Moving to St.Petersburg & Needs Help (Tampa, Clearwater: condos, crime)

[sunshine here I come]

I am planning on moving to the St.Pete area in January with my 7 year old. I am looking for a good neighborhood to live in and a school for him to attend. I've tried doing research on the internet but have found nothing on neighborhoods. If anyone could help me out before I move that would be great. Thanks

[Prichard]

St.Petersberg is a funny place. The coastal areas bordering the water are beautiful. However, the entire interior of Pinellas County is not very desireable. The problem with the interior of St. Petersberg is that its made up of some slums, lots of industrial (back when zoning came in, the big land owners zoned everything industrial, thinking that would be the best use of the property); lots of mobile home parks; and lots of tiny obsolete 1950's old florida 2 bedroom shacks on 50' wide lots. A couple of years ago, I recall walking around the downtown area (which has undergone a substantial renovation), and saw no less than three crack pipes on sidewalks and on a retaining wall. Private school is probably the way to go in St. Pete.

In St. Petersberg, 99% of the people are either very rich, very poor, or living in one of God's waiting rooms.

[bratchatter]

We live in St Petersburg....not too far from 38th ave n and it is a very nice neighborhood. Our kids do go to private school. We have lived here for many years and the crime in this area is very low aside from the domestic issues people seem to have. The mobile home parks are turning into condos. There are plenty of nice areas you never have to go to the downtown area. It really has been a nice place to live and our kids seem happy.
We are considering moving to Utah though but only for my husbands job. Its arough decision. My mom is a 1963 grad from st pete high and we all followed so we are long time st pete people but at 35 im not one of the rich, poor or old...just a happy homemaker.

[Shores9]

Hi – hope this helps! Moved here from NYC suburb in 2001. St Pete (the City of) covers quite a bit of ground. Located in Pinellas County it goes from the Gulf (St Pete Beach to the west) to Tampa Bay (downtown St Pete to the ease). Although as the earlier post pointed out St Pete like many areas around the country had experienced some urban deterioration, it has for the most part cleaned up and in fact because of the convenient location to anywhere in Tampa Bay - the City of St Pete and Pinellas are experiencing a renewed demand and becoming a very desirable place to live. I also live around the 38th Ave N and 4th Street area. I commute to downtown Tampa Via the Crosstown expressway in about 30 minutes, can be at some of Florida’s best beaches in 15-20 minutes and Clearwater in 40. Plenty of shopping, nice restaurants, tons of services . Can’t say about the schools except that they are not like NY, my kids are grown and out of collage. Also a happy homeowner - Email me if I can help