Where to live in St. Pete? (Tampa, St. Petersburg: best neighborhood, cheap apartments, rental market)

[ablueg35]

As I mentioned in a previous thread, I'm considering moving down from Denver to Florida. So far the Tampa Bay area (specifically St. Pete) has appealed to me the most. Where are the best places to live in St. Pete for a young 23 yr old college grad? Downtown seemed really nice. Just want to make sure there aren't any other areas of the city that might be just as great for my demographics. Any particular apartment complexes that come to mind?

Also, I didn't know that St. Pete was so high on the crime list, is that much of a concern or not really? Or does it just depend on where you live?

[crazynip]

Hint: if the road/street/ave/blvd has a "S" in front of it (as in South), run like the wind...

[ablueg35]

What about The Sage? Seems really nice. It's located in "lively Downtown St. Petersburg where 4th Avenue South and 4th Street South connect."

The Sage

[Eastern Roamer]

Originally Posted by crazynip

Hint: if the road/street/ave/blvd has a "S" in front of it (as in South), run like the wind...

That might be a bit extreme, but not all wrong. If the street or ave. is two digits and has an "S" then run like the wind. (The streets and avenues are numbered.)

Seriously though, the high crime is pretty contained in south St. Pete. It's not a dangerous city by any means. You might find some cheap apartments around USF, which is a couple of avenues south. If you're looking for the historic charm but can't afford the Old Northeast, check out the area known as mid-town which is on the other side of 4th street starting around 7th ave. N.

[gypsychic]

Downtown is by far the liveliest area of St. Pete. Anyone (of any age) who wants to be close to the "action" should live right downtown. I don't live in St. Pete myself, but we visit a lot. Downtown is great.

Good luck to you!

P.S. Most of the crime is in the poor neighborhoods just south of downtown, I think they refer to it as "midtown." Stay right downtown and just north and you will be fine.

[ablueg35]

Thanks, I'll need to come visit soon for the first time and see everything for myself. Any comments on The Sage or Fusion 1560 (their location and amenities vs one another, etc.) Or other apartment ideas?

[BBI]

Originally Posted by ablueg35

Any comments on The Sage or Fusion 1560 (their location and amenities vs one another, etc.) Or other apartment ideas?

Not in the rental market, but I can help you with location. The best part of downtown is within a couple blocks of Beach Dr between 5th Ave NE and Central and Central between the bay and about 4th St. This is not a big area, and you want to be within walking distance of it.

Sage is a good location; just a couple blocks to bars on Central. You'll read a lot here about "south St. Pete." Sage is just about the edge of how far south/southwest I'd live downtown; I'm absolutely not a risk taker. Fusion is an OK location: you'd have a 20 minute stumble home from there, and not through the best neighborhood -- I don't think it's dangerous, but I wouldn't be happy with my wife taking that walk alone at night. On the plus side, there are some bars/restaurants near Fusion, so it's not like you'd have to walk all the way to downtown if you just wanted to grab a bite/beer. Or you could get a beach cruiser.... You'd also be right next to the Trop (not sure if that's a good thing). Generally, I'd aim for the intersection of Central and 2nd St, right in the thick of things.

Another option is the Old Northeast, and there are a number of young professionals renting within a few blocks of the Old Northeast Tavern (corner of 7th Ave NE and 2nd St NE). That's walkable to everything and plenty safe. Generally, north of downtown, I'd stay east of 4th St; preferably east of 1st St. Lots of for rent by owner signs for when you visit, and it seems like Terrier Properties owns a bunch of the small apt buildings that dot the Old NE.

[ferret111]

Originally Posted by BBI

Sage is a good location; just a couple blocks to bars on Central. You'll read a lot here about "south St. Pete." Sage is just about the edge of how far south/southwest I'd live downtown; I'm absolutely not a risk taker. Fusion is an OK location: you'd have a 20 minute stumble home from there, and not through the best neighborhood -- I don't think it's dangerous, but I wouldn't be happy with my wife taking that walk alone at night. On the plus side, there are some bars/restaurants near Fusion, so it's not like you'd have to walk all the way to downtown if you just wanted to grab a bite/beer. Or you could get a beach cruiser.... You'd also be right next to the Trop (not sure if that's a good thing). Generally, I'd aim for the intersection of Central and 2nd St, right in the thick of things.

Fusion's neighborhood is fine, with the exception of traffic and crowds at Tropicana Field. After all, it's literally across the street from the police station. I mentioned this in one other thread, but the only time you'll see characters is at the Sunoco and the liquor store at Central/16th, though the liquor store is supposed to get demolished soon (which is a shame, because it's a beautiful building).

People say that you should avoid everything south of Central until you hit Pinellas Point, but in my opinion, the few blocks between Central and 175 are pretty safe. Maybe a little rundown, but the streets are fairly quiet at night. So, in short, the only "bad"/shaky area south of Central is, in my opinion, the box bordered by 4th Street, 54th Avenue South, 49th Street, and Interstate 175.

[FloridaDerby]

In my opinion (also supported by crime statistics) the box bordered by 4th Street South, 54th Avenue South, Boyd Hill Nature Park and 34th St South is one the least shaky areas of St Pete. Those who state otherwise, in my opinion, are very wrong. Don't discount South St Pete because it really is a great place to live. Hundreds of us have chosen this area to live for a reason.

[ferret111]

Originally Posted by FloridaDerby

In my opinion (also supported by crime statistics) the box bordered by 4th Street South, 54th Avenue South, Boyd Hill Nature Park and 34th St South is one the least shaky areas of St Pete. Those who state otherwise, in my opinion, are very wrong. Don't discount South St Pete because it really is a great place to live. Hundreds of us have chosen this area to live for a reason.

Sorry if my post came off that way. That is a nice area and I did not intentionally try to discount it. 26th Avenue South is a better demarcation line for sketchy South St. Pete and regular South St. Pete.