Improving Tampa (Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Brandon: sales, insurance, house)

[crystalblue]

What would it take to improve Tampa and the Bay Area?

More Roads?
Mass Transit?
More Smart Growth?
More Colleges?


What?

[crystalblue]

and make sure you justify your thoughts!

if you want mass transit, how would you pay for it, esp if you propose less taxes.

[compelled to reply]

Nude beach. Definitely. With hott chicks. Then that would solve the strip club problem, or the lack thereof, since although Tampa may have plenty of strip clubs, including the worlds finest Mons Venus, it's still not quite on the same page as Fort Lauderdale in this regard. Sucks being number two. Fewer conservative and fewer liberals would be nice too. That would equal fewer people. The libertarians can stay though, because that would make Tampa a much better place. Although the American Nazi Party can't stay.

I'm really sorry, I'm feeling especially sarcastic today . But seriously, this is a great thread idea. Make a thread like this in the Miami forum and I will give you a serious reply.

[jessiegirl_98]

I think the major downfalls of Tampa is that it is soooo spread out and there is no transportation system. Also, because it is sooo spread out, I actually have to drive about 30 minutes to get to any sort of reasonable nightlife, hence the more nightlife. Also, we need to rethink the whole strip mall idea.
Regarding those who say less taxes, that's good and all, but do you already realize that Tampa has very little taxes. I'm sure you would all want to hold on to more of your money, but that would definitly be to the detriment of Tampa.

[crystalblue]

Originally Posted by jessiegirl_98

I think the major downfalls of Tampa is that it is soooo spread out and there is no transportation system. Also, because it is sooo spread out, I actually have to drive about 30 minutes to get to any sort of reasonable nightlife, hence the more nightlife. Also, we need to rethink the whole strip mall idea.
Regarding those who say less taxes, that's good and all, but do you already realize that Tampa has very little taxes. I'm sure you would all want to hold on to more of your money, but that would definitly be to the detriment of Tampa.

So, what would be your plan?

[tampaguy03]

Originally Posted by jessiegirl_98

I think the major downfalls of Tampa is that it is soooo spread out and there is no transportation system. Also, because it is sooo spread out, I actually have to drive about 30 minutes to get to any sort of reasonable nightlife, hence the more nightlife. Also, we need to rethink the whole strip mall idea.
Regarding those who say less taxes, that's good and all, but do you already realize that Tampa has very little taxes. I'm sure you would all want to hold on to more of your money, but that would definitly be to the detriment of Tampa.

So it sounds to me that would like to have more nightlife in your neck of the woods(USF area/Tampa Plams?-which is on the outskirts of the city), or Mass Transit to take you into the city where the nightlife is already established(Hyde Park, Channelside, Ybor, South Tampa). Correct? The transit situation will be handled but not for at least another 5 years in your area....when I went to school at USF from 87 to 92, there was actually more happening spots up along Fletcher and Fowler Avenue than exist today, and I guess that's due to places like Ybor, Channelside, SOHO and Bay Streetn which have all taken off in the past 10 years or so.

[tampaguy03]

Originally Posted by crystalblue

What would it take to improve Tampa and the Bay Area?

More Roads?
Mass Transit?
More Smart Growth?
More Colleges?


What?

For me, Id say Cheaper Insurance, but thats more of a State issue, im really not familiar but maybe alot more competition among Insurance Agencies coming into the state, and banning those companies that wont offer all lines of insurance if the offer it(like MetLife offering Auto, but not Home in most places in Florida - if you want to sell Auto in our state, than you need to provide Home as well)

..and Mass Transit which is being brought back to the table again(Thanks Pam), but needs better organization amongst the REGION, and i'd say the half penny tax amongst the REGION, or even better, a tax on beer/liquor sales(this town drinks enough of it-we could pay for the whole system after one Gasparilla Festival ), or even an added fee for DUI arrests, as Hillsborough County has the highest percentage of DUI arrests in the state.

...and less Property Taxes(although I bought my home 8 years ago so mine arent too bad, but if I want to move.....), i'm for a 2 cent sales tax all around to rid the property tax on primary homes.

...and More smart growth..DENSITY, DENSITY in the inner core(downtown), continue rehab historic or delapated areas with reasonable housing(like West Tampa, East Tampa), STOP urban sprawl or if you build on the outskirts, infrastructure first, paying attention to ecology/nature, having town centers in each community.

[jessiegirl_98]

Originally Posted by crystalblue

So, what would be your plan?

I would agree with tampaguy. More smart growth and denser areas. Less chains and more focus on smaller, independent business throught the city. Mass transit, even starting with the core of the city would help (this isn't a huge issue for me but I think it would help to bring more people to the city/help those who have to take mass transit)

Originally Posted by tampaguy03

So it sounds to me that would like to have more nightlife in your neck of the woods(USF area/Tampa Plams?-which is on the outskirts of the city), or Mass Transit to take you into the city where the nightlife is already established(Hyde Park, Channelside, Ybor, South Tampa). Correct? The transit situation will be handled but not for at least another 5 years in your area....when I went to school at USF from 87 to 92, there was actually more happening spots up along Fletcher and Fowler Avenue than exist today, and I guess that's due to places like Ybor, Channelside, SOHO and Bay Streetn which have all taken off in the past 10 years or so.

When I chose to live in my area, I realized that it was a more suburban feel, but honestly, yes, more non-chain nightlife would be good!! I probably would have chose to live in Hyde Park or Channelside had it had denser areas that reminded me more of a big city. Those neighborhoods definitly have more of a city feel than mine, but for the price difference, I didn't think it was worth it yet. You can see my comments above about mass transit. It would be really nice, but they should focus on the more dense areas and less far out areas first! Mass transit is difficult in Tampa....I can't imagine how long it would take to get across town with that because it's so spread out! Again, I think Tampa's a nice place but there is room for improvement in every city.

[tampaguy03]

Originally Posted by jessiegirl_98

I would agree with tampaguy. More smart growth and denser areas. Less chains and more focus on smaller, independent business throught the city. Mass transit, even starting with the core of the city would help (this isn't a huge issue for me but I think it would help to bring more people to the city/help those who have to take mass transit)


When I chose to live in my area, I realized that it was a more suburban feel, but honestly, yes, more non-chain nightlife would be good!! I probably would have chose to live in Hyde Park or Channelside had it had denser areas that reminded me more of a big city. Those neighborhoods definitly have more of a city feel than mine, but for the price difference, I didn't think it was worth it yet. You can see my comments above about mass transit. It would be really nice, but they should focus on the more dense areas and less far out areas first! Mass transit is difficult in Tampa....I can't imagine how long it would take to get across town with that because it's so spread out! Again, I think Tampa's a nice place but there is room for improvement in every city.

Most of the mom and pop, non chain retail can be found within the city limits in areas like South Tampa, West Tampa, the Heights areas(Tampa, Seminole, Riverside Heights)...any area on the outskirts of the city limits will probably have been built within the past 20 years or sooner, and strip centers and chains are king for the suburbs. Not sure why that is...

I like the density we have now in areas like Hyde Park/SOHO, along Bayshore Blvd and South Tampa, and hope that it never gets like Chicago, New York, Boston, Philly, etc...this is Tampa....but the downtown core(where the skyscrapers are) should be getting it on with more residential density...im looking forward to seeing downtown with 10,000 residents by the year 2010. The streetcar will be finished to make a full loop throughout downtown to ybor and channelside and back throughout downtown, and they have already started the late night trolley service throughout downtown that now runs every 10 minutes through 2am. Light rail will just be coming on board around then for downtown to areas like South Tampa, USF/New Tampa, Airport/Westshore, and East Tampa/Brandon. The transit service right now just isnt as user friendly...I have a stop a block from my house in South Tampa, but it only comes by once an hour from 5am to 9pm only.(Hartline.org)

[crystalblue]

Originally Posted by tampaguy03

Most of the mom and pop, non chain retail can be found within the city limits in areas like South Tampa, West Tampa, the Heights areas(Tampa, Seminole, Riverside Heights)...any area on the outskirts of the city limits will probably have been built within the past 20 years or sooner, and strip centers and chains are king for the suburbs. Not sure why that is...

I like the density we have now in areas like Hyde Park/SOHO, along Bayshore Blvd and South Tampa, and hope that it never gets like Chicago, New York, Boston, Philly, etc...this is Tampa....but the downtown core(where the skyscrapers are) should be getting it on with more residential density...im looking forward to seeing downtown with 10,000 residents by the year 2010. The streetcar will be finished to make a full loop throughout downtown to ybor and channelside and back throughout downtown, and they have already started the late night trolley service throughout downtown that now runs every 10 minutes through 2am. Light rail will just be coming on board around then for downtown to areas like South Tampa, USF/New Tampa, Airport/Westshore, and East Tampa/Brandon. The transit service right now just isnt as user friendly...I have a stop a block from my house in South Tampa, but it only comes by once an hour from 5am to 9pm only.(Hartline.org)

umm, id say your going to have a MUCH longer wait for light rail...