St. Petersburg, Florida
Coquina Key
The Friendly Island
Waterfront canal-front island neighborhood.
What Is Coquina Key Like?
Coquina Key sits on its own island in south St. Petersburg, ringed on every side by the waters of Tampa Bay and connected to the mainland by bridges at 39th Avenue South. Longtime residents still call it by the nickname it earned in a 1957 community contest: the Friendly Island.
The island was originally known as Lewis Island, named for early St. Petersburg grocer and banker Edson Lewis, who purchased the land in 1910. Developer Charles Hall dredged a channel between Big Bayou and Little Bayou in 1920, physically turning the peninsula into an island. It stayed a popular picnic spot until the Mackle Company began developing roughly 350 acres in 1955, laying out the canal-front streets and single-family lots that define Coquina Key today.
Most homes were built between the 1950s and 1970s, and a large share sit directly on saltwater canals with private docks and seawalls, making the neighborhood one of the more accessible entry points into boating life in St. Petersburg. Grandview Park anchors the north end of the island, and the drive to downtown St. Pete or the Sunshine Skyway approach takes about ten minutes.
What Is the Coquina Key Real Estate Market Like Right Now?
Source: public IDX Broker listings for Coquina Key, St. Petersburg, checked August 20, 2026.
What Amenities Does Coquina Key Have?
Sourced from the Coquina Key Neighborhood Association (ckna.org) and Coquina Key Park.
- ✔ Coquina Key Neighborhood Association (CKNA), an active 501(c)(4) nonprofit with an elected board
- ✔ Lighted tennis courts at Coquina Key Park
- ✔ Pickleball courts
- ✔ Basketball courts
- ✔ A fenced dog park
- ✔ A children's playground
- ✔ A soccer field
- ✔ Fishing docks on the bayou
- ✔ A fishing pier
- ✔ A paved walking trail
- ✔ Waterside Yacht Club, a private development with managed wet-slip boat dockage
- ✔ Nearby public boat ramps at Bay Vista Park and Maximo Park
- ✔ CKNA liaison relationship with St. Petersburg Police, City Council, and Code Enforcement
- ✔ Private docks and seawalls on many canal-front streets
Why Do Buyers Choose Coquina Key?
Water on Every Side
Because Coquina Key is a true island, a large share of its homes back directly onto navigable saltwater canals with private docks and seawalls, giving boat owners quick access to Tampa Bay without the drive to a marina.
A Neighborhood With History
From its start as Lewis Island in 1910 to the 1957 contest that renamed it "the Friendly Island," Coquina Key has a documented, storied past that longtime residents take pride in, including local tales of rumrunners along its shoreline.
South St. Pete Convenience
Grandview Park, the Bayboro waterfront, and the I-275 approach to the Sunshine Skyway are all close by, and downtown St. Petersburg is a short drive across the water.
A Multi-Sport Public Park
Coquina Key Park packs lighted tennis, pickleball, basketball, a fenced dog park, a playground, and a soccer field into one neighborhood park, an unusual density of recreation for a single-family canal community.
An Active, Organized Association
The Coquina Key Neighborhood Association (CKNA) is a governed 501(c)(4) nonprofit that acts as a direct liaison to St. Petersburg Police, City Council, and Code Enforcement, giving residents an organized voice in how the island is run.
Boat Access Without a Private Seawall
Buyers who want water access without taking on a private dock and seawall can look at Waterside Yacht Club, a managed wet-slip development on the Key, or launch nearby at Bay Vista Park and Maximo Park.
What Should Buyers Know Before Buying in Coquina Key?
Seawall and Dock Condition
Most canal-front homes were built in the 1950s and 1960s, which means seawalls and private docks are decades old. Have both inspected and ask for any permit or repair history before writing an offer.
Flood Zone and Insurance
As an island surrounded by Tampa Bay, Coquina Key sits largely in FEMA flood zones. Get a flood insurance quote early in your search, since it can shift the real monthly cost of a canal-front home significantly.
Age of Home Systems
With most homes dating to the 1950s through 1970s, roof age, electrical panels, and plumbing are worth a close look. A four-point inspection will also affect what insurers are willing to quote.
Voluntary Neighborhood Association
CKNA is an active nonprofit, not a mandatory HOA, so there are no association dues tied to the deed. Buyers should confirm whether a specific street or dock has its own separate agreement.
Your Coquina Key Real Estate Expert in St. Petersburg, Florida
2025 Broker of the Year (Tampa Bay Real Producers & STAR). RealTrends Top 1.5% of Agents Nationwide. Nearly 500 transactions and almost $200M in career sales.
Who Is Liane Jamason?
Liane Jamason is the Broker/Owner of Corcoran Dwellings and a St. Petersburg waterfront specialist who has personally closed nearly 500 transactions and almost $200 million in sales. She and her team focus heavily on the city's canal-front and bayfront neighborhoods, including island communities like Coquina Key.
What Does Liane Do at Coquina Key?
On Coquina Key, Liane helps buyers evaluate not just the home but the canal itself: seawall condition, dock permitting, and how a specific lot's elevation compares to its neighbors. For sellers, she prices canal-front and interior lots correctly instead of treating the whole island as one market, and markets waterfront listings directly to the boating buyers searching for them.
Who Does Liane Help at Coquina Key?
- ✔ Buyers searching for Coquina Key homes for sale
- ✔ Boaters wanting a private dock and direct Tampa Bay access without a marina drive
- ✔ Buyers comparing canal-front lots to interior Coquina Key streets
- ✔ Sellers who want to know what their canal-front home is worth today
- ✔ Buyers relocating to St. Petersburg who want an established, walkable island neighborhood
- ✔ Owners weighing a dock, seawall, or dredging project before selling
What Coquina Key Problems Does Liane Help Solve?
- ✔ Flood zone designation and what it means for insurance costs
- ✔ Seawall age, condition, and repair or replacement cost
- ✔ Private dock permitting and any outstanding violations
- ✔ Canal depth and tidal access for a specific boat size
- ✔ Comparable sales between canal-front and interior lots
- ✔ Finished floor elevation and elevation certificates
- ✔ CKNA membership and neighborhood association matters
- ✔ Insurance quotes for older canal-front construction
What Does Liane Specialize In at Coquina Key?
Coquina Key Homes
Liane helps buyers understand the real difference between a canal-front lot and an interior Coquina Key street, in both lifestyle and price.
Waterfront and Canal Real Estate
Her waterfront practice covers seawalls, docks, flood zones, and boating access across St. Petersburg's canal neighborhoods.
Buyer and Seller Representation
Liane represents both sides of a Coquina Key transaction, from the first showing through closing.
Why Work With Liane to Buy or Sell at Coquina Key?
Coquina Key rewards buyers and sellers who understand what makes one canal-front lot more valuable than the one next door. Liane and her team bring that street-level knowledge to every Coquina Key transaction, from a first-time boater's purchase to a longtime owner's sale.
Coquina Key, Frequently Asked Questions
Is Coquina Key a waterfront neighborhood?
Yes. Coquina Key is a true island in south St. Petersburg, and many of its homes sit directly on saltwater canals with private docks and seawalls providing boat access to Tampa Bay.
What is the price range for homes in Coquina Key right now?
Active and pending listings we checked in Coquina Key start around $269,900, with recent listings in our sample reaching as high as $846,000. There were 97 active or pending listings on the day we checked. Liane Jamason and her team can pull current comparable sales for a specific street or canal.
Is Coquina Key in a flood zone?
As a low-lying island surrounded by Tampa Bay, much of Coquina Key sits in a FEMA flood zone that typically requires flood insurance. Seawall condition and finished floor elevation both affect insurability, so it is worth pulling the elevation certificate before making an offer.
What kind of homes will I find in Coquina Key?
Most homes date from the 1950s through the 1970s, ranging from modest canal-front ranch homes to larger updated or newly built waterfront properties, many with private docks.
Is there a homeowners association on Coquina Key?
Coquina Key does not have a mandatory homeowners association. The Coquina Key Neighborhood Association (CKNA) is a voluntary civic group that advocates for residents with the City of St. Petersburg and helps maintain Coquina Key Park, but membership and dues are optional, not required for homeownership.
Where Is Coquina Key Located in St. Petersburg?
Talk to St. Petersburg's Coquina Key Specialist
Nearly 500 transactions. Almost $200M in sales. 2025 Broker of the Year. Let's talk about Coquina Key, whether you are buying, selling, or just exploring your options.
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