Who Lives in Tampa?

[Shari 6]

Shari-we are actually planning on moving to Alabama next year. We want to get away from the prices here that have gone up and be near mountains. We are heading near Birmingham---Gadsden. We've been there several times already though.

Gadsden is really pretty with the big Coosa River going through it. Great for fishing. It is only 35-45 from B'ham depending on what part of B'ham you are coming from. We live in NE B'ham (Trussville) and its only about 35 minutes from us. It has really grown up with stores and restaurants.

[Shari 6]

recommended -

off falkenburg & 301 60 & causeway converting to condos, but did not complete the transfer - so they are also renting.

crosswynde condos 813 740-0500

ETA : site with pix of Crosswynde : http://www.forrent.com/apartment-community...e/999907329.php

Thanks for replying to my list. The Crosswynde looks beautiful but slightly more than we want to pay. We are looking for a 3 bedroom at $1100 and those were over $1200+. But thanks for sending it.

[russ 1]

You talked about from St. Pete you have to take the Crosstown. How much is that toll daily? And when you say it has little traffice, are you talking 8:00 and 5:00 traffic would not be bad to/from the shipyard?

We don't really know what we are looking for. I think for the first year in an apartment it really doesn't matter as long as the area is safe and nice. I know when we buy we don't want to be in the clutter, downtown, or the sticks. Kinda in between. I have heard Riverview is nice, but heard they don't have apartments for now.

I work from home, but a friend commuted for years. About $2 in tolls each way I think - I've never really counted. Traffic is worse on the Howard Frankland (I-275) than the Crosstown (Gandy Bridge). Outside of rush hour traffic isn't bad (keep in mind, my background with traffic is in Boston, NYC and London)

Downtown St Pete has good and bad points. Lots of new luxury towers going up, prices are kind of reasonable for what you get. Old Northeast and Old Southeast are neighborhoods with nice rentals available, parts of Kenwood are okay too. Downtown has a lot of homeless people though.

The commute would be on the longer side, but it depends what you want. Tons of places to rent.

[athena_ny 1]

You talked about from St. Pete you have to take the Crosstown. How much is that toll daily? And when you say it has little traffice, are you talking 8:00 and 5:00 traffic would not be bad to/from the shipyard?

We don't really know what we are looking for. I think for the first year in an apartment it really doesn't matter as long as the area is safe and nice. I know when we buy we don't want to be in the clutter, downtown, or the sticks. Kinda in between. I have heard Riverview is nice, but heard they don't have apartments for now.

I work from home, but a friend commuted for years. About $2 in tolls each way I think - I've never really counted. Traffic is worse on the Howard Frankland (I-275) than the Crosstown (Gandy Bridge). Outside of rush hour traffic isn't bad (keep in mind, my background with traffic is in Boston, NYC and London)

Downtown St Pete has good and bad points. Lots of new luxury towers going up, prices are kind of reasonable for what you get. Old Northeast and Old Southeast are neighborhoods with nice rentals available, parts of Kenwood are okay too. Downtown has a lot of homeless people though.

The commute would be on the longer side, but it depends what you want. Tons of places to rent.

It depends on where you live - for me to get to the places I need to go to in Tampa, I'd have to drive all kinds of out of my way to get the to the crosstown - like I said, for a lot of people, it won't save that much time.

And by "a lot of homeless people" it is meant that they mob the streets after dark and St Pete was trying to ship them out it was so bad. Part of the reason I moved up to northern Pinellas.

Edited September 18, 2007 by meow mix

[Shari 6]

1. Charleston Landings (Delaney Circle) - its ok-

2. The Grand Rivage at Brandon Lakes (Grande Isle Drive) - ok-

3. The Park at Kensington (Watermark Drive) ok

4. Providence Park (Providence Road) NOOOO

5. Plantation Key (Plantation Key Circle) unsure

6. Sun Lake (Askew Drive) unsure

7. Tuscany Villas at Brandon (Sterling Palms Court) NOOOOOOOOO

8. Paddock Club - ok

9. Bristol Bay - unsure

10. Brandon Oaks - noooo

11. Valrico Station - unsure

12. Lake Kathy - unsure

Why no to Providence Park? Someone else wrote me and said they had lived in them, were nice and sort of new. Is it the location or something else?

[chri'stina 190]

Shari-we are actually planning on moving to Alabama next year. We want to get away from the prices here that have gone up and be near mountains. We are heading near Birmingham---Gadsden. We've been there several times already though.

Gadsden is really pretty with the big Coosa River going through it. Great for fishing. It is only 35-45 from B'ham depending on what part of B'ham you are coming from. We live in NE B'ham (Trussville) and its only about 35 minutes from us. It has really grown up with stores and restaurants.

We were just in Gadsden a little over 2 weeks ago. One day we drove down to B'ham to eat in an Indian restaurant. Also on the way back to Gadsden we stopped at the Super Target in Trussville.

Hope everything goes well with your move to the Tampa area. There is a lot to do around here and Orlando isn't too far, so it should be good for you all.

[LaL 418]

The ones I was not familiar with I called my fomer boss about. She was the one who indicated Providence Park was a no-go - her daughter lived there and the Tuscany one.

Problem with Tampa area is apartments is they "look" ok, but are really not. That is *my* opinion though. If there are decent affordable apartments they are few and far between. Brandon may have be a bit better, I am not all that sure. It is just my perception of the rental market down here.

check out the following link - place the apartment names in the blue bar on the right.

http://www.apartmentratings.com/

[russ 1]

I would stay away from the gated developments. Take a look at the Saint Pete Times classifieds. There are a bunch of good neighborhoods, but they can be hard to find.

Problem with Tampa area is apartments is they "look" ok, but are really not. That is *my* opinion though. If there are decent affordable apartments they are few and far between. Brandon may have be a bit better, I am not all that sure. It is just my perception of the rental market down here.

[Shari 6]

I would stay away from the gated developments. Take a look at the Saint Pete Times classifieds. There are a bunch of good neighborhoods, but they can be hard to find.

Of all things I thought the gated complexes would be better. Why do you say stay away from them? As for St. Pete, I have also posted my questions on a Tampa Forum and they say it would take too long (traffice) and there would be tolls to pay every day from St. Pete to the ports.

[LaL 418]

I would stay away from the gated developments. Take a look at the Saint Pete Times classifieds. There are a bunch of good neighborhoods, but they can be hard to find.

Of all things I thought the gated complexes would be better. Why do you say stay away from them? As for St. Pete, I have also posted my questions on a Tampa Forum and they say it would take too long (traffice) and there would be tolls to pay every day from St. Pete to the ports.

I think he is saying that because if there are bars (or gates) that means its in a neighborhood that needs additional security. I personally wouldnt go to a neighbordhood that didnt have gates, but would pay extra to ensure the location was decent. One block can make quite a bit of difference.

[Shari 6]

Oh, and also ... do any of you Tampa residents have kids in high school? How are the schools there, especially near Brandon? And I don't suppose any of you have daughters that play fastpitch softball do you?

[russ 1]

I think he is saying that because if there are bars (or gates) that means its in a neighborhood that needs additional security. I personally wouldnt go to a neighbordhood that didnt have gates, but would pay extra to

Exactly. Most are not in great locations anyway, and they tend to be overpriced to begin with. I don't like dealing with HOA/Condo associations if I can avoid it as well. I don't like the deed restrictions telling me what I can't do either. (In some states, it is possible for them to foreclose on your house for painting your mailbox the wrong color).

I like having a house on an actual street, maintained by the city that I'm already paying taxes to.

[LaL 418]

Oh, and also ... do any of you Tampa residents have kids in high school? How are the schools there, especially near Brandon? And I don't suppose any of you have daughters that play fastpitch softball do you?

I had to ask my boss again on this as I am not a native Floridian, her twins went to high school here. In order of her preference :

Newsome

Bloomingdale

Durant

Riverview

[Shari 6]

Oh, and also ... do any of you Tampa residents have kids in high school? How are the schools there, especially near Brandon? And I don't suppose any of you have daughters that play fastpitch softball do you?

I had to ask my boss again on this as I am not a native Floridian, her twins went to high school here. In order of her preference :

Newsome

Bloomingdale

Durant

Riverview

Thanks LAL for checking with your boss on my questions.

[Shari 6]

**BUMP** as we are going down to Tampa this week (Thursday through Sunday) to look for housing. If anyone else from down that way knows of any safe, decent apartments in the Brandon area, please post the complex name ASAP. Thanks in advance.