DOWNTOWN ST. PETERSBURG HISTORIC DISTRICT 

On June 30, 2004, the Downtown St. Petersburg Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places.  This district has irregular boundaries, roughly defined by Fifth Avenue North, Tampa Bay, Central Avenue, and Dr. M.L. King Street, but omitting an extensive area of new construction in the vicinity of Baywalk.  Eighty percent of the 426 structures in the district are labeled ìcontributing,î which means they are over 50 years old and retain enough of their original appearance to contribute to the character of the district.

That character reflects early St. Petersburgís success in transforming itself into one of the best known tourist destinations in the United States.  Although the remaining resources are extremely varied, ranging from frame garage apartments to grand Gothic Revival churches, most were built to serve and/or impress winter visitors.  This dedication to the tourist industry changed St. Petersburg from a fishing village to a major American city in the first half of the 20^th century.

Creation of the district caps a 12-year effort of the part of St. Petersburg Preservation, Inc., a nonprofit group founded in 1978 to preserve the cityís heritage.  National Register status was sought because it brings recognition and prestige to an historic area without restricting the rights of owners.   However, owners of contributing structures are now eligible for federal and local tax incentives, and this can attract to the district renovators and developers who specialize in historic preservation.

DOWNTOWN DISTRICT:  FAST FACTS

BOUNDARIES:  Roughly bounded by Fifth Avenue North, Tampa Bay, Central Avenue, and Dr. M.L. King Street, but omitting areas of new construction, most notably in the vicinity of Baywalk.

LANDMARKS:  Vinoy Hotel, Snell Building, Open Air Post Office, Princess Martha Hotel, St. Peterís Cathedral, City Hall, Mirror Lake Library, St. Petersburg Shuffleboard Club, Coliseum, and Flori-de-Leon Apartments are a few of the landmarks included in the district.

PARKS:  Straub, Williams, and Mirror Lake Parks are included.

ACREAGE:  320 acres.

BUILDINGS:  426; 359 contributing and  67 non-contributing.

BUILDING FUNCTIONS:  Single and multi-family dwellings, hotels, city hall, post office, courthouse,  schools, churches, sports facilities, library, auditorium, parks.

ARCHITECTURAL STYLES:  Queen Anne, Romanesque Revival, Spanish Colonial, Classical Revival, Gothic Revival, Beaux Arts, Chicago Style, Bungalow/Craftsman.

PERIOD OF SIGNIFICANCE:  1888-1950.