Brian Andrus, Owner & Broker, Stonebridge Real Estate

In an interview with Invest:, Brian Andrus, owner and broker of Stonebridge Real Estate, highlighted his firm’s expansion into office leasing, securing over 174,000 square feet in Pinellas County. He also emphasized a focus on resilient property design and community-oriented redevelopment.

What were some key achievements for your business over the past year?

For us, the year had a twofold focus. First, we had to adapt to a slower transaction volume, partly due to a market downturn. In this business, as they say, “you eat what you kill,” meaning you need successful deals to generate income for reinvestment. So, when deal flow stalls, we pivot.

That brings me to our second focus, office leasing. Office spaces were seen as challenging investments, yet we moved toward leasing more in this sector. We leased over 174,000 square feet of office property in Pinellas County, Florida, which is impressive given the area’s limited stock of large buildings. These leases spanned six to eight different buildings, attracting both new and expanding companies. It’s rewarding to see local entrepreneurs, especially younger ones, scaling up from small teams to dozens of staff members. One example that stands out involved a local cybersecurity firm that’s thriving and hiring. 

There’s a great sense of community growth, seeing buildings repurposed and transformed, with  older properties that were underutilized getting a new lease on life. One project I oversaw was a former funeral home, which, after a full renovation, is now a vibrant, bustling space.

Another example is a two-story historic building from 1928 that used to be Clearwater’s police station. The new owner did a beautiful job renovating it, and it’s now fully leased, bringing back a piece of heritage to the area.

We’re also invested in the maintenance and improvement of larger office properties. One of our significant projects involved a 160,000-square-foot, 12-story office building. Every floor has been renovated, and we’ve added amenities like a new restaurant, coffee shop, and lobby. This has helped make downtown Clearwater more lively, benefiting the community.

How did the recent hurricane season impact your properties and operations?

We had to handle challenges due to recent storms, which impacted several properties. Some sites faced major damages, from trees falling to roofs being compromised, and even now, we’re addressing ongoing repairs. Clearwater’s beaches were hit hard as well, and it’s been a lengthy recovery for some areas. On a personal level, it’s been demanding, and we’re still addressing storm-related issues across several properties.

How are you planning to incorporate more resilient, climate-adaptive designs for your properties?

As property managers, we’re now considering technologies like flood barriers, inspired by places like Tampa General Hospital, which installed a robust flood fence that saved it millions of dollars. We’ve had to look at our properties differently — some buildings from the 1950s, ‘60s, and ‘70s aren’t up to modern hurricane standards, so in some cases, we rebuild or retrofit to ensure they can withstand stronger storms. For example, a recent project, Marina Bay 880, was built to Category 5 standards, and during the last storm, residents barely noticed. Preparing for extreme conditions has become essential, even if it stretches budgets upfront, because we want our buildings to endure.

Living here, we’re used to hurricane warnings, but the recent storm was unprecedented, dumping close to five inches of rain per hour. Most structures are built to handle maybe one inch per hour, so that kind of weather was a wake-up call. We’re now factoring these extremes into our planning, and local architects and developers are doing the same. It’s a shift in mindset — preparing for storms at this scale has become part of the new reality in Florida real estate.

What unique opportunities are you seeing in the Tampa Bay area, especially for investors?

While some investors were looking for distressed deals post-hurricane, that isn’t the main trend here. Instead, opportunities are in strategic development — thinking ahead with more resilient designs and faster permit processes. Municipalities like Clearwater are improving permit times, which is critical for adaptive projects, though others like Treasure Island are still catching up. When evaluating sites now, I look closely at factors like water management and long-term resilience to ensure projects can handle future challenges.

What specific redevelopment opportunities are you excited about in Pinellas County?

My focus has been in areas like Belleair, Clearwater, Dunedin, Safety Harbor, and Palm Harbor. There are many properties here that are ripe for redevelopment. Take the Fenway Hotel in Dunedin as an example. It’s a 1920s property that was carefully restored, and now it’s thriving. Properties with history and character abound, but it does take significant work and investment. With so many appealing sites, and strong interest in redevelopment, I only see the area continuing to improve.

What are some sectors your firm is looking to enter, and what is your next area of focus?

Looking ahead, we’re working with a private school that wants to relocate to a new site, which is a challenge given how built-out the county is. Another focus is upscale multifamily housing, which will require strategic site selection. Finally, I’m pursuing a project that involves transforming an older site into a vibrant arts center with various amenities. It’s a form of urban renewal. Each of these projects requires a strong commitment, but I’m excited about the possibilities.

Development is about truly understanding the process — living it, so to speak. There’s a lot to learn from each project, and experience is key to knowing how to handle the complexities of financing, planning, and execution. With each project, that experience helps guide the next steps and, ultimately, contributes to the success of the redevelopment.

How do you see your firm addressing housing affordability, particularly with your focus on multifamily housing?

I’m working with a company that specializes in low-income, mixed-use housing. We’re helping them secure a site in Largo, navigating the municipal processes to make it feasible. If all goes well, we should see a beautiful, affordable development there in the next couple of years. While I don’t specialize in this sector, I’m supporting this company with site selection and planning because they have the expertise. Tackling affordability is a collaborative effort, and I’m glad to play a part by helping them get this project going.

What factors contribute to the positive outlook for the region?

It comes down to vision and leadership, both locally and nationally. Positive, forward-thinking leadership has a big impact on real estate markets, which thrive when there’s a focus on growth and opportunity. Real estate provides the foundation for people to live, work, and succeed, and that’s the outlook we’re supporting. We’re active with the Florida Gulfcoast Commercial Association of Realtors and involved in around 20 charities, building a community that gives back. I believe in the balance of giving and receiving, which creates a stronger, more connected community.

What are your top priorities for Stonebridge Real Estate over the next two to three years?

My top priority is to see my team thrive, both in their careers and in their personal lives. I want them involved in the community, from local to state levels, contributing to positive change. As for the business, we’re always looking to expand. If someone wants to invest, learn commercial real estate, or specialize, they’re welcome to reach out. We’re ready to grow and support more initiatives that make a positive impact.