Old Northeast named Best Old House Neighborhood 2012
February 22nd, 2012 categories: Old Northeast
The Old Northeast in St Petersburg Florida has been named to the Best Old House Neighborhoods 2012: South by This Old Home. It is the only Florida neighborhood on the list of fifteen.
This Old Home is correct in pointing out the many benefits of the neighborhood:
- Eclectic mix of styles: Craftsman, Colonial, Mediterranean, Italian
- Tree lined streets, brick streets (and hexagonal block sidewalks that they didn’t mention)
- Annual events such as Easter Egg Hunts and Halloween festivities (and flags changing with the seasons)
- Waterfront parks
- Nearby restaurants, shops, museums, art and cultural events
It ranked among the best in various categories: waterfront, bungalows and cottages, South, family friendly, gardening, recreation and parks, lots to do, American Heritage and Editors’ Picks.
This Old Home was a bit off, though in saying neighborhood prices ranged from $90,000 to $400,000. The multiple listing shows single family homes ranging from $146,500 to $1,495,000. If you’re interested in buying or selling a home in the Old Northeast, please contact The Simms Team at ALVA International, Inc.
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Patio, porch, lanai, veranda: What’s the difference?
February 8th, 2012 categories: Broadwater, Kenwood, Old Northeast, Terms and Abbreviations, Venetian Isles, Yacht Club Estates
Homes in St Petersburg and all around Florida often advertise a patio, porch, veranda or lanai. What’s the difference between them?
A patio is typically an outdoor space adjacent to a residence that is paved and does not have a roof. It may use pavers, brick, stone or concrete (if it’s made of wood, it would typically be called a deck). It’s used for relaxing, recreation or dining. In Spanish style homes it may refer to the interior courtyard. Many masonry homes in the St Petersburg area will have patios, especially smaller ones.
A porch is an extension to the exterior of a house, generally at the same level as the floor inside. It usually has a wood floor and generally has a roof. It may be on the front, back or side of the home and a home may have multiple porches. The sides may be open, screened, glassed or have lattice. It can be utilitarian, to protect you from the elements while you’re waiting to enter the home or a place to take off your boots or garden shoes; it can be the size of a room, with furniture for relaxing or dining. The materials and style are generally compatible with the house it’s attached to. Frame homes in older St Petersburg neighborhoods like the Old Northeast and Kenwood will typically have porches.
A veranda or verandah may be a large porch that’s a room for entertaining or it may be a gallery running along one or more sides of the home, roofed, perhaps with a railing. Often a verandah will wrap around a house – think Victorian or New Orleans style here – perhaps on the front and both sides. Verandas aren’t as common in St Petersburg but there are occasional Victorian style homes and some of the 1920s Mediterranean style homes will have them.
A lanai is less frequently defined, and often as a roofed porch or verandah. Actually it’s the Hawaiian word for patio or balcony. In Florida we wouldn’t use lanai for a balcony. A lanai is a typical term in a tropical climate and generally is furnished like a room. It may have removable panels of glass, screen or plastic and would usually have a hard surface floor, similar to a patio. Lanais are found in many St Petersburg neighborhoods – think of the masonry waterfront homes in Venetian Isles, Broadwater and Yacht Club Estates.
Like so many terms, these will mean different things in different parts of the country. Not only that, even in the same city you’ll find the terms aren’t used consistently. In St Petersburg real estate the terms patio, porch and lanai may be used to describe the same space, depending on who is doing the describing.
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The Old Northeast neighborhood
January 24th, 2012 categories: Old Northeast
The Old Northeast neighborhood in St Peterburg, Florida, is one of the most popular neighborhoods in the city. Part of this is due to its location: it’s close to downtown, it’s close to the waterfront; it’s close to parks; and it’s not far from I-275. The Old Northeast is also popular because of its feel: shady streets with sidewalks. Many of the streets are brick and many of the sidewalks have hexagonal blocks. There is a variety of architectural styles: Colonial, Mediterranean and bungalow, to name some of the most popular. The size of the homes varies as well, from small homes with 2 bedrooms and 1 bath to expansive homes with several thousand square feet
The design of the Old Northeast encourages a neighborhood. The garages are generally in the back of the houses on an alley. Most of the homes have front porches. Communication flows easily between someone walking on the sidewalk and someone sitting on their front porch, so neighbors get to know one another. With the convenience of the Old Northeast and the variety of homes, often two or three generations of a family have homes in the area. The Old Northeast is known for holiday decorations, whether Christmas, Halloween or the Fourth of July.
The disadvantages? Generally the lots are small so you are very close to your neighbors. If you want a pool, it may take up the whole back yard. Most of the homes are older which means that in addition to character you get small closets, smaller and fewer bathrooms, and the garage may not accommodate your cars. You can renovate or perhaps add-on or, if you’re lucky, you might find one that’s already renovated to your taste.
For information on homes in the Old Northeast, call 727-898-2582 or email the Simms Team at ALVA International, Inc real estate.
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Walkability and Walk Score
January 11th, 2012 categories: Bayfront Tower, Lifestyle, Old Northeast, Parkshore Plaza, Venetian Isles
Many buyers today want to be able to walk to restaurants, shopping, museums, entertainment. They want to be able to go out in the evening and not have to drive home.
Are you aware of the iPhone app WALK SCORE? Bayfront Tower, for example, scores an 82. Parkshore Plaza scores an 83. Both are “very walkable”. A house on 16th Ave NE may have a score of 34 and one on Venetian Isles a score of 12.
You can also sort for specifics for an address (or have the app use your location) and the app will show you grocery stores, restaurants, coffee shops, schools, hardware stores, etc. So - it’s useful for when you’re traveling as well as when you’re shopping for a home or condo.
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Old Northeast Bargains
December 22nd, 2011 categories: Old Northeast
Notes from Rob
Many of the visitors to our city fall in love with the Old Northeast neighborhood, which is right next to our downtown. The Old Northeast allows people to live in historic, single family homes, and the ability to walk to our shops and restaurants in minutes. While many of the updated homes on the water can sell for over a million dollars, there are also many cute, smaller homes that are much more affordable. I took a look at some of these homes, starting with houses have at least 2-bedrooms and 2-bathrooms.
In 2009, 6 homes sold below $290,000, and 2 of those were below $200,000. In 2010, we had 9 sales below $300,000 and 1 of those was below the $200,000 mark. And this year, in 2011, Read the rest of this entry »
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Old Northeast bungalow a good find for the buyers
December 7th, 2009 categories: Old Northeast
Notes from Rob:
Rob’s Sale #15 for the year. Old Northeast neighborhood in St Petersburg.
It has been an interesting year for sales. The Simms Team had a nice couple looking for a small house in the old Northeast. One day this cute house came on the market, and was withdrawn from the market the next day. Luckily I knew the agent who had the house listed for the day, and learned the complete background. I called the owners and arranged to show the house to my clients. Before the day was out we had a contract on the house. Of course nothing goes smoothly this year. Seller felt the buyers were getting the deal of the century and was unwilling to help with anything, but the buyers loved the house so much they agreed to pay the extra fees, fix the items required by the lender and we cleared every hurdle that was put in our way. After closing I drove over to the house with my clients as they looked at their new home. It brought a lot of joy to me after I closed the front door on my way out to hear a yell of excitement from the new owners showing how happy they were. Makes you feel you are doing some good.
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Overvue condos in St Petersburg revert to retirement community
February 11th, 2009 categories: Downtown St Petersburg, News and Views, Old Northeast, Other Downtown Condos
The Northshore, an assisted living community at 939 Beach Drive NE in St Petersburg was a desirable “cruise ship on land” that was sold to be converted into condominiums. I know it was desirable because my mother lived there. The residents were ousted, and construction began on Overvue, 72 condo residences, some with wonderful water views. Alas, none of them had balconies. Then …
The economy hit, and hit hard. Overvue wasn’t able to sell enough condos to complete the project.
Its neighbor, Westminster Communities of Florida, at 830 Northshore Drive NE in St Petersburg, recently bought the building from the bankruptcy court for $9 million. Westminster will convert the high-rise back to retirement living, with 135 apartments for active seniors. The $15 million of revenue bonds will finance both the purchase and the renovations. It’s expected to be ready for occupancy by the beginning of 2010.
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Garagemahal
February 23rd, 2008 categories: Dolphin Cay, Miscellany, Old Northeast, Terms and Abbreviations
A garagemahal is a home where the garage (often a 3-car garage or more) dominates the front view of the house. I don’t know that the word applied to townhomes that may have only a one car garage, but the point is the same when you see the garage but not the entrance and no other facade than the garage. The word comes from the Taj Mahal, so there’s a bit of irony in that most of these garagemahals have none of the majesty of the originating building. We have to assume that somewhere behind the garages, there IS a house.
The opposite to this is a development such as Dolphin Cay, where the single family homes (other than the waterfront homes) are designed to be pedestrian-friendly, generally with a front porch. The garages are behind the homes, unobtrusive, and occasionally with living space above the garage – a home office, a guest suite, a recreation room.
The Old Northeast, a popular neighborhood in St Petersburg that is close to downtown, is pedestrian friendly, which adds to its appeal. Some of the homes in the Old Northeast date back to the 1910s – others are still being built, though generally on lots that previously had homes. Characteristic of the neighborhood, garages are typically behind the house, with alley access. The front porches encourage neighbors to know one another, as you’re much more likely to chat if one of you is on the porch and the other is on the sidewalk walking by. People are unlikely to walk up to your house and ring the doorbell just to say, Hello! When you’re within sight of one another, it’s only natural to nod, wave or strike up a conversation.
Hint: if you want to get to know your neighbors, take a dog out for a walk (yours or one that’s borrowed) – just remember that they’ll know your dog before they know you.
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