Neighborhoods in St. Petersburg…… Take Your Pick!
- Downtown St. Petersburg: The cosmopolitan and urban core of St. Petersburg, much of the lively downtown area also stands as a U.S. Historic District. This blend of history and modernity permeates all aspects of the neighborhood and explains the variety of architectural styles, from Mediterranean Revival to Art Deco to Modern. Downtown St. Petersburg comprises the business district, many government buildings (including City Hall), museums and art galleries, myriad restaurants, retail shops, hotels, entertainment venues (such as the historic Coliseum Ballroom and the distinctive Pier) and miles of waterfront parks.
- Bahama Shores: Proudly the setting of the 1985 movie Cocoon, Bahama Shores is in reality an idyllic community on the scenic Tampa Bay waterfront of southern St. Petersburg. Only 10 minutes from downtown, the fairly affluent Bahama Shores neighborhood boasts large homes, spacious tree-lined streets and a wide range of residents from young professionals to families to retirees.
- Driftwood: Teeming with untamed wildlife and quirky charm, the tiny Driftwood neighborhood hides unique homes and narrow, winding streets within a dense growth of abundant oak trees and wild vegetation. Historic, beautiful and whimsical, Driftwood is home to night herons as well as to artists, professors and other independent-minded folk, many of whom live in houses designed by a local artist during the 1930s (which rarely go on the open market). Located in southeast St. Petersburg on the Big Bayou, Driftwood inhabitants embrace its natural beauty and close-knit, though individualistic and bohemian, population.
- Placido Bayou: Formerly an untouched wildlife haven, Placido Bayou derives its name from the Italian word for “tranquil” and is today a gated waterfront community of primarily affluent young families. Placido Bayou residents cherish the security, privacy and cared-for lawns that come with inhabiting a quiet, controlled neighborhood, as well as the private schools, low crime rate and upscale dining and shopping of the northeast St. Petersburg region.
- North Shore: At the heart of the Old Northeast region of St. Petersburg sits North Shore, a suburban haven where shady oak trees line brick streets and a strong
sense of tradition recalls a 1950s-era lifestyle. Though residences span from lower-income apartments to conventional houses and sizeable mansions, North Shore notoriously boasts some of the most expensive real estate in St. Petersburg and elicits some healthy envy from other neighborhoods. The North Shore population enjoys great economic, social and political clout, and residents rarely find reason to stray from the close-knit, traditional North Shore community.
- Lakewood: One of the most multicultural and racially integrated neighborhoods in St. Petersburg, Lakewood contains a variety of single-family properties, from rambling ranch houses to sizeable Mediterranean-style homes. Complete with 18-hole golf course, nature park, library and the St. Petersburg Country Club, Lakewood maintains a tranquility reminiscent of the ’50s and ’60s.
- Harshaw: Originally a semi-rural community, Harshaw sits today in central St. Petersburg as a neighborhood where concrete-block houses give 1950s-style subdivisions a lasting appeal (despite a pervading sense of uniformity). Quiet and convenient to shopping centers and churches, Harshaw is a middle-class haven for residents of all ages.
- Gateway: On the far north side of St. Petersburg sits the Gateway neighborhood, where convenience keeps the many long-time residents from straying. With a flourishing shopping center, active business district, and selection of expansive apartment complexes and single-family homes, Gateway is an ideal, constantly developing community.
- Campbell Park: In the shadow of Tropicana Field sits Campbell Park, a passionately unified, virtually all-black community. Many of the frame and concrete-block homes are somewhat dated, but life in Campbell Park revolves around the 22-acre park itself, which serves as a place to play and the backdrop of festivals and reunions for neighborhood residents.
- Azalea: Quiet, comfortable and settled, the formerly countryside Azalea neighborhood retains its charm today in northwest St. Petersburg. Huge old trees and Spanish moss shade the central park and yards of Azalea, where a sense of community and character pervade the houses and population.
Let me help you find a home in any of these desirable sections of our beautiful city. Please contact the Mesimer Team at 727-686-2859 or visit our website at estelia@estelia.com I’ll be waiting!