Advice on where to live in Tampa (Clearwater, Brandon: chapel, townhomes)

[weinberg angle]

Hi,

I will be moving from Chicago to Tampa next month for work. I will be working at both Tampa General Hospital and USF. My hours will be pretty long (7AM to 4PM on most days, some days longer). My questions are:

1. If I live in South Tampa, will the commute to USF be a "reverse commute" and take only about 30 min during rush hour?

2. If I live in Wesley Chapel, is the commute to Tampa General Hospital difficult?

3. How long would the commute be from Brandon to USF and Tampa General Hospital?

4. Where do you think is the best place to live for ease of access to work? South Tampa? Brandon? Wesley Chapel? Anywhere else?

Thank you.

[spunker72]

Originally Posted by weinberg angle

Hi,

I will be moving from Chicago to Tampa next month for work. I will be working at both Tampa General Hospital and USF. My hours will be pretty long (7AM to 4PM on most days, some days longer). My questions are:

1. If I live in South Tampa, will the commute to USF be a "reverse commute" and take only about 30 min during rush hour?

2. If I live in Wesley Chapel, is the commute to Tampa General Hospital difficult?

3. How long would the commute be from Brandon to USF and Tampa General Hospital?

4. Where do you think is the best place to live for ease of access to work? South Tampa? Brandon? Wesley Chapel? Anywhere else?

Thank you.

Welcome to Florida! In response to your inquiries, 1) if you live in S Tampa, you will have "sort of" a reverse commute, you will still encounter stop and go traffic through the downtown interchange, but it shouldn't be too bad. 2) I have friends who live in Wesley Chapel and it is mostly highway driving, but it is quite a distance and you didn't say if you have a family or not, but WC is pretty family oriented
3) Brandon would be a reverse commute to TGH, Brandon is a good location but it is a "strip mall mecca"
4) I have lived in S Tampa for 6 years and I really like the location, it is close to TGH, not a bad commute to USF, and most importantly is close to shopping and restaurants and things to do

[gypsychic]

The commute from S. Tampa to USF will be awful. You will be on 275 which doesn't move. There is a WHOLE LOT OF TRAFFIC that goes up that way to USF and areas around it. I guess it will depend on your hours and time of day, but I wouldn't call it a reverse commute. I do think Brandon would be the best to commute to both areas.

[weinberg angle]

Thanks for the replies.

Spunker72: Thanks for the welcome. Regarding WC, I don't have a family, but I'm not into bars or clubbing. Is the commute from Brandon to USF reasonable as well?


Gypsychic: Thanks for the recommendation. I think I am leaning towards Brandon. Is Brandon a "typical suburb" with chain restaurants, parks, movies, bowling, etc...? Do you see any drawbacks to living in Brandon?

Thanks.

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by weinberg angle

Thanks for the replies.

Spunker72: Thanks for the welcome. Regarding WC, I don't have a family, but I'm not into bars or clubbing. Is the commute from Brandon to USF reasonable as well?


Gypsychic: Thanks for the recommendation. I think I am leaning towards Brandon. Is Brandon a "typical suburb" with chain restaurants, parks, movies, bowling, etc...? Do you see any drawbacks to living in Brandon?

Thanks.

Weinberg - Brandon is a typical suburb community with many gated communities, strip malls and every conceivable chain restaurant, etc. There is a lot going on there We have friends that have been there for years.

The biggest downside is that it is congested there as far as traffic, and there are long wait times when you go out to eat, etc., but honestly it's no different in Wesley Chapel or New Tampa, where traffic is a bear if you have to go downtown, and which is beginning to be pretty congested traffic wise. Overall Brandon is a safe area to live, and as I mentioned before, I do think it will be the best commute since you have to go to both ends of Tampa.

Good luck to you!

[weinberg angle]

Thanks for the reply gypsychic...

Brandon is definitely on my list...

Wesley Chapel also seems nice.
1. Do you think Wesley Chapel is a nicer place to live than Brandon?
2. How bad would the commute from Wesley Chapel to Tampa General Hosp be?

Thanks.

[honu1]

The commute from S. Tampa to USF area is not bad at all. I do it every weekday with similar hours as the ones you mentioned. I do consider it a reverse commute. It takes me 30 min or less and I use to crosstown expressway from S. Tampa (near gandy) to downtown, go up FL then catch 275 N. The traffic on 275 heading south (folks trying to get into down town) is pretty much standstill.

[weinberg angle]

Thanks for the info honu1.... I think I'm ruling out Wesley Chapel due to the commute time into Tampa General Hosp.

I think I'll choose btwn S Tampa and Brandon area. Brandon seems to have 2 BR/2Ba townhomes for around $1000 per month, do you think there is a "catch" to the low prices, such as bad neighborhood, crime, etc...?

Brandon seems cheaper than S Tampa..

[honu1]

I can't really comment on the Brandon area. I moved here 10 months ago, lived in South Tampa the and found the location convenient to the things I enjoy. Plus I can get to St Pete/Clearwater for dinner, concerts, beaches, etc really quickly. good luck with your search.

[weinberg angle]

Which is the best library in Tampa? North Tampa Public Library? Germany Public Library? Wesley Chapel Public Library?