South Pasadena, Too Old? - Police Dept? (Gulfport, St. Pete Beach: apartment complexes, crime)

[Frank Coe]

Anyone care to weigh in on South Pasadena? It's on our short list and I have a couple of questions. We are slightly older parents with a 5th grader (next year). We have visited recently and it seems like a nice area, with lots of well kept homes, especially adjoining "Old Pasadena" where we are looking for a private home. I understand the median age in SoPa is over 70. Is this a bad fit for a small family with an elementary age child? We aren't looking for local night life and there seems like there is plenty on the beaches or in town if we want it. We do like the proximity to the beaches, fishing, kayaking, etc. What I can't seem to figure out which Police Dept covers SoPa or uncover any crime stats. As a separate City, is it better run than say St. Pete or are there problems with extra taxes or municipality rules, etc. Any information is appreciated.

[ferret111]

South Pasadena is one of the many Pinellas County fiefdoms. It is an independent city and I think it is about a square mile in size. The median age is so high due to South Pasadena being home to a few old people high-rises and very few regular single-occupancy homes. Wikipedia says 2.9% of the population is under 18. That being said, I'd imagine South Pasadena is zoned to the same schools as the neighboring parts of St. Pete, St. Pete Beach, and Gulfport, so your child will still be able to make friends.

I don't know anything about South Pasadena's tax rate. Their municipal codes are online, but it's a pretty thick read. I don't know of any outlandish regulations. South Pasadena contracted out its police force to the Pinellas County Sheriff. That being said, I think the biggest crimes are traffic-related offenses on Pasadena Avenue. That being said, watch out for their red light cameras!

[crazynip]

South Pasedena is also right next to Gulfport, which is mostly ghetto. So it all depends what part of S. Pasedena you are looking at.

[ferret111]

Originally Posted by crazynip

South Pasedena is also right next to Gulfport, which is mostly ghetto. So it all depends what part of S. Pasedena you are looking at.

The only ghetto part of Gulfport is the 49th Street Corridor.

[crazynip]

Originally Posted by ferret111

The only ghetto part of Gulfport is the 49th Street Corridor.

That's not true at all. The entire area North of 22nd street S to the city of St Pete limits and East to 34th st, plus the first few streets SOUTH of 22nd ave S is inhabited by hoodlums. I have friends that live on Tifton St and turning off 22nd st heading toward their house the first few roads is like you are in the middle of south st pete...

Parts of Gulfport are very nice like down by the Casino and up by the Pasedena Yacht and County club, but parts of it are no better than the rest of south st pete. Especially most of those apartment complexes.

[ferret111]

Originally Posted by crazynip

That's not true at all. The entire area North of 22nd street S to the city of St Pete limits and East to 34th st, plus the first few streets SOUTH of 22nd ave S is inhabited by hoodlums. I have friends that live on Tifton St and turning off 22nd st heading toward their house the first few roads is like you are in the middle of south st pete...

Because a part of 22nd Avenue is in the middle of South St. Pete. The Gulfport line goes down 49th until 26th Avenue and then over to Quincy Street. It comes nowhere close to hitting 34th Street. And of course some of the South St. Pete riff-raff comes over into Gulfport. It's not like a random municipal line is going to suddenly stop crime.

Also, there's nothing ghetto about the area in-between 22nd Avenue and the St. Pete line, with an exception being the first two or so blocks in from 49th. Yeah, some the houses are older and some of them may be run down, but that's Pinellas for you. These gross over-generalizations don't help anyone.

[Frank Coe]

Thanks for the input. I don't know too much about Gulfport, but the area we are looking in, west of Pasadena Ave, looks upscale to me. No "Ghetto" in sight. CrimeReports confirms lots of crime up and down the 49th Street corridor (and even more so for 34th st), but this is no where near our target area and doesn't factor in our equation.

[ferret111]

Originally Posted by Frank Coe

Thanks for the input. I don't know too much about Gulfport, but the area we are looking in, west of Pasadena Ave, looks upscale to me. No "Ghetto" in sight. CrimeReports confirms lots of crime up and down the 49th Street corridor (and even more so for 34th st), but this is no where near our target area and doesn't factor in our equation.

Yeah, you are definitely free from any sort of ghetto influences west of Pasadena. Good luck. There are some really pretty homes along Park Street.