually means — not a marketing word, but a building small enough that privacy is structural.
A small, consistent community of owners. You recognize your neighbors. No anonymous tower feeling, no crowded common areas.
Concierge on-site around the clock. The staff knows owners by name — true lock-and-leave living, genuinely effortless.
Twenty-five years of stable ownership. The kind of building where people arrive and stay — which tells you everything you need to know.
"You step out of your private foyer into a building that feels like it belongs to you — because, at 32 units, it essentially does."
The Cloisters is equipped with a dedicated backup generator — infrastructure that most downtown condominiums, including the newest luxury towers in St. Pete, simply do not have.
The building elevator stays operational during a power outage. Getting to the 12th floor is never a question, even in a storm.
Refrigerators in individual units stay powered. Food stays fresh. Medications stay cold. The basics are covered.
Newer luxury towers in downtown St. Pete do not offer this. A genuine resilience advantage for a Florida waterfront property.
When a storm is offshore and you decide to stay, the building is ready. When you evacuate, you return to a functional residence.
Every carrying cost, fully itemized. No surprises.
Includes water, sewer, natural gas, trash, recycling, cable, 100 Mbps internet, building master insurance, exterior maintenance, and all amenities.
Current Pinellas County assessment — approximately $2,055/month. Florida levies zero state income tax. Note: Florida's homestead exemption and Save Our Homes cap do not transfer to a new owner. The assessed value will reset to market value upon sale, which will likely result in a higher annual tax bill for the buyer. Buyers should consult a tax advisor for an estimate.
Full annual carrying cost: $107,355 — before mortgage, utilities, or furnishings. The realistic baseline ownership number.
Outside the FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area. No lender-required flood insurance on this unit. Building master policy covers the structure.
Florida levies no state income tax. For a high earner paying 5–13% elsewhere, relocating here can represent $100,000+ in annual savings — often offsetting the HOA entirely.
At $882/SF, this full-floor penthouse is priced significantly below comparable new luxury construction in downtown St. Pete.
The seller is offering a full first-year HOA credit of $82,692 at closing. Twelve months of association fees, covered in full. Move in, settle in — the first year is on us. This is a seller concession, paid as a credit at closing, and should be confirmed with your agent and attorney prior to contract.
Every document is available now — no form to fill out, no request required. The complete association package includes the Milestone inspection report, SIRS study, financials, board minutes, insurance declarations, and all Florida-required disclosures.
View All Association DocumentsPending Special Assessment: An updated reserve study (Karins Engineering) is expected late June 2026. A special assessment may be required — amount TBD. Documented in the February 2026 board minutes, included in the document folder.
Phase 1 Structural Inspection completed June 2024 (Karins Engineering). Foundation fair to good, overall structure good, bearing walls good. No significant structural concerns identified.
Structural Integrity Reserve Study (Oct 2024) concluded: "the structural integrity of the building, in general, is in good condition." Continuation of existing maintenance program recommended.
$30.77M in total insured property value, $15M umbrella policy. Zero prior NFIP flood claims — a meaningful distinction for a waterfront St. Pete building.
As of April 2026, the association holds $823,420 in reserve funds and is operating within 1% of its approved 2026 budget. 2024 audit accepted with no qualifications.
Tower roof replaced 2024. Plumbing stack cleaned 2026. New fire panel installation in progress. Heat exchanger replacement underway — all reserve-funded.
No pending litigation exceeding $100,000. No association approval required to purchase. Professionally managed by KB Management Services Group, LCAM.
The Cloisters was the first of the new-generation luxury condominiums on Beach Drive — setting the standard that every building since has aspired to meet.
There is one Beach Drive in St. Petersburg. It runs along the water, through Straub Park, past the Museum of Fine Arts, and ends at the Pier. This building is on it.
288 Beach Dr NE sits directly on the waterfront promenade of Beach Drive — the most prestigious address in downtown St. Petersburg, at the intersection of Beach Drive and 2nd Ave NE.
This is how you find out if it's yours. Shown by private appointment only. If you are working with a broker, have them reach out directly. If you are not, call or write now.
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