Best affordable family neighborhoods in Tampa? (Brandon, Lutz: house, movie theater, YMCA)

[mrviking]

Originally Posted by MAniacTHW

So, one suburb is a quicker commute into Tampa than another suburb? I'd also like to know where you're getting your info. Westchase is a short drive away from the Veterans which will drop you directly in front of Westshore mall. 15 minutes tops. You can't even get to I75 from SR60 in 15 mins. New Tampa, at least a portion of it, is in the city of Tampa, so I highly doubt you'd be "getting to Tampa" quicker from Brandon. Granted, I'll give you Carrollwood. It takes a bit of time to get to Tampa. However, if you think that Brandon offers "more entertainment" than either Westchase or Carrollwood, I'd question if you've ever been to Westchase or Carrollwood.



Lived in Brandon for three long, miserable years. I'd say I'm just as qualified to talk about the area as those who just moved there and praise it. Funny how someone who's brand new to the area is allowed to speak positively about it without being questioned, but someone who spent years there and hated it isn't qualified. Internet logic.

I was more thinking you were referring to downtown tampa. I can hop onto the crosstown and be at the tampa city limit at orient rd in less then 8 minutes.. I can be downtown in less then 15. Not sure why I would want to go to tampa very much other then downtown for entertainment. Good luck with all that entertainment westchase or carrolwood have. Not sure what they would have that the brandon area does not. Lets see houses, parks, chain restaurants, malls, lots of traffic, check check check check. Tell me what I missed.

[PhotoProIP]

Florida is the same as AZ with the exception of having beaches.


The cookie cutter description you listed for AZ is found EVERYWHERE here too.

South Tampa is more divers architecturally, but you'll have to afford it. Your price range is low for that area.

Florida is just as transient if not more. You're describing your Northern area which does not exist in the south the same way you're describing it.

Originally Posted by beachbuminAZ

Hello all!

I am a complete newbie on this site. I am hoping to gather opinions and 'insider' info as Google searches just don't cut it. My family and I are interested in relocating to Tampa. We currently live south of Phoenix, AZ and are tired of the brown desert, extremely hot summers, lack of culture, history and pool life. 6 years is long enough. My husband and I are originally from NJ, we miss the the beach, real green grass yards, rain, thunderstorms, real lakes, the beach and a variety of culture.

Anywhoo, we are now a family of four. 3 year old and 5 month old. We are looking to move within 2 years, so great elementary schools are important to us. I will list what we are looking for and if you could so graciously help point us in the direction of which neighborhood would best suit us, I would be very greatful. I dream of putting my toes in warm sand

We are looking for a neighborhood that is not a 'cookie cutter' development. We live that life now, we never see our neighbors and could care less if all of the houses match. We would prefer to live in a 'lived in' area where the trees are older than I am (29 And where my kids will grow up around other kids that will be lifetime friends. Where we live in AZ it is a very transient area, neighbors come and go..its hard to make friends when they leave every other year. Growing up on the East coast, we had lifetime neighbors. I want that for my girls.

What we are looking for in Tampa

-3 bed 2 bath <1600 sq ft, not too old of a house but not a cookie cutter brand new home. $180k or less
-great neighborhood that is safe, family friendly, kids that play outside. Access to parks nearby.
- in a great elementary school district
-Not more than 30-45 min to the beach
-within 30 mintutes to major shopping (Costco, Target, etc)
- Less than 45 min commute to St. Petersburg or Brandon (not sure yet on job transfer)


Please and thank you for your advice and info!

[Spring Hillian]

Originally Posted by PhotoProIP

Florida is the same as AZ with the exception of having beaches.

.................snip............................
The cookie cutter description you listed for AZ is found EVERYWHERE here too.

I see u have never been to AZ.

[PDF]

Originally Posted by MAniacTHW

Lived in Brandon for three long, miserable years. I'd say I'm just as qualified to talk about the area as those who just moved there and praise it. Funny how someone who's brand new to the area is allowed to speak positively about it without being questioned, but someone who spent years there and hated it isn't qualified. Internet logic.

What was so long/miserable about it and why did you stay for so long?

[Fl1150]

Originally Posted by PhotoProIP

Florida is the same as AZ with the exception of having beaches.


The cookie cutter description you listed for AZ is found EVERYWHERE here too.

South Tampa is more divers architecturally, but you'll have to afford it. Your price range is low for that area.

Florida is just as transient if not more. You're describing your Northern area which does not exist in the south the same way you're describing it.

What ??? Why do people feel the need to try persuade someone from moving here and state crazy claims. Coming from NJ the op probably will feel more comfortable anyway considering the fact Arizona is known to attract more Midwestern transplants than Northeastern compared to Florida. Also cookie cutter communities do exist here but Arizona is not even developed like Florida so comparing the two is neither here or there. Apples to Oranges as Arizona is not the east coast at all.

[MAniacTHW]

Originally Posted by PDF

What was so long/miserable about it

No entertainment for young individuals, TERRIBLE job prospects, some of the least educated individuals I've ever met, and the first time I've seen used heroine needles along the sidewalk on the way to work.

Originally Posted by PDF

and why did you stay for so long?

It would be easy to move had their been better job prospects and I could have afforded a car to look for a job in Tampa. It took three years, but I was finally able to find something that would allow me to move.

[WinterK]

There are no lakes to swim in here in Florida. Not like up north.
Too many dangerous predators like alligators. Why not go back to NJ? And Florida is full of transients. I'd just get a sandbox to put my toes in if I were you, rather than move here.

[KPB]

Originally Posted by WinterK

There are no lakes to swim in here in Florida. Not like up north.
Too many dangerous predators like alligators. Why not go back to NJ? And Florida is full of transients. I'd just get a sandbox to put my toes in if I were you, rather than move here.

Are you being serious? Lol

[KPB]

Originally Posted by MAniacTHW

No entertainment for young individuals, TERRIBLE job prospects, some of the least educated individuals I've ever met, and the first time I've seen used heroine needles along the sidewalk on the way to work.



It would be easy to move had their been better job prospects and I could have afforded a car to look for a job in Tampa. It took three years, but I was finally able to find something that would allow me to move.

I could understand how a young, broke, individual w/ no car could have a hard time finding good entertainmeint no matter where they live.

I can't comment on there being a lot of uneducated people living in Brandon because I don't ask people there IQ score or what level of education they have so honestly I have no idea about that, lol.

As far as finding syringes on the ground on your way to work, I'm sure you have considering that Florida had a pretty big problem w/ the pain management clinics and since the Fed's came down on the Dr's a lot of them closed up shop and now the addicts find heroin a lot easier/cheaper to get. You might see more syringes on your way to work now that you moved to Tampa since it was ground zero for the pain clinics. Especially when your walking thru the kind of neighborhoods where broke people live. You can find all kinds of things on the ground while walking no matter where you live though.

[PDF]

Originally Posted by WinterK

There are no lakes to swim in here in Florida. Not like up north.
Too many dangerous predators like alligators. Why not go back to NJ? And Florida is full of transients. I'd just get a sandbox to put my toes in if I were you, rather than move here.

You sound angry.