Belleair, Florida began as a resort town with the construction of the Bellevue Hotel by businessman Henry B. Plant in 1896. The hotel increased tourist interest in the area and created demand for a residential neighborhood. Construction of the first subdivision began in 1924 and the town incorporated in 1925, choosing to be a separate entity from the neighboring City of Clearwater. The Eagles Nest Japanese Gardens, a popular tourist attraction in the town, opened in 1938. As a result of World War II, the gardens were closed in 1952 and turned into the Eagles Nest subdivision.
According to the United States Census Bureau, Belleair has a total area of 2.8 square miles, of which 1.8 square miles is land and 1.0 square mile is water. As of the last census, the population of Belleair is 3,869. In 2020 there were 10 properties that sold with an average sales price of $589,690 with an average of 80 days on market
Welcome back to our series as we explore the various cities within Pinellas County. This week is all about the county seat, Clearwater.
The original inhabitants of the area were the Tocobaga Indians. These Indians lived in villages around Tampa Bay. Evidence of their existence is now found in the communal and ceremonial mounds that have been excavated in the area. While the biggest are found in neighboring Safety Harbor, they have been seen in the entire area.
Spanish explorers were next. They were attracted to the area by the natural mineral springs. In 1528 Panfilo de Narvaez, a Spanish explorer, landed in the area.
Around 1835 the US Army built Fort Harrison to be used as an outpost during the Seminole Wars. It was located on a bluff overlooking Clearwater Harbor. It later became part of a development called Harbor Oaks.
During the American Civil War, Union gunboats repeatedly raided the cities supplies. Most here fought for the Confederate Army. The city of Clearwater was incorporated on May 27, 1915 and its popularity as a vacation destination grew after railroad magnate Henry B. Plant built a sprawling Victorian resort hotel named Belleview Biltmore just south of Clearwater.
The library was built in 1916 with a grant from Andrew Carnegie. In that same year, the city built the first wooden bridge to Clearwater Beach, opening it up for development.
Here are a few noteworthy years, helping in the growth of Clearwater.
1918 – Pinellas County Courthouse was built.
1926 – Fort Harrison Hotel was re-built.
1976 – Church of Scientology headquartered in Clearwater.
2005 – Clearwater Memorial Causeway opens.
Going forward we’ll highlight the cities in alphabetical order, so next up is Belleair on February 10th.
Pinellas County: 827 – $455,891 average list price
SALES
Gulf Beaches: 92 – $586,876 average sales price – 66 average days on market
St. Petersburg: 504 – $379,219 average sales price – 37 average days on market
Clearwater: 269 – $304,011 average sales price – 38 average days on market
Seminole: 96 – $312,741 average sales price – 23 average days on market
Largo: 122 – $235,990 average sales price – 31 average days on market
Pinellas County: 1,578 – $357,676 average sales price – 39 average days on market
Are you interested in more detailed market information? Thinking of selling your home? Looking for a new nest? Curious to know the market value of your home?
Go to www.pricegrouprealtors.com for a list of our knowledgeable Realtors available to answer all of your real estate questions!
Welcome to our series of learning more about our awesome county where we all love to live, work and play. As Pinellas County’s key growth management concept “Planning to Stay” proclaims, “Pinellas County should be the kind of place where families and businesses will want to stay, and where children will want to remain or return once they become adults. This concept is foundational to an overall vision for the future of Pinellas County.”
Pinellas County was founded on January 1, 1912 after officially separating from Hillsborough County. The name Pinellas was derived from the Spanish words Punta Pinal meaning “Point of Pines.” Here are a few noteworthy early years, helping in the growth of Pinellas County.
1916 – Morton F. Plant gives $100,000 toward the creation of Clearwater’s first hospital, which still bears his name.
1921 – Real estate boom period begins.
1923 – County passes bond issue to build roads and bridges.
1924 – The Gandy Bridge opens, halving the distance between St. Petersburg and Tampa. The bridge was the longest automobile toll bridge in the world.
There are many more significant dates to reflect upon which will be referenced along the way as we highlight the cities that comprise Pinellas County. Clearwater is the county seat and the largest city is St. Petersburg. There are 24 incorporated municipalities in Pinellas County and our series will begin with the county seat, Clearwater next week on February 3rd.
Are you like many others that are looking for a fresh start and a new beginning after 2020? Since it’s not likely that we’ll be leaving our homes anytime soon, it makes perfect sense that the first place to start anew would be at home. It turns out, with all the stress that 2020 brought to our lives, it also influenced some defining changes in the way we decorate, design and live in our homes according to Realtor.com.
DEDICATED HOME OFFICES
Working from the kitchen table was kind of clever when you thought you would be doing it for only a few weeks. But now? In 2021 (and beyond) home offices will be more important than ever.
If you don’t have a spare room for an office one of the biggest trends is to transform a closet into an office…creating the word, “cloffice.”
CLEARLY DELINEATED SPACES
Our obsession with open floor plans are not completely passe (yet), but people are increasingly interested in closing off those wide-open spaces. Due to the pandemic and staying at home, the trend is to create different living spaces within the open floor plan so people will have pockets or nooks in the home for e-learning, Zoom calls, a conversation, lounging, exercising, etc.
HOUSEPLANTS & INDOOR GARDENS
During the pandemic when it was difficult for some to get their daily dose of nature, people started bringing the outdoors in with natural materials in their homes. With the pandemic raging on, the pros say that the indoor houseplant is here to stay.
RATTAN ACCENTS
Along with the houseplant trend, natural materials are having a huge moment. According to designer, Julie Busby rattan is the material du jour, appearing everywhere from drink holders to bed frames.
WOOD-GRAIN KITCHEN CABINETS & COUNTERS
Organic touches are also sprouting up in the heart of the home: the kitchen. Instead of painted kitchen cabinets or the ubiquitous all-white kitchen, expect to see homeowners embracing a more natural look with wood-grain cabinets and wood countertops on islands.
NEXT-LEVEL PLAYGROUNDS
Connecting with nature continues…2020 has taken our cabin fever to record levels. Experts say enhanced outdoor spaces will continue to trend including custom playgrounds which will include zip lines, adventure courses and climbing walls, the ultimate kids club!
OUTDOOR KITCHENS
Multi-season spaces that feature fireplaces or fire pits, patio/deck areas or screened-in porches that can be used year-round are on the rise. That includes outdoor kitchens, which have become more popular than ever during the pandemic.
SMART BATHROOM INNOVATIONS
Never embraced the idea of a bidet in your bathroom? That’s just the start of things you can expect to see a bunch of new bathroom innovations in 2021 as homeowners continue to focus more than ever on hygiene. Touchless appliances, including motion sensors for lighting, and smart temperature control for bathroom floors are becoming very popular.
RETRO FURNITURE & COLOR PALETTES
The pandemic brought on a serious wave of nostalgia for people seeking comfort from the past. Expect to see funky color palettes like mauve, forest green, and burnt orange and throwbacks like ‘80s curves and ‘90s traditionalism. People are nostalgic for simpler times.
COZY, LAYERED VIBES
People want to feel at ease in their homes now more than ever. Before the pandemic, people may have put form before function to create that out-of-a-magazine look. That means warm colors and natural wood in lieu of cool grays and blues. Instead of stark white minimalism, expect to see more color and personality in 2021’s home décor. Less uber-modern and more boho chic.
Pinellas County: 734 – $387,457 average list price
SALES
Gulf Beaches: 134 – $686,466 average sales price – 69 average days on market
St. Petersburg: 671 – $396,059 average sales price – 12 average days on market
Clearwater: 357 – $342,995 average sales price – 35 average days on market
Seminole: 132 – $291,011 average sales price – 29 average days on market
Largo: 199 – $268,100 average sales price – 28 average days on market
Pinellas County: 2,148 – $389,637 average sales price – 12 days on market
Are you interested in more detailed market information? Thinking of selling your home? Looking for a new nest? Curious to know the market value of your home?
Go to www.pricegrouprealtors.com for a list of our knowledgeable Realtors available to answer all of your real estate questions!
Pinellas County: 945 – $397,768 average list price
SALES
Gulf Beaches: 66 – $677,486 average sales price – 107 average days on market
St. Petersburg: 566 – $369,062 average sales price – 36 average days on market
Clearwater: 330 – $324,189 average sales price – 34 average days on market
Seminole: 102 – $301,035 average sales price – 25 average days on market
Largo: 148 – $255,853 average sales price – 34 average days on market
Pinellas County: 1,896 – $374,636 average sales price – 38 days on market
Are you interested in more detailed market information? Thinking of selling your home? Looking for a new nest? Curious to know the market value of your home?
Go to www.pricegrouprealtors.com for a list of our knowledgeable Realtors available to answer all of your real estate questions!
Gulf Beaches: 152 – $622,042 average sales price – 66 average days on market
St. Petersburg: 628 – $382,417 average sales price – 38 average days on market
Clearwater: 376 – $297997 average sales price – 39 average days on market
Seminole: 122 – $277,643 average sales price – 25 average days on market
Largo: 181 – $321,912 average sales price – 38 average days on market
Are you interested in more detailed market information? Thinking of selling your home? Looking for a new nest? Curious to know the market value of your home?
Go to www.pricegrouprealtors.com for a list of our knowledgeable Realtors available to answer all of your real estate questions!
In November, New York-based Red Apple Real Estate announced a $300 million project in the 400 block of Central Avenue in St. Petersburg, to include a 46-story residential condominium tower. Plans are underway to obtain preliminary worksite permits, and construction is planned to begin in 2021.
The 515-foot-tall residential tower will be the tallest building on St. Petersburg and will feature 300 condos, and a glass-enclosed observatory on the 46th floor. Other amenities will include a library, private dining room, theater room, outdoor terrace with putting green, dog walking area, bocce court, pool and spa, among other amenities. The development within which the residential tower will be located will include a 20-story hotel, 842-space parking garage, and 25,000 square feet of retail and restaurants.
For more information and to review condominium designs, please contact one of the professional Realtors at Price Group Realtors.
Considering buying a waterfront home in St. Petersburg? You should know about boat access to your property, you don’t want to own a sail boat and have to deal with a fixed bridge or have a center console and not be able to make it home in a storm because the tide is high and your boat is 2 inches to tall to get under the bridge! Bad water access could cost you thousands when it comes to selling your home.
If you are in the Tampa Bay area & looking for a waterfront home call David Price or James Silver at the Price Group. http://www.PriceGroupRealtors.com 727-851-6189
