Is this a decent neighborhood? Off Fowler and 75 (Tampa, University: real estate, apartments)

[FLA17]

There's some trailer park off of Fowler and 75...if you don't know what im talking about google map Lamplighter Lane Tampa Florida. It is a decent area? Or is there crime?

[bentlebee]

Just read some newspapers or check online...a lot of crime and although I drive there on a regular base. I wouldn't dare to drive there at night or when it get's dark.

I was there 2 days ago and again people getting arrested, car's being searched, so the police is trying to getthis area better. There are pimps and h.. and shootings...I remember a guy being shot to dead at McDonalds...so I won't eat at McDonalds over there...

[FLA17]

Damn is it really that bad? I heard that East of 56th on Fowler is nice?

[tampaguy03]

Im not sure what bentlebee is speaking of, that area is nice, and close to the University(perhaps bentlebee is confused with Fowler Ave and I-275??)

[housingcrashsurvivor]

Having property over by the university, I've driven past there many times and it never struck me as a bad area. I don't know for certain as I've never taken a closer look (I will when I'm in town again).

Just to look at the area on google maps, you can see it is buffered on the west by the river and I do know that it's quite nice on the other side of the river as I bike there often; by the interstate on the east and beyond that some rural areas. To the south looks like some nice residential with swimming pools and to the north is wilderness where I also bike and some nice housing near Fletcher as well as a well kept corporate park. Doing a walkthrough on google streets through the trailer park, it looks like it is well kept. There's even a pool and tennis court.

According to city-data, that area of 33637 has homes with average values of over $200k, just under the average for Florida (2008 figures). Here's the breakdown of races per http://www.city-data.com/zips/33637.html#ixzz0eFKAqYkx

White population: 9,242
Black population: 2,122
American Indian population: 68
Asian population: 314
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander population: 13
Some other race population: 388
Two or more races population: 387

So if you are uncomfortable being around so many white people, then you might not think this is such a safe place.

Though individual wages and income are lower here than what averages in Florida, as far as I know that still is not yet a crime. Interestingly the medium household income is higher than Florida's average, which might indicate a good work ethic among residents here particularly since individual wages are lower than average. There's less residents living below the poverty line here than what averages in Florida.

As to the current state of housing there. The zip code shows 393 foreclosures as of this writing out of approx. 8500 units (owner occupy & rentals--figured probably from the 2000 census so likely many units constructed since then) and so the foreclosure rate is rather high, but even at that, most of those are in the new apartments constructed at Fletcher & I-75. The immediate area (within, say a 1/2 mile) surrounding the op's area of question, has only 11 financially distressed properties, indicating to me some measure of economic stability, with regard to geography.

There's a park right there where you can launch a small boat into the river and very good access to Temple Terrace proper, to the university, medical facilities and our most wonderful 16,000-acre wilderness area.

So from my driving by and from what I see in city-data and realtytrac, I would have to see police statistics to the contrary to convince me that Fowler & I75 is a bad area.

ps. Just looked up property records, your immediate area is Lamplighter on the River and it looks like you have your own access to the river. Checked google maps again and looks like you've got a dock on the river.

Here's your new spot to relax http://tinyurl.com/yemshhe (broken link)

(so yeah, it looks real dangerous...bring a flashlight and some snacks. hopefully no one from the unitarian church will mug you)

[Occifer]

I'm not all that familiar with that particular area, however trailer parks usually mean crime unless you're talking about an age restricted trailer park. You also need to understand when you look at the data that housingcrashsurvivor posted that the demographics of that trailer park aren't going to reflect the demographics of the rest of the area, as the trailers obviously aren't going to be anywhere near the median home value and attract different people than those who are going to buy a $200,000 house.

[housingcrashsurvivor]

Originally Posted by Occifer

I'm not all that familiar with that particular area, however trailer parks usually mean crime unless you're talking about an age restricted trailer park. You also need to understand when you look at the data that housingcrashsurvivor posted that the demographics of that trailer park aren't going to reflect the demographics of the rest of the area, as the trailers obviously aren't going to be anywhere near the median home value and attract different people than those who are going to buy a $200,000 house.

Did you even bother to look at this trailer park before you prejudged the people there? Just google street to see how well kept it is. Would you make the same comment about your so-called demographics (I'm assuming that's your euphemism for trailer trash) living in the Briny Breezes community of Palm Beach County who were offered during the bubble about $1,000,000 each for their demonized, um, I mean demographically challanged homes?

Because by your theory I guess one of them must have escaped the trailer park and moved next to me as they recently were arrested for all that cat feces found in their children's bed. So much for the superior demographics of $200,000 dollar homes.

Let's just see what the people who live in Lamplighter say about their home...

Jan 13, 2009 Lamplighter is the a great place to live. i have lived in parks/communities like these for the last 10 years and this one is the best so far....at least in Tampa. The amenities are fantastic for my kids and me, the staff is courteous ...‎
tampabay.citysearch.com/review/2687281?reviewId...

Though I did also find this one...

Dec 2, 2008 This use to be the best community in Tampa, in last 3 months there has been a molestation on a child under 12, there has been several arrest in the community, the new manager does not do a back ground check on the adults or the children, ...‎tampabay.citysearch.com/review/2687281?reviewId...

As to the above mentioned sex offender. A current search of their zip shows just 1 possible one within a 1 mile radius, not in the trailer park, but in, surprise, a single family home. Now who let all that house trash live around that lovely trailer park?

For other reference, here is the park's web site http://steinercommunities.com/lamplighter.htm (broken link) so I see what you are talking about. It has a dock on the river (do you?), a lighted tennis court, a basketball court, a playground, a workout room. Yeah, it looks just horrible. Ick! Perhaps we can get the city to condemn as you already have sight unseen.

[Badbird2000]

I have a buddy who lives there probably 15 years ago. It wasn't horrible back then, but i would not try my luck there now..

[tamparesident26]

Lamplighter is not your typical "trailer park". I don't live there but a couple of folks who do or have in the past. It's definitely one of the better ones in the area as far as trailer parks go. The area behind it (Morris Bridge) is relatively quiet...not a whole lot back there besides homes and a few churches (there are at least 4 that I've counted right there on Morris Bridge) Not a hotbed of crime from what I have been told LOL

Interestingly...in that 'hood, there's a house almost to where Morris Bridge meets Hanley where there are 2 donkeys who live in a fenced area facing the street...which I must confess is not something I have seen in a Tampa yard before.

[Occifer]

Originally Posted by housingcrashsurvivor

Did you even bother to look at this trailer park before you prejudged the people there? Just google street to see how well kept it is. Would you make the same comment about your so-called demographics (I'm assuming that's your euphemism for trailer trash) living in the Briny Breezes community of Palm Beach County who were offered during the bubble about $1,000,000 each for their demonized, um, I mean demographically challanged homes?

Because by your theory I guess one of them must have escaped the trailer park and moved next to me as they recently were arrested for all that cat feces found in their children's bed. So much for the superior demographics of $200,000 dollar homes.

What I posted is 100% correct. I simply stated that the demographics of the trailer park are not going to be the same as in the surrounding homes. Each trailer is not worth the $200,000 median price of the homes in the surrounding area, and what you posted originally made it seem as if you were making that comparison. You can't post demographic information and real estate prices for an area and expect it to encompass rental property in a trailer park. You can spin it any way you want, but it's true. You're saying that the same people who are going to buy that $39,000 trailer on the Lamplighter website are going to buy the $200,000 house?

This isn't some trailer park in Palm Beach that is next to the ocean. There's a trailer park (Regency Cove) in South Tampa that features several waterfront lots, boat slips, etc. The land there is owned by the residents, and I've seen lots on the water there listed in excess of $100,000. Still, that's absolutely nothing compared to the value of other waterfront lots or homes in South Tampa. It may be nice "for a trailer park," but it's still a trailer park.