Lutz? Is this too far to commute? (Clearwater: house, neighborhood)

[Pragmaticus]

If you want your husband to spend more on the road, that would be the choice .

Veterans is a joke. he is not going to save time. You pay for the luxury of just sitting in traffic. It is great on Sunday and evening though, that's when I take it

[bavariantransplant]

If the nieghborhood is what you like and it fits your family well, its a commute, people do them all the time. I think the main question is whether you can get on the road prior to the small rush hour window Tampa has. If you can and your husband doesnt mind 40 minutes or so in teh car each way then go for it, if he cant be on the road at those times or he doesnt want to commute 40 minutes then dont do it.

I have had short and long commutes. My commute prior to my current location was 30 minutes at 65mph on an interstate and I liked it, listened to music and unwind, by the time I got home the crap from a days work was a distant memory. My current commute is 11 minutes through farmers fields, no stop lights no traffic no nothing, I like it too.

I will be in Tampa soon to do the drives myself, when I remember during the day I check out the traffic cameras, there is heavy traffic but again, its all timing because the Tampa rush hour is a small window, not like a major city that has rush hour from 6am-10am.

[happy4once]

What subdivisions and builders would you recomment? I would like to be close to beach somewhat. I am from out of state and don't know the area well.

[bavariantransplant]

I cant help you with the subdivisions / builders as you have not supplied enough information.

However, something to consider, there is a tremendous amount of money being spent on Florida 589; Veterans Expressway and Suncoast Parkway.



Resurface of Suncoast Parkway Van Dyke Rd to Pasco County Line
http://www.dot.state.fl.us/publicinf...llsborough.pdf



Veterans Expressway Widening between Memorial and Gunn Highway and future widening from Gunn Highway to Van Dyke Rd and reconstruction of 39 bridges, 3 new bridges and conversion to all-electronic tolling.

Widening:

Phase I: Memorial to Gunn Highway—Under construction—Completion in 2015 and 2016
Phase II: Gunn Highway to Sugarwood Toll Plaza: Funded for Design/Build construction beginning in FY 2014
Phase III: Sugarwood Toll Plaza to Van Dyke Road: Funded for Design/Build construction beginning in FY 2015

Conversion to All Electronic Tolling (Elimination of Cash Toll Collection):

Memorial to Gunn Highway: Under construction, scheduled for implementation by late spring 2014
Gunn Highway to Van Dyke: Under construction, scheduled for implementation by late spring 2014
Suncoast Parkway: Under construction, scheduled for implementation by early 2015

Map of widening: http://floridasturnpike.com/Vets%20W...ects%20Map.pdf

[Sunscape]

Originally Posted by SULAW2015

It all depends on the time of the day. Also be aware that the Veterans is under construction. They are making the 4 lane road into 8 lanes. That should tell you something.

If your husband left the house at 6:30am, he could be their by 7:10am.
If he left at 7:00am, he would be cutting it close to be their by 8:00am.
From 7:00am until 8:30am, it would take him an hour of bumper to bumper, stop and go traffic to get there.

The return is worse. Crossing the Howard Frankland bridge is the problem.
If he left at 5:00pm to drive home, don't expect him to arrive home until at least 6:30pm.
If he leaves at 5:30pm, don't expect him home before 7pm.
If he waited until 7pm to leave, he could be home at 7:40pm.

Those are averages...
When, not if there is an accident on the bridge, this happens sometimes weekly, then the commute can add 30 minutes to an entire hour.
Personally, at least six to nine times per year, an accident on the HF bridge has added 30 to 90 minutes of time to my commute across the bridge.

Then there is time of the year...
From Halloween to Memorial day, expect snowbirds to add to that much more traffic.
Starting tomorrow until Memorial day, expect school traffic and buses.
Should I mention the tropical storms that wash over the expressways?

[things and stuff]

Originally Posted by happy4once

What subdivisions and builders would you recomment? I would like to be close to beach somewhat. I am from out of state and don't know the area well.

You need a builder?

If you're just going for new construction homes that are stacked on top of each other and have zero character then you'll need to stay way out in the burbs.

[happy4once]

Well I been looking at new because u can get new for same cost as old. I don't want a really old house. I don't mind to buy a newer used house. Everything in st pete/clearwater seems to be really old.

[DUNNDFRNT]

Originally Posted by happy4once

Well I been looking at new because u can get new for same cost as old. I don't want a really old house. I don't mind to buy a newer used house. Everything in st pete/clearwater seems to be really old.

Another option would be Bradenton, going over the skyway to St Pete would be probably 20-30 min commute, you would find newer builds and be close to the beaches. The downside if you change jobs you would be limited to Southern Pinellas for a decent commute.

[MAniacTHW]

Why would anyone consider living in Lutz, period? I guess if I REALLY enjoy having "me" time... But yes, that drive is terrible. Then keep in mind that the only two roads that would lead to the interstate (as far as I know) are Dale Mabry and Gunn Hwy. Have fun with that traffic.

[happy4once]

My husband will be working in Nth St Pete. somewhat close to Clearwater airport. Everywhere I look that are building new homes is at least 30 mile drive. Want to keep under $240k. Would like a kid friendly neighborhood. These new communities with pools and playgrounds seems like nice place to live. I would like for him to have a close drive but I don't know how we can manage that with the home choices. Everything close to there is either really old or really expensive. I am open to suggestions. Ive also looked at tarpon springs, trinity, palm harbor, land o lakes, lutz areas.