NEIGHBORHOODS
19 January/February 2019 StPeteLifeMag.com
Common Ground
in common is the appreciation for the old, dense landscape that
protects the coastal neighborhood from sun and wind. Where other
neighborhoods have seen their canopies dwindle by attrition from
in some cases been passed from generation to generation. Even the
larger waterfront homes are framed by majestic oaks that would
take 100 years to replace.
How has Driftwood avoided the fate of other areas of St. Pete? One
big reason is its tight-knit community of conscientious homeowners.
has regular meetings and safely maintaining the area’s lush
special agreement with utility companies who are normally eager to
landscaper to tend to park areas.
The concentration of longtime residents has fostered longstanding
traditions. There is an annual Fourth of July parade where
the Pentannual Raft Race pits residents in a home-made rafting
competition with a traveling trophy and enough awards to send
scavenger hunts and a popular New Year’s Eve progressive dinner.
The care and cooperation is a beautiful thing, and something the
neighborhood seeks to protect as development in surrounding areas
set them apart, and Driftwood may lead the pack among other more
being a century old, but from what has taken a century to create.
Landmark Designation
Recently, a consensus among a majority of neighbors was reached
to apply for local landmark designation as a historic district to
protect the neighborhood from the changes to landscape and scale
of home that well-meaning property owners can bring when they
update older homes. Of the 47 properties, a majority voted to
after a lengthy review. The support is remarkable when considering
the task of communicating with so many property owners.
Driftwood celebrates each July 4th with a neighborhood parade. Photo/Trish Moore
/StPeteLifeMag.com