New Downtown Luxury Tower Will Require Residents to Meet Beauty Standards
A new luxury residential tower planned for downtown St. Pete will require prospective residents to meet minimum beauty standards before signing a lease, developers announced this week.
The Aesthetic, a proposed 42-story luxury development in downtown St. Pete, will evaluate applicants using a combination of facial symmetry, physical fitness, wardrobe, and personal hygiene.
“We’re not saying everyone has to be perfect,” said Graham Whitmore, the project’s Director of Resident Experience. “These are just minimum beauty standards. We understand not everyone is going to qualify.”
The project is being led by Stamford-based billionaire Jeff Katzopoulos, founder of Katzopoulos Development Group.
“Beauty matters,” Katzopoulos said. “I’ve always taken great pride in my appearance, and I expect others to do the same.”
Developers say the policy is intended to preserve the building’s carefully curated atmosphere and ensure residents feel comfortable using shared amenities.
Applicants who fail the initial appearance screening will not necessarily be denied housing.
Instead, The Aesthetic will offer an optional six-month Resident Readiness Program, providing personalized fitness plans, nutritional counseling, skincare consultations, wardrobe assistance, dental referrals and, when appropriate, access to participating cosmetic surgeons.
“Nobody is being excluded,” Whitmore said. “If someone isn’t ready for The Aesthetic today, we want to give them a clear pathway toward becoming the kind of person who can live here tomorrow.”
Residents who successfully complete the program may undergo a second appearance assessment at no additional charge.
“Look, it’s not really my cup of tea,” Whitmore said. “But if you’re walking a poodle in yoga pants, we really need to see some definition in that area.”
The Aesthetic is expected to begin leasing in 2028, with studios starting at $4,200 per month.
“We’re building more than apartments,” Whitmore said. “We’re building a community people will be proud to call home.
