Considering Moving to Tampa from NJ (Miami, Orlando: HOA, neighborhood, schools)

[gypsychic]

Thanks for posting that. I would hardly call that area "surrounded by shacks and gross" - it is merely an (above) average neighborhood where my dad's house is.

ETA: Actually it is in WELLSWOOD, which has always been a more desirable area and IMO, is quite nice. I have relatives who live in that neighborhood. And prices are in the $400,000 and up, hardly what I would call a "ghetto."

[Arcenal813]

Originally Posted by gypsychic

Thanks for posting that. I would hardly call that area "surrounded by shacks and gross" - it is merely an (above) average neighborhood where my dad's house is.

ETA: Actually it is in WELLSWOOD, which has always been a more desirable area and IMO, is quite nice. I have relatives who live in that neighborhood. And prices are in the $400,000 and up, hardly what I would call a "ghetto."

I agree. There is nothing wrong with that area.
But to some, I guess seeing older houses, work vans and work trailers indicates that it's a "working class" neighborhood with people who work in the trade industry (i.e., electricians, plumbers, etc.) and so some turn their noses down at that.

I do think It's a bit bizarre to build a house of those dimensions on that lot, as I would rather have more yard space there like the other homes, but to each their own.

[sinatras]

Originally Posted by gypsychic

Thanks for posting that. I would hardly call that area "surrounded by shacks and gross" - it is merely an (above) average neighborhood where my dad's house is.

ETA: Actually it is in WELLSWOOD, which has always been a more desirable area and IMO, is quite nice. I have relatives who live in that neighborhood. And prices are in the $400,000 and up, hardly what I would call a "ghetto."

"Quite nice" is not how I would describe that area, that street or that neighborhood AT ALL.

If you lived and worked in that area (like my friend does), you would know that it's very high crime, full of homeless vagrants and extremely noisy due to proximity to Bucs stadium and countless nightclubs on Armenia Ave. At least that's what my friend WHO LIVES THERE reports.

But hey, lots of Cubans!

Hardly what I would call the kind of "middle to upper class with good school system" neighborhood that OP seeks.

[kyle19125]

Originally Posted by Supremeangel

Hello,
My wife and I are in our mid 40's we have a 5 yr old and 19 yr old daughter's We are looking to move to Tampa sometime in the next couple of years, We are from Union City NJ looking for a neighborhood in Tampa that is similar middle class Cuban area not ghetto . My wife is Cuban and We would prefer to be in a mostly Spanish speaking area middle to upper class with good school system. Any advice and direction would be appreciated.

As mentioned exhaustively already you won't find what you want in Tampa. I would recommend SE Florida in the NW suburbs of Miami in cities like Pembroke Pines or Miramar where you have a definite middle to upper-middle class feel and good public schools. The two neighboring cities have a population around 300K with about 50% of that Cuban. Another less pricey option is Port St Lucie, which is about 100 miles north of Miami on the coast and also featuring a large Cuban presence in a middle to upper middle-class environment. The city population is around 175K and again half that number is Cuban/Cuban origin. The schools are more hit/miss but overall get a solid "B" rating. The western 1/3 of town is most desirable, around Tradition and St Lucie West.

[ntrainride]

cities are what make humans human. tampa needs commuter rail. that's how all cities become desirable. it's a fact in modern america.

tampa does have potential for this. excellent potential, actually. the on sale/not on sale csx tracks up to brooksville would be an excellent choice for a commuter train route.

[sinatras]

Originally Posted by ntrainride

cities are what make humans human. tampa needs commuter rail. that's how all cities become desirable. it's a fact in modern america.

tampa does have potential for this. excellent potential, actually. the on sale/not on sale csx tracks up to brooksville would be an excellent choice for a commuter train route.

Tampa podunks will never ever vote for this.

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by sinatras

"Quite nice" is not how I would describe that area, that street or that neighborhood AT ALL.

If you lived and worked in that area (like my friend does), you would know that it's very high crime, full of homeless vagrants and extremely noisy due to proximity to Bucs stadium and countless nightclubs on Armenia Ave. At least that's what my friend WHO LIVES THERE reports.

But hey, lots of Cubans!

Hardly what I would call the kind of "middle to upper class with good school system" neighborhood that OP seeks.

Not saying it is what the OP seeks, but if it is really all that bad, why would your friend build an "expensive" home there?

[sinatras]

Originally Posted by gypsychic

Not saying it is what the OP seeks, but if it is really all that bad, why would your friend build an "expensive" home there?

Because its full of Cubans, as I already said she said

[LKJ1988]

Originally Posted by sinatras

Westchase is VERY nice! But again, very few Cubans.

Most of them are around the Airport minus Danashores. It's always been run down north of the airport and east of it and southeast of it. Then ya have east Tampa that has always been rough neck. Around Leto high is also always been lower class. I remember seeing how bad these areas were when i was a kid in the 60's and 70's.

[cjairo191]

There is a lot of negative comments in here that go along with the we are full mentality and being negative so you don’t move here. Just visit yourself and get an idea. Ghetto is so opinionated. I mean if you live in New York City in upper class upper east side and go a few streets north it’s in the hood. Most of the commenters don’t live in the city limits and far out. Fly in, rent a car and get a feel for yourself day and night. West Tampa is where most of the concentrated Cubans live. Your first statement about using the word ghetto probably won’t be comfortable with this area. Try Westchase where you are near the Hispanic community but will be in a make believe world of HOA and gulf courses.