ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A longtime St. Petersburg resident says her neighborhood is dealing with safety issues caused by an increase in on-street parking.

What You Need To Know

  • Longtime St. Pete resident Sharon Centanne says on-street parking is a problem in her neighborhood in the area of 32nd Avenue North and Hartford Street

  • St. Petersburg officials say several vehicles in the area were found to be parked in areas where on-street parking is not allowed

  • They said the city will also perform a sign review of the area

Sharon Centanne has called St. Pete home for more than 60 years and walks in her neighborhood at Hartford Street and 32nd Avenue North as much as she can.

But she says her walks often become frustrating when she tries to cross streets lined with parked cars.

“It’s difficult," she said. "All I see when I look this way is cars. I can’t see if anyone is coming or not."

To make things worse, some of the vehicles were seen parked illegally under signs that say: “No parking this side of street.”

“It’s almost impossible to drive through or walk through,” Centanne said.

Her concern isn’t just for pedestrians, she also worries about drivers who have to squeeze through these streets.

“There’s so much traffic and so much congestion,” Centanne said. “There’s so much street parking, I feel like I’m living in a parking lot. And it wasn’t like this even five or 10 years ago.”

Centanne said she believes that’s because there are more residents in the area now, especially in apartment buildings.

Spectrum Bay News 9 asked St. Petersburg officials about the issue.

They said that staff members were sent out to inspect Hartford Street near 32nd Avenue North, and citations were issued to vehicles found in violation of the “no parking” signs.

They said the city will also perform a sign review of the area.

Centanne said she was also concerned about an affordable housing project that has been proposed in the area, and how it could impact parking. City officials told Spectrum Bay News 9 that the project is still in the early stages and they anticipate it will provide off-street parking spaces.  

Centanne said she doesn’t mind new neighbors, but hopes the city has a plan for parking going forward.

“If they add more neighbors, they should add more parking for every neighbor that moves in," she said. "So that no one should have to park in the street and block traffic."