Crane Collapse in St. Petersburg Amid Hurricane Milton Leaves Office Building Damaged

On Wednesday night, a crane collapsed in downtown St. Petersburg during the high winds of Hurricane Milton, creating a gaping hole in an office building housing several businesses, including the Tampa Bay Times. The crane, which was part of the construction project for the Residences at 400 Central, a 46-story skyscraper, fell amidst the violent storm impacting the region.

The toppled crane remained across 1st Avenue South by early Thursday, obstructing the street entirely. A city news release confirmed that no injuries were reported at the site as the building had been vacated ahead of Milton’s arrival. The office space, located at 490 First Ave. S, comprises three connected buildings, including one structure dating back a century.

Earlier in 2016, Times Publishing Co., the parent company of the Tampa Bay Times, sold the facility to a joint venture between Convergent Capital Partners and Denholtz Associates but continued as tenants. The National Weather Service noted receiving multiple reports of collapsed cranes in the area due to high winds, as St. Petersburg lies approximately 50 miles north of Siesta Key, where Hurricane Milton made landfall.

In anticipation of the storm’s impact, Mayor Ken Welch had warned residents near three construction sites downtown and another in the Carillon area due to safety concerns related to adjacent high-rise cranes. Don Tyre, the city’s building official, mentioned that the cranes at 400 Central were engineered to withstand winds up to 110 mph. However, the T-section arm of one crane gave way during a gust, leaving the remainder intact.

Tyre described the scenario as a “best case” given that only the 100-foot section collapsed across First Avenue South. A portable crane will be required to remove the fallen segment. Had the entire crane been dislocated by strong winds, additional damage could have extended over 600-700 feet.

In response to the collapse, Tyre suggested that the city might consider reinforcing crane regulations. An engineer is set to be brought in to assess the two remaining cranes at 400 Central. John Catsimatidis, CEO of Red Apple Group, the developer behind the 400 Central project, confirmed that part of a crane cab had fallen and said the company is working with city officials and other stakeholders to evaluate the situation.

Video footage from the incident depicted sparks emitted from the crane’s frame as it fell, crashing into the Tampa Bay Times building. Michael Kotler, a 12th-floor resident of a nearby building, first believed the noise to be thunder around 10 p.m. Upon inspecting outside, Kotler observed the crane leaning against the office building. By Thursday morning, a palm tree was entangled in the wreckage, smoke billowed from the building, gasoline fumes filled the air, and alarms pierced the scene.

Debris, including shattered glass and bricks, littered the area. A window at the Karma Juice Bar & Eatery on the building’s first floor was blown out, with wind gusts still present. Although lights inside the lobby remained on, the upper floor window shades blew with the wind.

Witnesses described the aftermath as dozens of onlookers gathered behind police barricades, while residents took photos and journalists reported live. Joe Lindquist, a local resident, remarked on the severity of Hurricane Milton, expressing astonishment at the crane collapse. “I didn’t think it would take down a crane,” he commented.