Between two towns (Tampa, Orlando, Lakeland: apartments, to rent, chapel)

[TampafromPhilly]

As some of you know, me and my wife are making the move to Fl with my current employer, and we were there last week from Tuesday through Friday. First stop was Lakeland, yes a little country, but my uncle lives there, and he loves it, quiet, no one really bothers you, plus we found a REALLY nice community off a golf course that we fell in love with, plus, the area by the mall is not that bad! We also made our way through Brandon, which was great, but too pricey for us. Found some really nice places in north Tampa/Wesley Chapel, and we're between Lakeland and Wesley Chapel. I know, big difference between the two, but I'd rather save some money and buy a house after a year, which is our plan right now. Loved the area! Met up with some close friends and we went to Channelside and had a great time! Looking forward to the move in August!!

[newyorker24]

I lived in Lakeland for a few years and personally like Wesley Chapel better. It's much easier to commute to jobs in Tampa from Wesley Chapel and it's a newer, nicer area with a lot more construction still on the way. I understand you want to rent for now and save money, but you should move to the place where you think you're more likely to buy a house.

[ferret111]

I like Lakeland more than Wesley Chapel, since the latter is nothing but pure suburbia. Where are you working?

[TampafromPhilly]

Well I will have a field job, where I will be traveling between Tampa, Orlando and sometimes even WPB. I think Lakeland is very central and really love that the apartment we're looking at is right by I-4....but....my daily duties will be mostly in the Tampa area, so yes, Wesley Chapel is closer, and nicer, but gosh darn that construction that they have going on where they're widening the roads makes rush hour a nightmare!!!!

[rezfreak]

I've never heard of Brandon as being "expensive"

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by TampafromPhilly

Well I will have a field job, where I will be traveling between Tampa, Orlando and sometimes even WPB. I think Lakeland is very central and really love that the apartment we're looking at is right by I-4....but....my daily duties will be mostly in the Tampa area, so yes, Wesley Chapel is closer, and nicer, but gosh darn that construction that they have going on where they're widening the roads makes rush hour a nightmare!!!!

Check out the southwest part of Lakeland near the Polk Parkway, lots of new apartments there, and would be much more convenient for you. Beautiful shopping center, Lakeside Village is right there along with other amenities. Lakeland is a very nice place to live, it's an actual city rather than a suburb. I like it a WHOLE lot more than Wesley Chapel.

JMO

[newyorker24]

Originally Posted by TampafromPhilly

Well I will have a field job, where I will be traveling between Tampa, Orlando and sometimes even WPB. I think Lakeland is very central and really love that the apartment we're looking at is right by I-4....but....my daily duties will be mostly in the Tampa area, so yes, Wesley Chapel is closer, and nicer, but gosh darn that construction that they have going on where they're widening the roads makes rush hour a nightmare!!!!

The traffic won't be there forever. Like you said, they are expanding the road. I know a lot of people that live in Lakeland and can tell you that they leave Lakeland for just about everything other than grocery shopping. They do a lot of their shopping in the Tampa and Orlando areas, as well as family/children activities on weekends.

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by newyorker24

The traffic won't be there forever. Like you said, they are expanding the road. I know a lot of people that live in Lakeland and can tell you that they leave Lakeland for just about everything other than grocery shopping. They do a lot of their shopping in the Tampa and Orlando areas, as well as family/children activities on weekends.

Like what? I lived in Lakeland for 2 years and never had to go out of town for shopping. Unless you mean really high end stuff. Lakeside Village and the mall north of town has all the basic mall stores. And then there are Walmarts and Supertarget, big, beautiful Publix stores and on and on. There is way too much traffic in Wesley Chapel (used to live just north of there), to me it's horrendous. Wesley Chapel has nothing that Lakeland doesn't have except more traffic. My husband used to commute every day from southside Lakeland to Tampa via Polk Parkway and I-4, and it was pretty easy. Plus, Lakeland is midway between Tampa and Orlando, perfect for the OP. He definitely should check it out and compare.

[ferret111]

That road widening won't solve anything. Once the market turns up again, you better believe that the developers aren't finished with the Wesley Chapel area yet.

[newyorker24]

Originally Posted by ferret111

That road widening won't solve anything. Once the market turns up again, you better believe that the developers aren't finished with the Wesley Chapel area yet.

Yep, all the new residential and commercial/retail developments will come to Wesley Chapel, not Lakeland. But it will be a long time before the road needs to be expanded again.

The old Lakeland mall in the north started going down hill when they opened Lakeside Village- and Lakeside Village is far from a real mall. There's one decent movie theater in all of Lakeland, maybe an old bowling alley or two, and nothing else. I lived there for 3 years and everyone I knew wanted out. I guess it depends on the OPs age, since I am referring to younger people in their twenties.