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Downtown, Act 2

Parkshore starts a new wave of urban dwelling.

By PAUL SWIDER
Published March 11, 2007

ST. PETERSBURG - Billie and Carlos Baker spent almost 30 years living in Pinellas County, enjoying 17 years in a large waterfront home in Tierra Verde. When they first moved here from Illinois, there was no need to visit St. Petersburg's desolate downtown. "We never came downtown before," said Billie, 63. "We had no reason to, except to go to the dentist." But after selling their insurance company in 2000 and thinking about retirement, the couple gave downtown a look. They were so surprised to see activity in a burgeoning urban center that they bought a condominium in Parkshore Plaza. "There's been so many changes," Billie said. "Downtown now is like living in Disneyland for grownups."

The Bakers could have retired anywhere, but chose Parkshore. The most recent project to be occupied, Parkshore has attracted a population that serves as a sign of things to come. The 29-story condo tower at Beach Drive and Third Avenue N is home to the Bakers who've lived here for decades, as well as transplants from Colombia, France and the United Kingdom.

Its location in the midst of a rebounding city center filling with culture and entertainment attracts people who've seen the world and have found the parts they like in a homey waterfront setting.

"We've traveled a lot and never seen a place so pretty," said Gene Towery, who, with her husband, Henry, sold a South Tampa townhome to buy into the Parkshore two years ago.

The Towerys retired from teaching at the University of South Florida. She is an artist after 23 years of teaching early childhood education. He spent almost 30 years teaching international marketing, which took him to 19 countries. They said they've found all they need now within a few blocks.

"You can go for days here and not have to move your car," said Henry, who echoes his Parkshore neighbors on the walkability of amenities. He also remarked about the growing international population. "If you walk out on the Pier, it's amazing how many people are speaking different languages."

"We like the way of living here better than in Europe," said Kiki Kuijten, a Dutch native who shares a condo with her husband, John. The couple have lived in the U.S. for many years, but also have had addresses in Singapore, Istanbul, Belgium and Venezuela. They say the cultural assets here rival almost anywhere.

The Kuijtens have met other foreigners in the building, but they say even the American residents are well-traveled.

"The intellectual community here is very good. That's why I've located myself within it," said Michael Bates, a New York City native who, before moving to the Parkshore, hadn't lived in the U.S. for 40 years. "I was looking for someplace with culture, where I could walk. And fish."

Bates, 63, has lived throughout Latin America where he worked as a business executive.

Vic Buscaino had lived in Miami after 33 years in construction. He'd lived in Naples and Sarasota, two other places many Parkshore residents passed on before choosing St. Petersburg. After Buscaino's wife died three years ago, he decided to stay in part because the city's accessibility reminded him of his San Francisco childhood.

While many Parkshore residents are retired, they're not all elderly. There are families with small children in the building and plenty who still work. All seem to gravitate to the area because of its convenience, culture and commerce.

"Live, work, play, shop," said Larry Heinkel, 49, an attorney with Raymond James who relocated from Orlando. "It has that European feel. You don't have to go more than a couple miles for anything. I doubt I'll ever get bored living downtown."

Heinkel and his wife, Liz, had looked at the beaches first but found little going on there. Steve Westphal felt the same way when he bought his Parkshore unit after he found he was spending less time at his Indian Shores home.

"If you can't find something to do down here, there's something wrong with you," said Westphal, who liked the location so much, he opened the Parkshore Grill on the ground floor of the building.

Residents say they worry about the homeless issue, which clouds an almost perfect environment. Some worry that rising costs could price out diversity and make downtown similar to Sarasota or Naples, bastions of the superwealthy. Some suggest economics are outpacing political acumen.

"The opportunities are astronomical, but they need to do their research," said Joe Girolamo, 58, a former Belleair Beach commissioner who lives in Parkshore with his wife, Lynn. He said city officials sometimes make harsh decisions, like cutting tents of the homeless, which makes the city look bad and could hamper development.

More buildings like Parkshore are rising out of the ground, from 400 Beach Drive to Ovation to Signature. The expensive price tags suggest more well-to-do, successful, cosmopolitan residents like Parkshore's.

Paul Swider can be reached at 892-2271 or pswider@sptimes.com or by participating in itsyourtimes.com .

[Last modified March 10, 2007, 21:06:32]