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Thursday, October 20, 2022

Best 8 Neighborhoods to Live in St. Petersburg, FL

St. Petersburg, Florida USA

Best 8 Neighborhoods to Live in St. Petersburg, Florida

Is the sunshine calling to you? Why not move to St. Petersburg, Florida, the Sunshine State’s so-called “Sunshine City!” Residents love the vibrant art districts, amazing museums, access to waterfront recreation, and some of the best job opportunities.

St. Petersburg sits on a peninsula between the Gulf of Mexico and Tampa Bay. Over 250,000 people live inside the city limits, and it’s the largest city inside the urbanized Pinellas County. It is part of the greater Tampa Bay metro and is a sister city to Tampa, located 23 miles away.

The historic town began to develop in the 1920s. Many neighborhoods have a distinct character dating back to this period, with brick streets, hexagonal pavers, granite curbs, and craftsman-style architecture.

If you’re looking to move to St. Petersburg, you’ll be happy to know that the city has a variety of great neighborhoods to choose from. To help your home search, here’s a look at eight of the best:

Downtown

bright city lights in Downtown St. Petersburg Florida

Like art and trendy urban districts? You’ve got it in the revitalized Downtown St. Petersburg area.

Some consider University Park-South Downtown one of St. Petersburg’s greatest singles and young professional neighborhoods. The 600 block of Central Avenue is marketed as “the coolest block in St Petersburg” because it is bursting with public arts, art galleries, craft beer breweries, boutique stores, nightclubs, and live music. The Central Arts District and Waterfront Arts District are enormous draws for locals and tourists alike. Few cities have the same rainbow of galleries, murals, museums, restaurants, and stores as St. Pete’s downtown area.

Not only are these huge attractions, but even more amenities are walkable from the district. Those include the world-famous Dali Museum, University of South Florida-St. Petersburg campus, The Mall at Sundial, St. Pete Pier, and professional sports venues like Tropicana Field.

In between all these vibrant and repurposed industrial areas are historic single-family homes, townhomes, and new high-rise condos. October 2022 had 102 homes for sale with a median list price of $850,000.

Historic Kenwood

Woodlawn Park near Historic Kenwood

This charming neighborhood received national attention in 2020 when Neighborhoods, USA, called it the “Neighborhood of the Year.” In particular, it won in the “Revitalization/Beautification” category. Kenwood is known for its tree-lined streets and historic homes. Its public art initiative, seen in its creative street signs, park benches, and neighborhood events, is part of why it garnered attention.

Centrally located, Kenwood is also home to several small businesses, including coffee shops, breweries, bakeries, and more along 5th Avenue. This community is known for being gay-friendly, with an active LGBTQ association and the Metro LGBTQ Welcome Center. Locals get outside at one of the many parks, including Woodlawn Park and Grandview Park.

The historic homes in this area were built in the early 1900s and feature a variety of architectural styles, including bungalows, Craftsman homes, and Mediterranean Revival-style houses. The brick streets add to the historic character of the area.

Homes in Historic Kenwood had a median list price of $605,000 in October 2022. There were 33 homes for sale from $275,000 to $975,000.

Snell Isle

Snell Isle with yachts in boat docks

You can’t miss waterfront living in Florida, and this neighborhood is among the most coveted in St. Petersburg. It features a maze of canals and waterfront views on the city’s northeastern side facing Tampa Bay.

Snell Isle is also home to the famous Vinoy Resort and Golf Club and is close to three parks: Brightwaters Boulevard Park, Vinoy Park, and Bay Vista Park.

The area was developed in the 1920s by H. Walter Fuller, who originally intended for it to be a retirement community. The Snell Isle neighborhood features a mix of architectural styles, including Mediterranean Revival, Prairie Style, and Mission Revival. The canals were created for boating access to Tampa Bay, and many homes have private deepwater docks.

In October 2022, there were 33 homes for sale in Snell Isle with a median list price of $2.2M. Homes ranged from $699,000 to $10M.

Boca Ciega

beautiful building structure in Boca Ciega

Boca Ciega Bay is an affluent community developed as a retirement community for those 55+. Today it is known for its beautiful waterfront homes located within a half-mile of St. Petersburg’s Gulf beaches.

Living here, residents feel like they’re on vacation all year round. The Gulf Beach Recreation Center is a popular spot for swimming, fishing, picnicking, and playing tennis. It features a number of parks and recreation areas along the water.

Homes in Boca Ciega had a median list price of $349,000 in October 2022. There were 38 homes for sale from $210,000 to $725,000.

Old Southeast

new building construction in a city

This quiet neighborhood south of the St. Petersburg Innovation District rests beside Tampa Bay. It features a mix of historic homes and new construction. The area was developed in the 1920s-1950s as a streetcar suburb, and many of the houses are Craftsman-style bungalows.

Lassing Park, located in the eastern part of the neighborhood, provides easy access to the beach for residents who love to swim. The park is also popular with kiteboarders.

Next door, on the west side, awaits Bartlett Park and the St. Petersburg Tennis Center. The University of South Florida-St. Petersburg campus is just north across Bayboro Harbor, giving students and faculty easy access. Residents live a mile from the Central Avenue District in downtown.

The active neighborhood association promotes the interest of the community. It runs social events like golf cart parades and yard sales.

Old Southeast has around 500 homes, predominantly single-family one- and two-story residences with historic character. It has distinct hexagonal brick sidewalks and brick roadways. Homes were typically two-bedroom or three-bedroom, with over 2,000 sq ft, with historic architecture. In October 2022, there were three homes for sale in Old Southeast with a median list price of $1.3 million.

Crescent Lake

crescent lake at dusk

Want to live near the thriving downtown but in a quieter day-to-day atmosphere? Try Crescent Lake, a centrally located neighborhood home to the 50-acre Crescent Lake Park, a popular spot for walking, running, and picnicking. The park also has a playground, tennis, and basketball courts.

Restaurants and retailers border the pedestrian-friendly neighborhood, making it easy to shop and dine but come home to a quiet area. Nearby Sunken Gardens is the city’s oldest living museum; wander the pathways bordered with indigenous tropical plants.

Like many St. Petersburg neighborhoods, the area was developed in the early 1920s. Many of the houses are Craftsman-style bungalows. Other architectural styles in the area include Victorian, Tudor Revival, and Mediterranean Revival.

In October 2022, two homes were for sale in Crescent Lake, ranging from $675,000 to $1,040,000.

Coquina Key

aerial view of Coquina Key Park in Florida

This island community on St. Petersburg’s southeastern side features canals and waterfront views across Tampa Bay. Coquina Key is also home to the Coquina Key Park, which has a playground, picnic pavilions, a fishing dock, and a walking trail.

Coquina Key was originally a peninsula until a developer cut a channel from Big Bayou to Little Bayou. Modern development took off in the 1950s and featured a mix of mid-century modern and ranch-style homes. Today is a quiet, primarily residential community close to St. Pete’s other amenities.

Residents have a local association to promote the island residents’ interests. In October 2022, there were 51 homes for sale in Coquina Key with a median list price of $390,000. Homes ranged from $40,000 to $8.5M.

Historic Roser Park

clean green environment in the city

Considered St. Pete’s first neighborhood, Historic Roser Park is south of downtown and home to several Victorian-style homes. The area was developed in the early 1920s as a streetcar suburb on the downtown trolley line.

Development was inspired by the “city beautiful” movement, which advocated for the inclusion of parks and green spaces. Many of the original design features remain in the district, including rusticated block retaining walls, brick streets, and hexagon sidewalk pavers.

Roser Park follows Booker Creek along the northern border of the Historic District. Residents live south of Bayfront Health and Johns Hopkins Children’s Hospital. It is adjacent to Bayboro Harbor, which provides access to the waterfront. Roser Park also has some restaurants and retailers along its border.

The homes in the recognized historic district are a mishmash of architectural styles and types, including Frame Vernacular, Bungalow, Prairie, Foursquare, Craftsman, Mediterranean Revival, Colonial Revival, Neoclassical, and Tudor Revival. Historic Roser Park had two homes for sale in October 2022. Homes had a median list price of $349,000, ranging from $325,000 to $569,000.

St. Petersburg’s Best Neighborhoods

These are just a few of the best neighborhoods St. Petersburg offers! If you’re looking for a vibrant downtown, try Historic Kenwood or Downtown. If you want to be close to the water, check out Snell Isle or Coquina Key. And if you’re looking for a historic district with character, Roser Park is the place for you. No matter what you’re looking for, St. Petersburg has a neighborhood that’s right for you.

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Preston Guyton

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