Elements of Urbanism: St. Petersburg

[thelakelander]

DT Tampa (north/west of Lee Roy Selmon, east of Hillsborough River, south of I-275) and DT Jax are about the same to me.  Both are pretty far behind the DTs of Florida's other major cities, in terms of vibrancy.  However, DT Tampa benefits more from the nearby neighborhoods around it (Channel District, Ybor, SoHo, Davis Island, Harbour Island, Univ. of Tampa, Hyde Park, etc.).  For various reasons, DT Jax is still disconnected from spots like Five Points and San Marco Square, etc.).

Nevertheless, DT Tampa is coming along.  Even though I'm still pissed they tore the flagship Maas Brothers store down, North Franklin is turning around and it should get a boost when the Floridian Hotel reopens.

[seaside1991]

I'm in Tampa and I agree that DT St. Pete seems to be more livable and active. However, like others have indicated, it's an mainly "Island". The surrounding neighborhoods except perhaps Old Northeast(Coffeepot Bayou) are no place to hang out and not very interesting. I also agree that DT Tampa is moving along very well. Completed light rail systems would be great, but maybe I'm expecting too much.

As far as the Rays stadium( assuming they don't move out of the metro), I think it would be great to have them Between DT and Ybor at the old Central Park Projects. Just think of how Ybor would be and to have the DT backdrop would be cool. That won't happen so I think the best place is the St. Pete Gateway district. Near Ulmerton and I-275. That site would be more central to the whole Metro .

[SuburbanArmada]

Followed your link here Lakelander, nice article. I am not much of an expert on St. Pete so I do not have much to add this time. I do love the area though, and am glad you mentioned the Grand Central/Kenwood district. Old Northeast was left out though.

For the people who said Pinellas has nothing else, actually there are lots of landmarks. Dunedin (Scottish roots), Palm Harbor (Old South vibe), Gulfport (eclectic/artsy theme and beachfront), and Tarpon Springs (Largest Greek community in America) are small cities that have walkable cores and good downtown vibrancy. The one downside is they are all a bit spread out from one another. However, DT St. Pete and Gulfport are near each other. And, Dunedin/Tarpon/Palm Harbor are near one another in northern Pinellas.

[heights unknown]

Being that I live about 30 miles south of St. Petersburg, I either visit, pass through, or have business ties there so I interface with this City often.  For a moderate sized city, St. Pete is laid back, but downtown looks and acts like a downtown and is filled with restaurants, night clubs, businesses, and other type of venues relative to entertainment and recreation.  The City is compact and dense being that the Peninsula which contains most or all of Pinellas County is pretty much built out; you would think there would be more skyscrapers in St. Pete but that is quickly changing as more highrises and towers have in fact been approved and are being constructed downtown.  Nice City to visit.