St. Petersburg Police Chief Anthony Holloway (left) and Mayor Ken Welch. Photo by Mark Parker.
City and community leaders recently sounded the alarm over a surge in youth crime at Jordan Park. Stakeholders now say the situation at St. Petersburg’s first public housing development has improved.
Councilmember Deborah Figgs-Sanders requested a committee discussion in February due to an influx of “criminal and violent behavior” in Jordan Park. Police Chief Anthony Holloway said over a third of calls for assistance in the area from June 1,2025, to Jan. 28 were related to “juveniles, crowds, and brawling.”
Holloway subsequently explained that calls for service dramatically increased in December, to 110, before dropping by 39% in January. He said law enforcement expects a citywide spike in youth issues around spring, summer, and winter breaks.
“The kids are out of school, they have nothing to do, and people start calling in on them,” Holloway told Power Broker Magazine. “People tend to see them more.”
While fights among youth had increased in Jordan Park, Holloway noted that the St. Petersburg Police Department received just 22 calls for brawling from June 1 to Jan. 28. Officers also responded to 51 reports of disorderly juveniles, 24 auto thefts, 24 crowd issues, and 17 narcotics violations.
Another 16 residents reported hearing shots in the area from June through January. Holloway said the calls encompass both real and perceived threats.
Stakeholders have split on whether residents or visitors are more responsible for the issues. “We can’t stop and ask who lives here and who doesn’t live here,” Holloway said. “So, I can’t tell you where those kids are from unless we make an encounter with them.”
Officers completed 188 directed patrols, 100 park, walk, and talk outings, and 34 special assignments in Jordan Park from June 1 to Jan. 28. SPPD has increased those efforts in response to community concerns.
A graphic highlighting police activity in Jordan Park between June 1, 2025, and Jan. 28, 2026. Image: St. Petersburg Police Department.
St. Petersburg Housing Authority (SPHA) leadership told city officials in February that the situation was scaring away residents and employees. The agency manages Jordan Park, which opened between 1939 and 1941 along the 22nd Street South (Deuces) corridor.
Nick Fokianos, communications director for SPHA, said increasing police patrols around Florida’s oldest public housing community has “been a big help.” Residents are also “grateful.”
The agency hired private security for the Legacy at Jordan Park, a $93 million senior housing development that opened in October 2023. Although nothing is “set in stone,” Fokianos said SPHA is working with the city to increase safety measures throughout the surrounding neighborhood.
“When you have a large group of youth who are out late, unsupervised, of course, trouble can find them,” he added. “So, we’re trying to guide them to more productive endeavors.”
The Legacy at Jordan has enhanced security measures that are cost prohibitive to implement throughout the community. Photo by Mark Parker.
Fokianos said SPHA’s social services department facilitates multiple youth programs at Jordan Park. He noted that the “fantastic” team now feels more secure and appreciates the police department’s efforts.
Residents are also responsible for their visitors, Fokianos said. “If your guests come in and they engage in bad actions, that can get you kicked out. So, we’re making that clear.”
Councilmember Corey Givens Jr. represents the area. He, like Holloway, realizes that “kids are going to be kids.”
However, Givens believes stakeholders must also “put some pressure on those parents.” He said the entire community must do its part to “foster a better environment for those kids to grow up.”
“It’s not their responsibility to raise themselves,” Givens said of wayward youth. “It’s not the government’s responsibility.”
Local leaders must provide tools and resources that parents, who often lack “hope and opportunity,” need to successfully raise their children, Givens said. He also noted the importance of informing residents of available programs.
“We just got to keep doing our part,” he added. “And I don’t think we’re doing enough.”
Overall crime decreased by 16% in 2025. St. Petersburg recorded its lowest number of homicides, 10, since 1967.
Holloway said issues among young adults aged 18 to 24 remain constant. However, he also believes that “we as a community” can collaboratively mitigate the problem.
The mayor and city officials have “done a great job of targeting our youth, so that’s why we see those numbers are down,” Holloway said. “How do we address them when they hit this age where they’re becoming adults?”
There is hope that current programming for children and teens will help participants as they age into adulthood. Holloway also noted that the issue extends far beyond South St. Petersburg.
“We still have fights throughout the city,” he said. “Sometimes people think there are too many young people downtown on a Friday night, so they perceive that as a problem. Or too many kids hanging out at Tyrone Mall on a Friday night – they perceive that as a problem.
“So, it’s perception, and I don’t know how we address that.”
Jordan Park, Florida’s oldest public housing community, opened between 1939 and 1941 along the 22nd Street South corridor in St. Petersburg. Photo: St. Petersburg Housing Authority.
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