NEIGHBORHOODS
Neighbors gather for a Thanksgiving in the park. Florida Poet Laureate Peter Meinke, standing, is a longtime Driftwood resident. Home photos/ Rixon Photography; center photo Trish Moore.
It’s easy to see why Driftwood is special while taking a stroll with Laurie Macdonald, a resident for nearly 30 years. We don’t make it far without stopping to chat with a familiar face. She explains that Driftwood is a little different than some other districts that have sought to protect architectural style elements.
of tax breaks and exceptions from modern rules that are impractical to enforce when improving older properties. National data also indicates that property values in historic districts outpace the market and tend to be more stable in downturns. Through boom and bust, Driftwood grew from unusual beginnings into a place unlike anywhere else in the city. With continued care and an eye toward its past, it will continue as a hidden jewel, nearby -- but somehow off -- the beaten path.
“Our residents are concerned about preserving the integrity of Driftwood through maintaining its unique landscape and one of the main threats is that developers tend to clear-cut properties when building a new home. From what we’ve seen built here over the years, lots in Driftwood can accommodate eclectic homes compatible with the scale and character of the neighborhood.” Laws pertaining to local designation acknowledge the added effort in owning property in a historic district. Owners can take advantage
To see a short video on Driftwood, go to Neighborhood Profiles on the city’s web site at http://www.stpete.org/neighborhoods/ neighborhood_profiles.php
Driftwood founder was renowned artist In a city full of museums and resident artists, Mark Dixon Dodd was the first nationally known artist to call St. Pete home. In the 1930s, he designed 19 homes in Driftwood, each with a painting to hang over the fireplace. A testament to their charm, all 19 of those homes remain and many owners still display their original Dodd paintings. Dodd, too, remained in St. Pete. He opened an art school, was a prominent fixture in many art shows, and his work was featured in the 100th anniversary celebration of the Morean Art Center. He split his time between St. Pete and the mountains of North Carolina until he died here in 1952. We can thank Dodd for his role in nurturing St. Pete’s early art community. A painting by Mark Dixon Dodd hangs above the fireplace in a Driftwood home. Photo/Laurie Macdonald