St. Petersburg, Florida -- There's a lot happening in downtown St. Petersburg these days. Several construction projects are bringing in more people to the area, which is good for nearby businesses and for creating more jobs, but some people living in downtown St. Petersburg say the convenience of being there can be a bit inconvenient at times.
For those living or working near the University Village area by the Publix Supermarket at 50 3rd Street South, the loud construction noise can be unbearable at times. While it may be the price of progress it's driving some people crazy.
Tavarus Gaddy lives and works in the area and says, "It is super loud. I'll be glad when it's done."
So will city leaders like Commissioner Karl Nurse. The area is in the district he represents.
"What was a vacant lot for 15 years will be 300 nice new apartments that people will be able to walk to restaurants, entertainment, to the grocery store," Nurse says.
When 10 News spoke with people in the streets who live or work in the downtown area many say downtown St. Petersburg already had a lot to offer, but they'd like to see more.
Phillip Gruber works downtown.
"For convenience sake, working down here, there are not enough fast food restaurants -- McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's -- in close proximity to the downtown area and it's a little pricier to eat at some of the various other restaurants down here," he says.
Carter Dudley lives and works downtown and says more clothing stores are needed.
"More jewelry stores, shorts stores, like Forever 21, all that kind of stuff."
Gaddy adds he'd like to see organic, healthier food choices in the area, "Just maybe a smaller marketplace like Mom and Pop-based."
Raven Lee lives in downtown St. Petersburg and says, "First Friday is a good start. We need to go and branch out with that -- show there's exciting things going on in St. Pete. There are cities that have festivals every weekend."
Commissioner Nurse says St. Petersburg is already branching out.
"Virtually every weekend we have events in the park downtown that draw thousands of people," he says.
Nurse says construction is the key to getting most of the things on everyone's wish list for the area.
"We have shopping coming back with what was Baywalk being reborn and every time we build one of these multi-style apartments -- at the first floor there is some retail that happens -- so we're growing retail at every block."
Nurse says there are a few thousand relatively new housing units in downtown St. Petersburg right now with a couple thousand more under construction right now.
