Seminole Heights as a place to live?
From two emails:
"My family and I are moving to Tampa at the end of this month. We are considering renting the home at (edited to 900 block) East Patterson Drive, however, our realtor says the house is close to the corner of Patterson and Nebraska. She says Nebraska is well known for prostitution and drugs. :-(
I've been reading through responses to a Nov 05' post by a man seeking advise about your neighborhood and whether/not it is suitable for young children. We also have young children.It seems most respondents love the area w/ the exception of a few rogue streets. Can you tell me anything about the home at (edited to 900) block of East Patterson Drive? (Please) We are coming from Indiana so we are basically moving "blind" which is a bit scary when you have kids to consider. Any/all help is appreciated."
AND
"Hello. I grew up in Tampa, but haven't really lived there for 8 years now (been in school in Arizona for quite a while). I'm moving back to town in a few weeks and was wondering if you could catch me up on the status of the different neighborhoods. Is Seminole Heights safe for a young married couple with small dogs? What about Hyde Park? Port Tampa? Basically, I'm looking at working near downtown and my fiance/wife-to-be will be going to UT so we're looking for a place in the general area. Any suggestions?
Any info you can share would be great. Thanks a bunch."
I will forward email number one to Susan Long as she lives in that neck of the woods.
I hope that Port Tampa will add her comments to email#2.
Things have improved tremendously along Nebraska. Those near Patterson would best respond but I'd think that it would be okay to move there.
Hyde Park South of Swann is very nice and completely unaffordable. Hyde Park North of Swann and South of Kennedy is likely a little cheaper but still pricy. Hyde Park North of Kennedy is likely much better priced but maybe with some rougher edges. All very close to UT and downtown.
Seminole Heights is 5-10 minutes away from downtown and UT. Much better priced than Hyde Park and a great place to live. (read the prior post from Nov 2005 noted above.)
Port Tampa I can't answer. Except to say easily accessible via Crosstown
6 comments:
I love Port Tampa, but it is an area that is transitioning quickly so finding an affordable home takes some real work. It is a much smaller area than Hyde Park or Seminole Heights and feels more like a small town than part of the big city.
Safety-our main crime issue is pharmaceutical and centered around some seedy apartment buildings near the library. We walk our very old dog at all hours of the day and night and don't feel the need to avoid certain corners/blocks.
Convenience-I rarely use the Crosstown. If we need to go downtown we take Interbay to Bayshore and it takes about 15 minutes, speed limits not distance affect the time. It takes 20 minutes to get to the airport, 15-20 to get to the Westshore business district. (It's closer than downtown but Westshore Blvd. from Gandy north is over capacity.)
Amenities-The library and rec center are great. We have one restaurant, located in the American Legion, and I haven't been to the latest incarnation as it changes hands frequently. Ambience-Seminole Heights has used car lots, we have boat storage. These properties are being bought up and some new owners are looking at bringing in retail development. We have many blocks with brick streets and a canopy of oaks, though sidewalks are often non-existent or in poor shape.
Water-some of our newer homes have water views of Old Tampa Bay, at least from the upper floors. Picnic Island Park is no more than 5 minutes from anywhere in the neighborhood. It has a dog beach, boat landing, fishing pier, swimming beach, picnic pavilions you can reserve, restrooms and a large playground.
Neighbors-many people have lived here their entire lives. Our across the street neighbor has been in her house since 1942. Our back door neighbors' kids have both sets of grandparents just a few blocks away and at least a dozen cousins still live in Port Tampa. We are referred to as "newbies" but feel more and more welcomed as we participate in community activities.
As someone who moved to the 800 block of E Hamilton after years in the suburbs up north two years ago, I can say with complete assurance that the sketchy character of our stretch of Nebraska is far less prevalent than it was when I took ownership. There are still the occasional folks who don't look to be on the up-and-up late in the evening, but people aren't selling drugs in the alleys or "gentlemen" talking to "their ladies" anymore. The last prostitutes I saw were by Nebraska & Columbus at 2am on a Friday night a couple of weeks ago.
The biggest problem I notice these days (other than car lot & pawn shop blight) is the strange profusion of abandoned shopping carts. Even the emergency siren traffic has dropped off dramatically. It used to be every night, with the circling of choppers for that added frission of excitement. Now, it's far less frequent. Seems like a good thing to me.
AngelSil [Party Like It's 1925 - check the SH links section] is also here from Indianapolis, and will probably be able to share her own perspective on things here coming from that environment.
Having moved to Seminole Hts 14 years ago I have seen major positive changes to the neighborhood. I lived in the 900 block of Hamilton - a few streets from Patterson for over 4 years. We moved to a larger home 1 mile south but still in Seminole Heights. You often see people move to larger houses rather than move out of the neighborhood - it just happened last month on my current street also.
Your realtor is correct - Nebraska has had the reputation since the 40's (give or take) for prostitution but since the neighbors/home owners from 2 associations from MLK north to the river started "hooker patrol" appx 5 yrs ago and started working hand in hand with the police the situtation has improved greatly since then. We have a very responsive relationship with the police department and Chief Hoague came out last year and had a meeting with the neighborhood crime watch groups to thank us in assiting them in bring the numbers down on petty crimes in the area because we have so many eyes on the streets. Yes, I'll be honest there are still occasional hookers present but night and day diference and if they are not pointed out - many people don't even realize.
Old Seminole Heights neighborhood association started the home tour (our 8th - this past April) to combat the negative old sterotypes the neighborhood had held onto for many years since the interstate came through and dived the neighborhood and it became promidantely absentee landlord haven. We have a very strong neighborhood association - the largest in membership and land area in the city. Crime happens in any city - it's not Ozzie and Harriet anywhere but using common sense typically works (put you tools and lawnmower up and they will not walk off). In the 14 years I have lived in the 'hood I have only had my garage broken into 1 time about 8 yrs back and yard tools were taken.
Oddly enough when we lived on Hamilton 14 years ago - which was a much sketcher area of the neighborhood at the time - we did not have a home alarm and never felt the need but when we moved to a more re-established area of the neighborhood near Lake Roberta we got a home alarm system and use it because we pay for it but don't panic if we forget to turn it on.
You will find in the area - neighbors that are concerned for you and also willing to lend a hand and or advice - a potluck that is held every Wednesday of every week for 5 years now. Monthly porch parties at various locations in the neighborhood. Many new owners making the choice to live in the neighborhood and excited about living in the neighborhood and willing to pitch in to make a difference. Around lake Roberta there is/has been in the past the Easter parade, the Pumpkin parade (both for kids)and of course the Santa float in the lake every year and the Christmas carolers on the lake. The association has a yearly book sale to raise funds for our local branch of the library and many more things that happen.
As you can tell I love my neighborhood and moved here from Hyde Park area 14 ys ago and would never even consider moving back.
Sorry for being so wordy. I understand your concerns with a new area but I think that you will find that overall this is a good area and it is very convenient to many areas of town (USF and airport).
Good luck!
Greg
Sometimes it can take me 20 minutes to get a gallon of milk at Publix (not because enough registers aren't open) but because of all the people I run into from the neighborhood.
To me it really does have a small town feel in the city - I know my neighbors and I am active in my neighborhood. It is what ya make it!
I don't know where you're coming from in Indiana, but if you're coming from Indianapolis I would equate that area of Seminole Heights with South Broadripple or Holy Cross/Sacred Heart. Probably nicer than Sacred Heart which is where I spent much of the late 90s dealing with all sorts of urban crime that we thankfully don't see here. Yes, Nebraska Avenue is an ugly stretch of road with a bad rep. It's the people who live here that make the neighborhood, not the thoroughfares.
I live one block off Nebraska on Broad St - 2 blocks so of Patterson. I moved there 9 years ago and I was afraid to walk alone at nite or let my daughter (a sr. in H.S. then) walk anywhere at any hour. Now, I walk all over (except on Nebraska) at any time. The Evelyn City NW group (that would be yours if you moved onto Patterson E. of Nebraska) is very active and very effective. They have a picnic in Patterson park 2-3 times a year. Hooker Patrol has almost totally eliminated the hookers and when the hookers left so did most of the drug dealers.
I love our neck of the woods. I would not hesitate ot move in today, if I could afford my house. :~) There is a close-knit relationship between the neighbors and Old Seminole Heights Neighborhood Assoc is extremely active in everything.
I have an alarm system but I cancelled the contract and took out the battery about 3 years ago so it is totally ineffective.
For your info I am a single female living alone and never lose one minute of sleep worrying about anything.
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