Saltaire vs ONE St Petersburg: Which Downtown condo is right for you?

If you’re looking for a luxury condo in downtown St. Petersburg, Saltaire and ONE St. Petersburg will probably make your shortlist, and for good reason.

Both are modern luxury towers and both offer impressive amenities, large terraces, floor to ceiling glass and spectacular views. Both are also close enough to downtown restaurants, museums, the waterfront and St. Pete Pier that you can enjoy much of downtown without getting in the car.

But despite being only a few blocks apart, they offer quite different living experiences.

Personally, I prefer Saltaire’s location. I like being closer to the southern waterfront, marina and parks, and for the right residence I think the open water views are difficult to beat.

ONE, however, has a very strong argument of its own. Its location at 100 1st Avenue N puts you closer to Beach Drive, Central Avenue and the busiest part of downtown. It is also a more established building, having been completed several years before Saltaire.

Here’s how I compare them.

Location: This May Be the Biggest Decision

The buildings are close geographically. But once you live there, a few blocks can make a meaningful difference.

Saltaire: The Southern Waterfront

Saltaire sits at 301 1st Street South, close to Al Lang Stadium, Albert Whitted Airport, the marina, Mahaffey Theater and the Dali Museum. It’s also close to the Freedom Boat Club at St Petersburg Harborage Marina.

What I particularly like about this location is the openness. The area immediately around Saltaire has more of a waterfront feel. Depending on orientation and floor, residences can have broad views across Tampa Bay, Albert Whitted Airport, the marina and downtown waterfront. The building itself was designed with expansive glass and terraces to make the most of those views.

You’re still within walking distance of Central Avenue, Beach Drive and St. Pete Pier, but personally I think Saltaire feels a little removed from the busiest part of downtown. That’s a positive for me. During the IndyCar Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, some Saltaire residences even get a partial bird’s eye view of the circuit, one of the benefits of the location that doesn’t appear on an amenities list.

ONE: Closer to Beach Drive and Central Avenue

ONE is at 100 1st Avenue N, just north of Central Avenue and very close to Beach Drive.

That puts you right in the heart of downtown. Restaurants, bars, galleries, shops, waterfront parks and Beach Drive are immediately accessible, and the building has a Walk Score of 97 according to Zillow.

If you want to walk downstairs and feel as though you’re immediately in the middle of downtown St. Petersburg, I’d give ONE the advantage. I’d describe the difference simply:

Saltaire = waterfront oriented downtown living

ONE = heart of downtown living

Which location is better depends on what you want outside your front door.

What About the Views?

This is where I would be very careful about comparing the buildings rather than the individual residences. Both can have outstanding views.

ONE rises to 41 stories, so higher floor residences can have panoramic views over Tampa Bay, the downtown skyline and west across the city. The building’s residences were designed with floor to ceiling windows and large terraces to take advantage of those views.

Saltaire is lower at 35 stories, but its position closer to the southern waterfront gives many residences a more immediate relationship with the water. And that’s the distinction I personally prefer.

ONE can give you height and panorama. Saltaire can give you that more direct waterfront feeling.

But orientation matters enormously. An east facing high floor residence at ONE may have a far better water view than a west facing residence at Saltaire.

Likewise, a well positioned Saltaire residence may deliver the broad open Tampa Bay view that a particular ONE unit simply can’t match.

So when a buyer tells me they want a “water view,” my next question isn’t just which building? It’s: Which floor plan, which side of the building and which floor?

Size and Floor Plans: Saltaire Has an Advantage

This is one of the more meaningful differences between the buildings.

Saltaire’s standard tower residences are generally substantial, with many two and three bedroom floor plans ranging from roughly 1,600 to 2,700 square feet, plus much larger penthouse residences. Current Saltaire listings include residences around 1,546, 1,663, 2,036, 2,172 and 2,712 square feet.

ONE offers a wider selection of somewhat smaller two bedroom residences. Current public listings, for example, include two bedroom residences around 1,291, 1,431 and 1,522 square feet, while larger residences in the building extend into the 2,400 square foot range and beyond.

Amenities: This One Is Much Closer

Unlike my comparison between Saltaire and 400 Central, I don’t think there is such an obvious winner here.

Saltaire

Saltaire’s 7th floor amenity level includes a resort style pool and spa, cabanas, outdoor lounging areas and fire pits, a fitness center, club rooms and social spaces. The building also offers 24 hour front desk staffing, controlled access, concierge and valet services.

ONE

ONE also has an extensive resort style amenity package, including a 75 foot lap pool, private cabanas, fitness and wellness facilities, resident lounges and a 24 hour front desk.

For me, this wouldn’t be the deciding factor. I’d tour both amenity areas and decide which atmosphere you prefer. At this level of the downtown St. Petersburg market, both buildings provide a genuine luxury amenity package.

Saltaire Is Newer, ONE Is More Established

This is an important distinction. ONE dates from 2018, while Saltaire was completed in 2023. If your priority is owning in one of downtown St. Petersburg’s newer towers, Saltaire has the advantage. The design, finishes and common spaces are simply several years newer.

But ONE’s age also comes with an advantage. It has had more time to establish:

• A resale history
• A track record of condo association operations
• A community of residents
• A longer history of actual ownership costs
• Comparable sales across different market conditions

That’s useful information when evaluating a condo purchase. Saltaire now has resale activity of its own, but ONE has several additional years of market history behind it. So I wouldn’t automatically assume newer = better. Some buyers will prefer Saltaire’s newer feel. Others will value ONE’s longer track record.

What Does It Cost to Buy at Saltaire vs. ONE?

This is where you need to compare individual residences carefully. At the time I’m writing this in August 2026, publicly advertised ONE two bedroom residences range from roughly $1.15 million to $2 million, depending floor, size and orientation. Current public listings range from approximately 1,291 to 1,522 square feet.

Recent publicly displayed Saltaire listings have ranged from approximately $1.3 million for smaller two bedroom residences to more than $3 million for some of the larger three bedroom homes.

But headline price comparisons can be misleading. For example, you might be comparing:

• A 1,300 sq. ft. ONE residence with city views
• A 2,000 sq. ft. Saltaire residence with water views
• A high-floor ONE residence with panoramic Tampa Bay views
• A much larger Saltaire residence on a lower floor

Those are not equivalent properties. Price per square foot, view, floor, orientation, condition and recent comparable sales all matter. This is also why I wouldn’t conclude from the starting prices that ONE is necessarily the “cheaper” building.

For current Saltaire pricing and availability →

For current ONE St. Petersburg pricing and availability →

Which Building Would I Choose?

If I were choosing for myself, I’d lean toward Saltaire. As with my comparison of Saltaire and 400 Central, it comes back to location. I like the openness of the southern waterfront. I like being close to the marina, waterfront parks and Al Lang Statium, and I particularly like the direct water views available from the right Saltaire residences. The generally larger floor plans are another plus for me.

ONE has an outstanding location. If spending an evening walking along Beach Drive, visiting restaurants and having the core of downtown almost immediately outside your door is a major part of why you’re moving to downtown, ONE could easily be the better fit. It’s also an established luxury building with a meaningful resale history, excellent amenities and some spectacular high floor views.

Choose Saltaire if

• Being closer to the southern waterfront appeals to you
• Open water views are a high priority
• You prefer generally larger floor plans
• You want one of downtown St. Petersburg’s newer luxury towers
• You like being slightly removed from the busiest part of downtown
• Proximity to the marina, waterfront parks and museums appeals to you

Choose ONE St. Petersburg if

• You want to be closer to Beach Drive and Central Avenue
• Restaurants and downtown activity immediately outside your building are important
• You don’t necessarily need 2,000+ square feet
• You value a more established resale history
• You want a high floor panoramic view
• You like the idea of living right in the center of downtown St. Petersburg

Don’t Choose Between Saltaire and ONE Until You Compare the Actual Condos

This is probably the most important part of the comparison. I’ll never tell a buyer: “Saltaire is better than ONE.” I’d want to know: Which unit in Saltaire and which unit in ONE?

Before deciding, we’ll compare:

• View and orientation
• Floor
• Square footage
• Floor plan
• Parking
• Interior upgrades
• Condo fees
• Association finances
• Recent comparable sales
• Asking price
• Price per square foot
• Resale potential

The name on the building gets it onto your shortlist. Your individual needs, the specific residence and the price you’re paying ultimately determine whether it’s the right condo for you.

Considering Saltaire or ONE St. Petersburg?

I’ve created individual building guides where you can see more information about both:

Explore Saltaire Condos & Prices →

Explore ONE St. Petersburg Condos & Prices →

If you’re considering buying in either building, I can help you compare the available residences, recent sales, views, association information and value before you make an offer.

Talk to Tim About Downtown St. Petersburg Condos →

Or call me on (727) 401-5997.