Jacksonville or Tampa?? (University: waterparks, homes, neighborhood)

[Floridian]

okiegirl:
Making a move to a different STATE requires 100% desire for ultimate change. Seven years ago, I have been living in Toronto, CANADA experiencing the recession (unemployment) period and the 6 months/year of "cold/freezing" temperature. Back then, my priorities have shifted to job hunting, finding a safe/pleasant city that is close to beaches...and with lots of job opportunities...Me, my husband and 2 kids have made our best decision. We have loved it here. In fact, next month we are closing on a purchase of 15 acre land for getaway on weekends and for future retirement/investment property. These lots are just 2 hours drive away from Jax... this is why I visit the city.com website for my research on TAYLOR county.

With your qualifications.. (COBOL, SQL or DB2), it will not take long for you to find an IT job here.

[lighthouse]

Hi, I currently live in Jacksonville for nearly 2 years, and we're leaving. It's hot, but more like Georgia than Florida in appearance: lots of moss and live oak trees. The ocean here isn't pretty, unless you are lucky enough to live in Ponte Vedra Beach (which is just east of Jax) or south in St. Augustine. We are looking into NE Tenn. or moving back south in Florida, between St. Augustine and Port Orange. We lived the prior 4 years in Ponce Inlet and loved it. Came to Jax for a job (which didn't pan out) and my son's school (which is O.K.). It's just a big, dirty city where no one goes downtown, a little culture, restaurants, 1 decent indoor and 1 nice new outdoor mall. There's a sprawl on all surrounding borders which makes for traffic on I 95, but nothing compared to Tampa. Tampa is more upscale, but also an older crowd and crowded period. Our homeowners insurance was cancelled by Allstate just because we live one house off the St. John's River (even though we never flooded or had hurricane damage). We were directed to another company for double the premium. Taxes are high too--to build roads to keep up with the development, and the many social services needed. We were also surprised to find the town backward as far as racial tolerance, and everyone knows it's the murder capitol of the U.S. So, the surrounding towns are nice, but I'd avoid Jacksonville itself if possible.

[ind2fla]

Lighthouse, can you elaborate more about downtown Jax? I spent most of my time in Ponte Vedra so I still don't have a clear picture of the entire city.
You're right about Tampa, very crowded.

Also, I didn't think Jax was the murder capital of the US, I'd figure it would be more like Gary, IN or closer to Chicago back a few years ago. Today, I think it would be Los Angeles.

[Floridian]

For the longest 7 years I'm in Jax, it's my first time of hearing JAX as Murder capitol. I have been driving back/forth,strolling to downtown almost every day. We just had a new main library - and an upscale one. I don't know how downtown was described 8 years ago.. but it is very safe and clean with lots of improvements... There are several new upscale condos (riverside) that are being built. You will see a lot of office personnel jogging, walking during their lunch break along Riverplace just across JAX landing.

I am fortunate to say that our house insurance did not go up or was never cancelled by the insurance carrier.. maybe due to where we lived... we are about 20 miles away from beaches. Also, JAX is the least hit by hurricanes (cross my fingers)... and if there was, we are the easiest to evacuate since most major highways towards west (I-10) and north (i-95) are at our access... the pile up of traffic during evacuation is concentrated on the southern part of Florida.

I would like to add that ALLSTATE has cancelled most of it's client's homeowner's insurance..It has nothing to do with where you live- sorrounding river or beaches. I have a relative who lives in ST Augustine (inside JAX) and their ALLSTATE homeowners insurance was cancelled as well.

[scylla]

I grew up in Brooksville, FL (hour from Tampa) and moved to Tampa when I turned 18. I lived there for about 5 years. I lost my job and the economy wasn't so good, so I was forced to move to Orlando recently. It's easier to get jobs in this area for IT people. I really miss Tampa, specifically the art, music, and cultural aspects (which surprisingly or not surprisingly there isn't much of in Orlando). Right now, I am at a point where I can choose to move back there or out of the state, and I'm choosing out of the state. One reason is humidity as well as the general climate. Also, Florida isn't the most polluted state to live in, but it's one (see http://www.scorecard.org) (broken link). I would love to find a Tampa in another state. I don't have much experience with Jacksonville as I've only driven through, but it never caught my interest.

[ind2fla]

Scylla - thanks for that AWESOME link for pollution tracking.
OMG, Indianapolis is THE ABSOLUTE worst for all the most deadly cacinogens and toxins. Seeing that made me want to leave RIGHT NOW and head to JAX. In comparison, JAX looks like a garden of eden, and quite frankly, it is when you compare it to anything in Indiana. They say hindsight is 20/20 and I really wish I had stayed on the East Coast where I originally grew up. Even my hometown of SI, NY has much much better water and less carcinogens. I'm surprised that people aren't walking around with mutations and tails coming out of their pants in Indianapolis. Depending on how the wind blows, you can literally smell what Lilly Pharmaceuticals is cooking.

I'm so glad that I saw this link before it was removed by the admins. I believe it to be a sign that it's time for a change and to move on.

[markablue]

Links to non-commercial, informative websites are allowed in the forum. Direct linking is turned off for spam protection.
What is not accepted is advertising and links to commercial sites. Read the rules, please.
Regards,
markablue

[daedalo]

I want to echo Lighthouse, and then some. Back in the day the Ponte Vedra Club actually had a view of the ocean. But short-sighted greed took over and now when you drive in front of this club there are condos wedged in tight between the club and the ocean. If you think Ponte Vedra is pretty, then take a look at St. Simons, Sea Island, Jekyll , and the south end of Amelia. These have for the most part developed intelligently and retained their natural beauty. There is nothing attractive about the Jacksonville Beaches or the Jax/Duval area with the exception of the older Riverside/Avondale/Ortega/San Marco areas. The rest of Jax is nothing but sprawl gone wild. But hey, this reflects the general mentality of its constituency. The only good thing done in this city to my mind is the Public library and downtown governmental complex located in the restored May Company Building. Without a major investment and committment to the Springfield area the central business district of Jacksonville will be doomed to being dead space except when the Baptists come to town each Sunday to fill up their mega church.

[dizliz0925]

Can't speak for Tampa, but
I have lived in Jax for the past 19 years, since we moved here from NY when I was in 9th grade. Here's the skinny....

Jacksonville is HUGE! It's the largest city land-area wise in the lower 48 states. That's because in the 60's there was 'consolidation' which incorporated all of Duval County into the city limits. You can drive 40 miles, and still be in Jax.

You should move to Jax if you love to golf and you love the beach.
Most of Jax can be termed as "Generica" or Generic America. The only places that aren’t are Riverside-Avondale, where we live and San Marco. These are the historic areas. (website for Riverside-Avondale Preservation Society is www.rap.com)

Schools here are HORRIBLE! State of Florida has something called the FCAT (Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test) which measure performance of students grades 3-11). Schools are graded based on how students do. And it seems that all the schools do is prepare kids just enough to pass the test.
In 2005, out of 19 high schools, only SIX received a grade higher than a C.
If we were going to stay in Jax (more on that later) we would be sending our kid who will be 2 in August to private school.

The beaches area near UNF has gotten WAY overcrowded they keep building and building....a lot of people are moving to St. John's county (just south of Jax) and commuting in (about 20 miles or so).

My wife and I are planning on moving to NC next year. We are actually taking a trip this month to scout it out. The ONLY reason we would stay here is because our family is here (I just have my mom and sisters here, but she is a 3rd generation local). But even that's not really enough to keep her here.
I will say that spring is awesome here. From February to May, the weather is the best.

I know I kind of rambled, and this isn't exactly a ringing endorsement.
Just one man's opinion.

Feel free to ask if you have any specifics.

[BubblesinFL]

I am totally anti-Jacksonville and Pro-Tampa.
Jacksonville does not look or feel like Florida.
Tampa is the quintessential Florida experience. Palm trees. Tourists. Warm weather. A Hurricane once in a while.
It is a big city for FLA. We honestly do not have a lot of BIG cities in the state. Miami, Orlando, Tampa. Jacksonsville is simply an outpost on the Georgia turnpike. LOL
I LOVE Tampa. I'd trade it for Miami in a heartbeat. I am, in fact, trying to relocate to Tampa or close enough to Tampa.
Housing and cost of living are probably similar in Tampa and J-ville unless you insist on beachfront property, then it will be $$$$$$$$$$$$$.
The best thing about Tampa is that it's a city, but there's lots of more rural and suburban areas close by. All the amenities of a city, but you can still get a piece of land with your house for a reasonable price. J-ville may be cheaper, of course.