Fun living for a month or for a year! It is time to escape to the Sunshine State or just get away to the beach! Walk to the beach on the Gulf of Mexico from this Windrush Cove Condo with island resort living at its finest. Enjoy this spectacular turn-key first floor condo with 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. The 2nd bedroom features a built in desk and cabinetry as well as a Murphy Bed. This tastefully furnished condo includes linens, towels, dishes, pots and pans. Covered parking is right at your front door. Included in the rent are cable TV, plus water and sewer. In addition, the rent also includes use of the waterfront clubhouse amenities. The heated swimming pool (winter months) overlooks the Intracoastal Waterway, shuffleboard courts, fitness center, and large activities center with an entertainment room, library for quiet moments, fireplace, piano, a ping pong table and an area for games. Windrush Cove is located away from the beach traffic yet so close to the happenings of Indian Rocks Beach! This community is located on Clearwater Harbor an Intracoastal Waterway and has a very easy and short walk, drive or bike ride to the beach. There are nearby parks, as well as a public boat ramp and local historical museum. This condo is ready for you and is available as a long term or short term rental (30 days minimum). Now Available! CALL FOR YOUR APPOINTMENT TODAY! Sorry no pets.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJVNw21sDLk

St. Petersburg still retains much of the resort-town flavor its founders so cherished, a community of pelicans, porpoises, endless sunshine and sailboats.

In 1875, General John Williams came down from Detroit and bought 2,500 acres of land on Tampa Bay. He envisioned a grand city with graceful parks and broad streets, the trademark of today’s St. Petersburg. The city’s first hotel was named after his birthplace, Detroit.

Thirteen years later, Peter Demens, a noble Russian aristocrat, brought the Orange Belt Railway to St. Petersburg. On June 8, 1888, the first train arrived, carrying empty freight cars and one passenger, a shoe salesman from Savannah. Built one rail at a time, with unpaid laborers and creditors threatening to lynch Demens all the way, the railroad finally chugged to St. Petersburg. Demens named the city after his birthplace, St. Petersburg, Russia. St. Petersburg incorporated as a city in June 1903.

Three Firsts

The year 1914 brought two firsts to St. Petersburg. The rich history of spring training and Florida’s love affair with baseball began that year when the city’s former mayor, Al Lang, convinced Branch Rickey to move his St. Louis Browns to the Sunshine City for spring training.

Also that year, Tony Jannus flew his Benoist airplane across Tampa Bay in 23 minutes, skimming across the water at a height of 50 feet. The event is commonly hailed as the birth of commercial aviation.

The city’s first library, built along Mirror Lake using Andrew Carnegie funds, opened December 1, 1915 and remains in operation today.

The Roaring Twenties

In the 1920s, the state’s first big growth boom brought an invasion of tourists who arrived by auto, railroad, and yacht. In 1924, the Gandy Bridge opened — cutting travel time to Tampa by more than half and positioning St. Petersburg to become Pinellas County’s largest city.

The boom years in the 1920s brought notable architecture to St. Petersburg. The city’s architecture reflected a Mediterranean Revival motif, fostered in large part by Perry Snell, who created a 275-acre subdivision, Snell Isle.

St. Petersburg’s Mediterranean Revival makeover is evident in several buildings including The Vinoy Hotel, the Jungle Country Club Hotel, the Princess Martha, and the Snell Arcade, and can be seen in the Spanish castles and homes along Coffee Pot Bayou and in the Jungle Prada neighborhood.

Through the 1920s, St. Petersburg continued to have strong tourist years. During the Depression, the real estate boom crashed. St. Petersburg recovered, though, with large Public Works Administration projects in the 1930s, which helped the city begin its economic recovery with $10 million in new investment. St. Petersburg’s City Hall was built with New Deal federal funds in 1939.

During the 1940s, the city witnessed large growth. It was home to the U.S. Coast Guard Station on Bayboro Harbor as a training base for World War II troops. Nightly anti-submarine air patrols were made over the Gulf of Mexico, and the War Department later selected St. Petersburg as a major technical services training center for the Army Air Corps. More than 100,000 trainees filled every hotel in the city swelling the population and creating a housing shortage as their families looked for a place to live. Post war, many of the military men stationed here returned to live with their families or visit as tourists.

The 1950s

The 1950s are notable for the advent of air conditioning, which brought a considerable amount of housing for retirees. Central Plaza and Tyrone Gardens Shopping Center began to draw commerce from the downtown core. The population peaked beyond 200,000 and streetcar tracks were removed to make way for a society of automobiles.

New development in the 1960s included the municipal marina, the main library, the Bayfront Center, and the Museum of Fine Arts.

In the 1970s, St. Petersburg looked to the future by developing reclaimed water, recycled wastewater used for irrigation. It developed the largest reclaimed water system in the United States. Today, St. Petersburg continues to lead the region in conserving precious water resources. The’70s also saw the beginning of St. Petersburg’s quest for a Major League Baseball franchise and construction of a multi-purpose domed stadium. The pursuit of baseball materialized 20 years later with the arrival of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 1998 to their permanent home at downtown’s Tropicana Field.

The stately Renaissance Vinoy Resort on the downtown waterfront was restored to its circa-1925 grandeur, reopening in 1992. BayWalk, a dining, retail and entertainment destination brought movie theaters and upscale shopping to downtown in 2000. Since the late 1990s, the downtown core has transformed into one of Florida’s hottest neighborhoods, where more than 14,000 residents call the downtown core their home – choosing from urban-style lofts and townhomes, to luxury condominiums along Beach Drive.  With the continued expansion of USF St. Petersburg, downtown is also home to a growing number of students. More than 10 oceanographic institutes call St. Petersburg’s Bayboro Harbor area their home.

The city’s MLB team shortened their name to the Tampa Bay Rays in 2008. And, in that same season earned their first-ever postseason spot, going on to win the 2008 American League pennant and play in five World Series games, hosting two at the Trop.

The New Millennium

Since the new millennium, St. Petersburg has emerged as a top destination for the arts – with the dynamic new Dali Museum opening in 2011, the Dale Chihuly world renowned glass collection, and six art districts.

The city’s notable inverted pyramid Pier, which saw its last complete renovation in 1989 and thrived more than 24 more years before the badly deteriorating facility was closed in 2013.  The city is amid a public process to replace the historic, iconic waterfront landmark.

As St. Petersburg enters its second golden age, and steps boldly into the 21st century, the downtown core continues its revitalization with projects that include retail shops, restaurants, and movie theaters. More than 900 events bring over 10 million people each year to the sunshine city to experience yacht races, triathlons, baseball, basketball, cycling, festivals, cultural exhibits, and music. The city easily attracts tourists with its cultural district that includes seven museums in the downtown district. A state university, 10 marine institutes and more than two dozen galleries, and the All Children’s Research Center attest to the city’s commitment to education and health care. Historic neighborhoods continue to be restored, as residents invest in their communities with a great source of pride.

Here, young and old, tradition and innovation come together to create a vibrant sense of community.

Rotary is made up of three parts: at the heart of Rotary are our clubs, that are supported by Rotary International and The Rotary Foundation.

Rotary clubs bring together dedicated individuals to exchange ideas, build relationships, and take action. Rotary International supports Rotary clubs worldwide by coordinating global programs, campaigns, and initiatives. The Rotary Foundation uses generous donations to fund projects by Rotarians and our partners in communities around the world. As a nonprofit, all of the Foundation’s funding comes from voluntary contributions made by Rotarians and friends who share the vision of a better world.

Together, Rotary clubs, Rotary International, and The Rotary Foundation work to make lasting improvements in our communities and around the world.

The Rotary District 6950 is comprised of 2,000 members among 49 clubs in 8 different areas. Each area is elected an assistant governor whose role is to act as an intermediary between the area and the district governor. As Area 1 district governor, Allen Collins, is the head of 6 different clubs in which he works with each of the clubs’ presidents to help make them more effective. With the success that Area 1 has achieved this year, Allen Collins has been name the Assistant Governor of the Year for this district. The clubs of district 6950 include the Gulf Beaches, St. Petersburg, St. Pete Midtown, St. Pete Sunrise, St. Pete Sunset, and St. Petersburg West. 

Congratulations, Allen!

NEW LISTING!!!

Thinking about buying your first home, or perhaps upgrading from your current place? Thanks to the current economic climate and game-changing technology in the housing market, now is the perfect time to take the plunge. Low interest rates Lenders are giving buyers mortgage rates that are extremely enticing—you can get a mortgage below 4.0%. There’s a good chance these are the lowest mortgage rates we’ll see in a long time, which means affordability is at a high. Prices are on their way up Mortgage rates may be low, but housing prices are getting higher and higher because of demand—prices increased 5.1% year-over-year in November 2015. If you’re thinking about buying, delaying a few years could lead to a higher purchase price, or getting less home for your money. A great job market The United States added 2.65 million jobs in the last year. There’s increasing job security and available work, leading to high consumer confidence. Technology makes buying simpler and less expensive. There are an increasing number of websites and apps that simplify the process, make it easier to shop around for homes and mortgages, and save you money. Cheap fuel Lower gas and energy prices mean more money in your pocket and more purchasing power. The money you’re not putting into your gas tank or toward your utilities can instead go toward saving for a down payment or affording a bigger monthly mortgage payment.

Our team at Allen Collins Realty is here to help you along the way!

Can’t seem to create a living room that feels quite right? …Looking for some styling tips that will bring your living room up a notch?

Here are five ideas that can dramatically improve your living room.

• Move the furniture away from the walls: The tendency is to place your furniture against the walls, but giving it a little room to breathe will make the seating area seem cozier while also making the room seem more spacious.
• Mix old and new pieces: Using the same furniture set to furnish an entire room can make it seem a bit sterile. Try mixing and matching different pieces and styles to give your living room a more eclectic feel.
• Keep everything low: Arranging photos and artwork lower on walls will make a room appear larger, and can also draw more attention to the pieces themselves.
• Place a bookshelf behind the sofa: It doesn’t have to be your entire personal library. Mix and match books with knick-knacks and other items to add some depth and texture to the space behind your sofa.
• Try a smaller coffee table: Your current coffee table is probably larger than it needs to be, and it may be dominating the room. Try downsizing to a table that can still hold magazines, a centerpiece, and a few drinks, but will also give you a bit more room to move around your furniture.

Gorgeous Luxury Home New to the Market in Tierra Verde! 

Custom designed and built in 2015, this gorgeous 3,416 sf estate features 3 bedrooms including a downstairs master suite, theater/bonus room, elegant office and 3 baths. Peaceful tropical outdoor living meets masterful luxury with pocketing triple sliding glass doors, refreshing pool and spa, travertine deck and sand firepit. First floor master suite features a tranquil bedroom with French doors onto rear pool deck, shower with pebble stone accent and rain showerhead, custom closet and pass-through to laundry room. The stunning, triple-thick island countertop will stop visitors in their tracks; the centerpiece for all of your gatherings. This retreat has an abundance of luxurious amenities to enhance your life: dual wine refrigerator and beverage center, pearl ice maker, soft-close cabinets and drawers, walk-in pantry with automatic light, slide-out spice rack and utensil trays, whole-house water purifier, 6-zone Sonos sound system, multiple wireless access point boosters, and 8-foot solid-core doors. Transom windows in the master suite and office softly illuminate both your relaxation and work spaces. A beautiful natural stone facade greets you and your awestruck guests, and continues into the living room. The custom pool features a sunshelf, spillover spa, waterfalls and firebowls. Two-car main garage, plus separate golf cart and storage garage. No expense spared ensuring this is your dream home!!

Call ANDREA HAWK at 727-409-7152 for more details!

AHawk@AllenCollinsRE.com