TampaRelo

Spouse getting transfered to Tampa Florida.

We'd like opinions on best neighborhoods to rent 1 or 2 bedroom apartment in (not more than $1,850/month + utilities). We don't own a car and would prefer to keep it that way so we'd like to be somewhere downtown so we can walk or take public transit to work. New office over near Convention Center.

No kids so not worried about schools. We would prefer safe neighborhood with most residents between late 20's to mid 40's age group, good grocery stores, parks, shopping, restaurants and nightlife.

Thanks a bunch!

NewbE

Downtown Tampa or Hyde Park are the nearest neighborhoods to the CC, and both are very nice, if very different from one another. Hyde Park is mostly detached homes (most bungalow style), with a few townhouse-type small condo complexes and very small apartment buildings in the mix, all very walkable and close to many bars and restaurants and shops, including drugstores and grocery stores.

Downtown is high rises, with several new condo towers that are only about half full as the area awaits a renaissance. There is no grocery store downtown. But the new art museum is under construction, there's a cool old restored movie theater, the Tampa Bay Center for Performing Arts is there, many good new restaurants and a couple of cool bars have opened, and while it's still pretty dead at night and on weekend days, it's beginning to improve.

Both are youthful areas, but then Tampa is a surprisingly young city.

The trouble is, public transpo here is limited to buses, and the routes and times aren't great. So you'd have to research that. I hate to discourage you, but it is going to be extremely difficult to live in Tampa without a car. For one thing, you will be cut off from the nearby beaches, which are one of the best parts of living here.

Anyway, welcome, and feel free to post more questions!

NewbE

Oh, I forgot about Harbour Island! It's across a small bridge from the CC, a very easy walk. It's quite built-up with condos and gated communities, has a handful of restaurants and a convenience store. You could walk across that bridge to the nearest grocery and to downtown, or over to Hyde Park.

starrs

I can't imagine Tampa without a car.
Really.
Are you coming from the NE? Public transportation in the south is NOT like where you live.

NewbE

True. But if they settle in one of the areas I mentioned, they could easily get around by bike (OK, it will be hot in summer) or moped or even Segway. We're only talking a two-or-so mile radius. Actually, lots of people do walk/bike a lot within those areas. It's just the rest of South Tampa and the greater TB area that would be largely out of reach.

nolefan1

Agree on Hyde Park. I am a native and used to live in Hyde Park and we loved it. Lots of shops restaurants and stuff to do. Bayshore Blvd is beautiful also. Check out oldehydepark.com for info on the area.

Lucky you, I can't wait to move back home.

coldkelly

Having been to Tampa many times, I agree with the posters re: Hyde Park. It's my favorite area... I cannot imagine living in Tampa without a car. I'd hate not being able to get to Siesta Key Beach or Indian Rocks etc. That would be sheer torture for me.

TampaRelo

Thank you for responses so far.

My spouse's friend mentioned Ybor in the historic area. Is this a good neighbourhood in your opinion? Convenient? Safe? How are the stores and other services in this part of Tampa?

Yes, we live in a large city now without a car. I don't drive and spouse prefers to not add to our expenses by having to buy a car, pay for insurance and gasoline.

Is it possible to get to any of the local beaches by public transportation? How much would a taxi cost to get to the beach from the city?

nolefan1

Ybor is not very convenient to the Convention Center. I personally would not want to live in Ybor, it can get pretty rowdy on the weekends. It is a fun area to go eat and drink though.

There probably is a bus that runs to Clearwater and St Pete Beach. I have never taken one because we drove. Taxi, I'm sure you could get one...don't know about the cost.

As stated before, Tampa doesn't have a rail or subway system and the bus system is nothing like it is in New York or other large cities further north. I think you will almost have to factor in a car in the future if you want to be able to get from downtown very often.

Brian_in_Charlotte

I haven't been to Tampa in a few years, but remember the neighborhoods around Ybor as being pretty sketchy at best.

I think you are going to have to come to grips that it's just not possible to live in Tampa comfortably without a car. As admiral as you desire to use public transport is, it's just not reasonable to do in Tampa. I lived for 8 years in Atlanta without a car, but could only do that because my wife had one. And the folks in Tampa taking the bus are doing so because they have to, so don't expect it to always be a pleasant experience.

Could you do your grocery shopping and other errands by bike? I suppose, but that sounds pretty dangerous and that's going to be a hot ride. And you can't expect cabs to be as plentiful as from where you're coming.

Hopefully you'll have a chance to visit to see where you want to live and decide if you really want to accept the transfer. Not sure you really realize how different Tampa is going to be from where you are now. Good luck.

NewbE

Ybor has loads of character and a very charming, if shabby, old-world vibe, coupled with several late-night clubs and biker bars that make evening nights rowdy down there. It isn't convenient to the CC, and does not have anything in the way of practical shops like grocery or drug stores, banks, etc.

(Florida statewide Obama HQ is in Ybor, btw.)

Definitely make time to check out Ybor, you may not mind the rough-around-the-edges feel, but again, its location makes it unsuitable for the car-less.

Public transpo to the beaches, which are a 40 minute drive from downtown Tampa, would involve a two-plus hour morass of bus transfers. Doable, but tough. There is no such thing as a jitney or direct shuttle. Cabs here are kind of crummy and not cheap--I'm only guessing based on other rides I've taken, but estimate at least $75 one way.

Listen, Tampa is a great city, and I love it, but the public transportation debate here is decades behind other comparably-sized cities, and the real estate downturn is only going to delay it further.

NewbE

Check out this article on commuting by bus in Tampa, from the St. Pete Times:
http://www.tampabay.com/news/transpo...icle459773.ece

And this is the bus system's website, with maps and trip planning tools:
http://gohart.org/

starrs

" Not sure you really realize how different Tampa is going to be from where you are now"

I totally agree and that was (the attempt at) my point late last night.

You are expecting "public transportation" to be something along the lines of what you are familiar with.

It isn't.

I can't think of a city in the south that has a system that would be comparable. It's just not part of the design, infrastructure or priorities.

tampatramp

TampaRelo, by now you know you can't live a decent life here without a car. Some people do it, but most of them don't have a job. Spouse does; can he refuse the relocation? Do you really want to move here? I'd hate to see you in the summer 90 degrees, 100% humidity waiting for a bus. [I know I'll go to hell for my comments, but then again it won't be as hot].

OK, the good news, finding a 1 or 2 BR apt for $1800 should not be that hard. I saw some for $1000 on a random internet search. Then you can afford a car.