Best of the Best: St. Petersburg, Florida’s Top Neighborhoods (Part II)

St. Pete’s neighborhoods all add to the appeal of the city, and offer their own charming qualities.

Let’s be real: it’s hard to find a bad place to call home in St. Pete.

I mean come on, when you’re in a place with amazing weather, beaches, great restaurants & breweries, and endless entertainment options, what’s there to complain about?

But just like in any city, certain areas are going to make more sense for you and your family.  And the Burg has a little something for everyone.

If you’re a young professional, perhaps Downtown makes the most sense for you.  Or if you’re nearing retirement and looking to settle down, maybe Maximo or Gulfport is more your flavor.

For the purposes of this article, though, we’re focused on the best of the best.  The neighborhoods you’ll find on this list play host to some of the most beautiful homes in the St. Petersburg city limits, and are, by our opinion, the best places for families to live.

Home/property value isn’t the only metric we’re using, however.  Geography, landmark proximity, family orientation, and safety also come into play.

What neighborhoods stand out in West and South St. Pete?

For this second installment of our two-part series, we’ll cover the top neighborhoods within the South & West ends of the Sunshine City.  Here they are, in alphabetical order. Click on the neighborhood name to learn more:

Bayway Isles: Some of the more stunning homes you’ll find in the St. Pete city limits can be found just west of Eckerd College off of the Pinellas Bayway. It’s a gated neighborhood nestled on two islands, and highlighted by its four distinctive lakes on the southwest end. Bayway Isles’ unsurpassed privacy and security vault it near the top of this list. Its close proximity to a number of beaches (Fort Desoto, Pass-a-Grille, St. Pete Beach), I-275, and downtown St. Pete don’t hurt either.

Broadwater: This southside neighborhood is a great place for young and established families alike – with a variety of moderate-to-high home values available. This family orientation is evident through their active civic association, which runs many events throughout the year. The residents take great pride in the exterior appearance of their homes, many of which situated on canals. A great place to raise a family.

Driftwood: A heavily wooded corner of St. Pete’s Old Southeast area that’s not easy to call home – largely because the current residents don’t want to leave. One drive through and you’ll see why: the charming architecture, beautiful nature, and unmatched seclusion are impossible to forget. Home values are on the higher end, and you’ll need to drive a bit to gas up – but the overall ambiance is well worth it.

Jungle Prada/Jungle Terrace: Twin neighborhoods located on St. Pete’s west end, overlooking the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway and Boca Ciega Bay. Like Driftwood, the area also has a heavily wooded characteristic but offers better value opportunities for incoming families (Jungle Terrace has a wide range, Jungle Prada is slightly more upscale). Residents love the fact that they’re away from the congestion and commerce of East St. Pete, and that they can be relaxing on Treasure Island beach in just minutes.

Pink Streets: One of the more charming, unique neighborhoods in St. Pete can be found near its southern tip, where the streets turn that characteristic pink color. Its famed Tocobaga Indian Mound and spacious Pinellas Point Park are just a couple other elements that reflect the rich and treasured history of the area. It’s also lined with beautiful homes amongst largely untouched nature, giving the neighborhood a big bonus in terms of seclusion and aesthetic appeal.

Yacht Club Estates: Bordering the Treasure Island city limits, Yacht Club Estates is one of St. Pete’s premier waterfront communities. An incredible 95% of its homes are on waterfront lots – equating to an average home value that’s among the top in the city. The neighborhood also places an emphasis on security and community, and boasts a location to be envious of with its proximity to the beaches and Central Avenue. A definite target destination within our great city.

Custom home construction helps keep any neighborhood within reach.

We’re very lucky here in St. Pete to have a number of great neighborhoods like this to choose from. And while those on this list may seem out of reach, they might be closer than you think.

The services of a good General Contractor will allow you to build your ideal home in any of these St. Pete neighborhoods. Even if you don’t find that perfect house for sale, a custom home builder will provide renovation or new construction services in a way that suits your specific needs – so no matter what you start with, you can still have the home of your dreams in the neighborhood of your dreams.

-Co-authored by Sun Bay Builders Project Manager Jason Denniston and Business Development Manager Rich Haschke

CLICK HERE TO VIEW PART ONE OF THIS TWO-PART SERIES!

Click below to take the first step towards building your dream home in St. Petersburg.