BungalowFest -- November 2-3, 2007
To learn about the Fest and for further information, contact Stephanie Schorr. (Click her name above to generate an e-mail using your default e-mail program.) E-mail her as well at Craftsman House Gallery, or call her at 727-323-2787. Scroll down to see photoshows of previous Bungalowfests.
BungalowFest Sponsors for 2006
Check out these fine sponsors of BungalowFest 2006.
Click here to view them. It's a great way to show your support for our community.
BungalowFest
by Kathleen Larrison
 Historic Kenwood has one of the highest concentrations of 1920's Craftsman style bungalows in Florida. We are listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
BungalowFest is a tour of homes that showcases the architectural richness of our community. It is now a two-day event, punctuated by BungalowFest by Moonlight and the BungalowFest Home and Garden Tour.
BungalowFest by Moonlight is a walking tour. In the South, we call it a stroll.
In addition to extreme attention to detail in craftsmanship, Southern hospitality dictates that each house offers refreshments to guests who arrive on foot. Wine and hors d'oeuvres will be served on the evening tour.
BungalowFest Home and Garden Tour offers a more expansive view of the neighborhood. The next Bungalowfest will be held November 2-3, 2007. Make sure to put it on your calendar!
For your comfort, guests will be transported by open-air trolley, navigating through the brick streets, stopping at clusters of homes on display. The architectural styles represented are: Craftsman Bungalow, Tudor, Minimal Traditional, Mediterranean Revival, Colonial Revival, and Ranch. You will see many examples of these period homes.
A Brief History of Historic Kenwood
Charles R. Hall, one of the top five real estate developers of early St. Petersburg, originally developed the Historic Kenwood Neighborhood in 1912. He purchased and developed the 160-acre area situated between 25th and 31st Streets from 1st Avenue South to 5th Avenue North.
As a progressive if not shrewd measure, Hall donated one square block to the City of St. Petersburg to be used as Seminole Park, adding a family atmosphere to his development.
Most homes were built on a site, but during the mid 1930s, approximately 170 homes from other St. Petersburg neighborhoods were moved to this area.
By 1975, however, Historic Kenwood had become what most would call a blighted community. Neglected homes and crime were pervasive, and the neighborhood had all but lost its family atmosphere.
But that’s the past. Today, the Historic Kenwood neighborhood in St. Petersburg has undergone a resurgence in popularity, a renaissance. On every street, families and investors alike have bought and restored properties. Although it wasn’t always this way, to build a new house in Historic Kenwood, the City’s historic review board must approve the design. Can you tell which period homes are loving restorations and which are brand new?
Updated January 10, 2007
New Page 1
Bungalowfest, an annual showcase of Kenwood homes, features a range of architectural styles, from the 1920s Craftsman Bungalow to postwar Ranch, Minimal Traditional, Colonial and Mediterranean Revival. You'll see all of these styles in the rooms below. Bungalowfest started in 1999. It is held the Saturday following the first Thursday in November.
| 
