Belleair Beach is a two-mile-long bedroom community with a population of a little more than 2,000. Housing is primarily single-family homes with some condominiums and a couple of motels.
Our condominiums are rented on a seasonal basis to Canadians and other foreign nationals and U.S. citizens," Says Mayor Bill Atteberry. "We have no commercial property at all."
Beaches in the community are public, but access is private. The price range of homes varies from $60,000 to more than $1 million. "This was originally more of a second-home community," says Mayor Atteberry. "Year-rounders make up the bulk of our population now."
Belleair Bluffs is three-quarters of a mile square bordering the Intracoastal Waterway with no frontage on the Gulf. Its population is 2,400. Retail consists of several shopping centers and seven banks which serve the communities along the beach that don't have banks.
We are connected to the beach communities by the Belleair Beach Causeway," says Major John Diller. The town has a mix of single-family homes, condominiums and apartments. Property owners traditionally have been retirees, but recently professional families have been moving into the community in larger numbers.
We do have an influx of Canadians, Germans and English from November to April," says Mayor Diller. "Many of them own condominiums or rent apartments and return every year."
Belleair Shore is a small, private residential community along the Gulf of Mexico. No commercial activity is sanctioned within the town but residents encourage and support neighboring communities' commercial activities through direct participation in business within those communities and through support of the Barrier Islands Chamber. The town itself, however, is dedicated to preserving the quality of a quiet, residential life on the island.
Mayor Bob Dinicola says: "Indian Rocks Beach has three miles of the friendliest beach located in Pinellas County. The city's tourist population is one of the city's greatest assets, and people come from all ove rthe world to visit Indian Rocks Beach for the city's fine beaches and to watch the beautiful sunsets. The city currently has twenty-plus beach accesses located along Gulf Boulevard for individuals to use to experience the wide open view of the Gulf of Mexico. Located within the city are several retail businesses and quaint restaurants for the public's pleasure."
This community extends 2.5 miles and has a population of 1,405, which increases to well over 5,000 during the winter. Residential is primarily low- to medium-rise condominiums and town houses with a sprinkling of single-family homes on the beach.
Nothing may be built here more than five stores," says Mayor Bob McEwen. "Many of our property owners are Canadians who are long-term winter residents. We also have owners from England, Germany and Italy."
The town offers a variety of restaurants specializing in Chinese, Italian, Spanish, French, even Norwegian cuisine.
"Since our beach was renourished in 1992, we have become the home of the Chamber of Commerce's Taste of the Beaches, and we can Boast of beautiful white sand and a great beach access part at Tiki Gardens, complete with showers and bathrooms open to visitors," said the Mayor.
One of the most beautiful beaches in Florida, Madeira Beach is a 2.5 mile strip of beach that provides a haven for tourists. The town's census population is 4,225 but that number reaches approximately 10,000 during winter minths. Homes, mainly single-family with a few condominiums in the area, range in price from $30,000 to $750,000.
Madeira Beach started as a fishing village, and commercial fishing is still an important part of the community's activities. "More grouper is brought into John's Pass than any other place in the state," says Major Tom DeCesare.
Each October, the community hosts the Seafood Festival at John's Pass attracting as many as 130,000 vistiors to a fair of food, song and arts and crafts..
With nearly one mile of frontage on the Gulf of Mexico and a 1990 permanent population of 1,135, the town offers a blend of single family homes, mid-rise condominiums, resort hotels, motels, restaurants and retail shops. Mayor Harold Radcliffe says that the wide sandy beach was partially renourished a few years ago and is expected to receive additional sand in the next two years. There are six convenient public assesses to the beach with curb side parking and no meters.
Directly on the beach is the Tides Hotel and Bath Club, constructed in 1936 before incorporation and development of the town and still exuding its original Mediterranean-style aura. The North Redington Beach Hilton is a new modern hotel boasting a Gulfside deck and bar with a striking sunset view. Complementing these, along Gulf Boulevard, are numerous condominiums and smaller motels, many of which are directly on the beach and all of which offer a family vacation atmosphere.
Single family homes, some owned by people from other countries for vacation and visiting family use, are mostly on the inner bay waters with ready access to the Intracoastal Waterway. Boating and fishing are convenient and popular pastimes.
Redington Beach, to the north of Madeira Beach, is residential property along the Gulf of Mexico. With a population of 1,628, it is considered a single-family bedroom community. The town has only three motels on its main thoroughfare.
It has been the aim of current and former residents and elected officials to maintain the town's residential character, " says Mayor James Hess.
The town's beautiful beaches are within walking distance of any home. The beach in this area, however, is private with no public parking.
This one-mile-long community has a census population of 2,700 and provides accommodations for tourists in the form of condominiums, hotels, motels and apartment houses, and there are also many quality restaurants. "Our population doubles during winter season," says Mayor Robert J. Stiers. "During the summer season we have an influx of people from England, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Denmark."
Redington Shores provides free parking at its beaches.
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