There are more than 100 neighborhoods throughout the city of St. Petersburg. This includes several historic districts, most of which are located along the bay. Downtown St. Petersburg includes both residential and commercial skyscrapers, museums, art galleries and parks. Also located in the bustling downtown area are two professional sports team’s facilities and branches of St. Petersburg College and the University of South Florida. The Vinoy Park Hotel, near downtown and on the bay, has earned a AAA Four-Diamond rating, and is on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Historic Old Northeast neighborhood is home to waterfront homes and a bevy of parks and recreation destinations. Many of the homes here were built in a Mediterranean style and residents enjoy easy access to a large shopping district, beaches, and small residential high rises. The western side of the city includes Grand Central District and Historic Kenwood, both of which are known for their art studios and galleries.
St. Petersburg has just over 85,000 single-family homes and more than 25,000 condo units. The city is also home to 5,644 multi-family homes, 225 coop units, and 22 other residential properties.
The real estate market also includes 3,213 commercial properties, with another 1,110 industrial buildings and 129 mixed-use buildings rounding out the numbers. Developers have many options with just shy of 5,500 vacant lots.
Bridges connect St. Petersburg to Tampa and Bradenton. The city is served by several interstates, including I-75, I-375 and I-275. Tampa International Airport serves as the area’s most significant airport, while St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport serves some smaller airlines. Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority provides public transportation services. Those options include The Looper, a trolley that takes riders from downtown to a variety of destinations including museums and the Vinoy Hotel. St. Petersburg is also home to more than half a dozen marinas.
Pinellas County Schools oversees public elementary and middle schools in St. Petersburg. There are 5 public high schools and 7 private high schools. Science Center of Pinellas County, a non-profit organization, offers field trip classes and other workshops to more than 22,000 children in the county. College students have their choice of several institutions, including the University of South Florida St. Petersburg and the private Eckerd College.
Though there are more than half a dozen hospitals in the greater St. Petersburg/Tampa/Clearwater area, St. Anthony’s Hospital is the only option in the city of St. Petersburg itself. It has 393 beds and sees more than 40,000 patients per year.
In 2015, the FBI recorded 1,898 violent crimes. The St. Petersburg Police Department offers a Citizens Police Academy. Residents who enroll attend 8 weeks of classes to learn more about their local police department and prepare themselves and their businesses for potential crimes.
Home to the third-largest public waterfront park system on the continent, St. Petersburg is one of the busiest kiteboarding destinations in the world. Other sports in the area include the Tampa Bay Rays baseball team, Tampa Bay Lightning hockey team, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers football team. St. Petersburg has dozens of art galleries, Haslam’s Bookstore, Palladium Theatre, and other cultural destinations downtown. World-famous museums include the Salvador Dali Museum and the Florida Holocaust Museum.
St. Petersburg is home to several fine dining seafood and steak establishments, including Birch & Vine, Marchand’s, Sea Salt, and Rococo Steak. Diners have their choice of popular American quick-service establishments such as Skyway Jack Restaurant and Trip’s Diner.
International eateries include Cuban food at Bodega Comida Cantina Café, Italian fare at Gratzzi Italian Grille, and British and Indian food at Moon Under Water.
