Dinosaur Bones To Be Displayed In Rooftop Garden Of FL Parking Garage

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — A rare dinosaur skeleton will be displayed in a planned garden at the top of a new St. Petersburg parking garage.

The dinosaur bones will be a focal point of the nearly 1-acre rooftop garden proposed by Ellison Development for the recently opened parking garage of The Central, an Edge District development project, according to a news release.

The proposed dino-garden would feature Devaiah, an ancient skeleton named after Ellison co-founder Sidd Pagidipati’s father, Dr. Devaiah Pagidipati, showcased in protective glass.

It is one of only 20 specimens of its kind in the world and the only one privately owned, according to the news release. Devaiah is a predecessor to the Tyrannosaurus Rex, predating it by 10 million years.

Part of the inspiration for the rooftop proposal follows the success of Big John, the world’s largest triceratops skeleton, which draws thousands of visitors to the Glazer Children’s Museum in Tampa.

“Let’s be honest, no one expects to find dinosaur fossils on top of a parking garage,” Casey Ellison, CEO of Ellison Development, said. “That’s the fun of it. We love ideas that surprise people and spark their imagination, and this rooftop garden does exactly that. Where else can you take in city views, wander through a garden, and come face-to-face with fossils millions of years old? The Central isn’t just about new buildings. It’s about creating the kinds of experiences that make people say, ‘Only in St. Pete.’"

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For Sidd Pagidipati, the proposed project is personal as the bones are part of his private collection.

“I’m thrilled to bring my passion for dinosaurs and real estate together at The Central,” he said. “Instead of leaving the rooftop as empty space, we are unveiling a first-of-its-kind park centered around Devaiah, a 76-million-year-old Gorgosaurus displayed in glass. This will provide St. Petersburg with additional green space and an outdoor experience unlike anything else in the world.”

Additional details about the garden and dinosaur experience will be shared at a later date.

The Central will include the Halcyon Workspace class-A trophy office tower, an Autograph Collection hotel by Marriott, workforce housing, retail, public art and community space.