St. Petersburg: New Place in the Sun (Tampa: living in, moving to)

[xbillyx]

Originally Posted by BucFan

I go to downtown ST Pete occasionally - really a nice place. I'm always surprised how deserted it seems to be.

I felt the same way. I was there on a Sunday. The parts closest to the water had some people eating at restaurants; however, as I got away from the water downtown seemed pretty dead and many stores were closed. It seems like it has tons of potential. Why aren't more people hanging out downtown?

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by xbillyx

I felt the same way. I was there on a Sunday. The parts closest to the water had some people eating at restaurants; however, as I got away from the water downtown seemed pretty dead and many stores were closed. It seems like it has tons of potential. Why aren't more people hanging out downtown?

Because other than restaurants, things tend to be closed on Sundays. Unless you are in a really major city this will usually be the case for Sundays. That said, I was there recently on a Friday and a Saturday, and there weren't too many people around, mostly on Beach Drive. Too bad about Bay Walk, that place is REALLY deserted, it was once hopping, I hope they can bring it back. Also, I expected to see more people on Central Ave., but there weren't. Even the First Friday I attended last month, while fun, didn't seem super crowded for a city the size of St. Pete, I used to see more people at the First Fridays when we lived in little old Lakeland.

[Johan1983]

Originally Posted by gypsychic

Because other than restaurants, things tend to be closed on Sundays. Unless you are in a really major city this will usually be the case for Sundays. That said, I was there recently on a Friday and a Saturday, and there weren't too many people around, mostly on Beach Drive. Too bad about Bay Walk, that place is REALLY deserted, it was once hopping, I hope they can bring it back. Also, I expected to see more people on Central Ave., but there weren't. Even the First Friday I attended last month, while fun, didn't seem super crowded for a city the size of St. Pete, I used to see more people at the First Fridays when we lived in little old Lakeland.

I wonder if baywalk and the surroundings stand a chance. what do you think?

[xbillyx]

Originally Posted by Johan1983

I wonder if baywalk and the surroundings stand a chance. what do you think?

Baywalk looks dead. I was just back in St Pete today. It's a ghost block. St Pete has some nice parts but also has a weird feel to it.

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by Johan1983

I wonder if baywalk and the surroundings stand a chance. what do you think?

Yes, St. Pete is coming along, but it's not "there" yet. Maybe in another 10 years, or when the economy gets a little better. As for Baywalk, I had thought I read it was under new ownership a while back, but it doesn't look like anything is going to happen. Sadly, that place is only 10 years old, but it is so run down already it looks 20 or 30 years old.

[DoctorRain]

Originally Posted by gypsychic

Yes, St. Pete is coming along, but it's not "there" yet. Maybe in another 10 years, or when the economy gets a little better. As for Baywalk, I had thought I read it was under new ownership a while back, but it doesn't look like anything is going to happen. Sadly, that place is only 10 years old, but it is so run down already it looks 20 or 30 years old.

If St Pete has 10 yrs to go, Bradenton/Palmetto area has 20 or more to build up and build new ammenities. In St Petes case, they'd gentrify.
The thing that makes me disinterested in living in St Pete is its trying to become the new San Francisco which means cost of living problems AND expensive as hell places to eat and drink at. St Pete no longer seems to have cheap places to go hang out unless you want to go to Shirleys Soul food or places not too near downtown. Downtown area is getting really unaffordable and the homeless problem getting worse. I like the city and St Pete is the city, and this is why I choose Tampa over it. Tampa at least has a more level playing field. Equal rents overall, some places lesser, and more inexpensive places to go eat or drink even in Ybor.

[jambo101]

When you have downtown cores like Tampa and St Pete that are mostly office buildings and devoid of residences you end up with a cold uninviting feel to the area after business hours.

[roaring-rox]

Have found a way to drive to St. Petersburg that 'knocks my socks off' when I go.

From the Howard Franklin bridge from Tampa, exit on 22nd Ave. sign, take a left and you end up driving into the Old Northeast neighborhood and then take a right on Coffeepot Bayou Drive which goes along the waterfront and then turns into Beach Drive (near or/downtown where ritzy restaurants, etc. are...it's a mix of spots that has a lot going on mixed in with areas where you wonder why more people are not around.

The view of the water is breathtaking...a shimmering vista of light plays on the bay as you wind your way into the downtown past the Vinoy Hotel onto Beach Drive.

There are so many beautiful, cool buildings, homes and condos with tropical foliage galore.

There is some of that lack of people on Central Avenue, etc. which used to be different when the old antique shops were in their heyday there before the Internet changed that dynamic.

But on Saturdays there is the Saturday Morning Market which is full of people and life. There's always a different musician group playing for the crowd, people walking their dogs, an assortment of vendors selling foods, organic vegetables, etc. To me, it seems like St. Petersburg is doing a good job of bringing a sense of community to their city core, despite the urban problems that are going on there and everywhere it seems.

Also, I saw that PBS Special on St. Petersburg several times and thought it was very good.

No matter how much one loves a place though it is always easy to see negatives...no place is perfect.

[Johan1983]

Originally Posted by roaring-rox

Have found a way to drive to St. Petersburg that 'knocks my socks off' when I go.

From the Howard Franklin bridge from Tampa, exit on 22nd Ave. sign, take a left and you end up driving into the Old Northeast neighborhood and then take a right on Coffeepot Bayou Drive which goes along the waterfront and then turns into Beach Drive (near or/downtown where ritzy restaurants, etc. are...it's a mix of spots that has a lot going on mixed in with areas where you wonder why more people are not around.

The view of the water is breathtaking...a shimmering vista of light plays on the bay as you wind your way into the downtown past the Vinoy Hotel onto Beach Drive.

There are so many beautiful, cool buildings, homes and condos with tropical foliage galore.

There is some of that lack of people on Central Avenue, etc. which used to be different when the old antique shops were in their heyday there before the Internet changed that dynamic.

But on Saturdays there is the Saturday Morning Market which is full of people and life. There's always a different musician group playing for the crowd, people walking their dogs, an assortment of vendors selling foods, organic vegetables, etc. To me, it seems like St. Petersburg is doing a good job of bringing a sense of community to their city core, despite the urban problems that are going on there and everywhere it seems.

Also, I saw that PBS Special on St. Petersburg several times and thought it was very good.

No matter how much one loves a place though it is always easy to see negatives...no place is perfect.

I like your optimism.

I will try that route the next time i am in town

[Rialta]

Roaring, I'm not sure what PBS Special on St. Petersburg you are referring to. I tried to find one though Google - there is one, but it's on St. Petersburg, Russia. Couldn't find one for the one in Florida.