Is Tampa undergoing a major boom like Nashville, Austin, etc? (Brandon: transplants, crime)

[Serious Conversation]

I live in Indianapolis and have taken a couple of trips to the Tampa area this year, and have really enjoyed it. Is Tampa undergoing a major boom like Nashville, where tons of transplants are coming in and driving up the cost of living and changing the city dramatically in a short time?

[MAniacTHW]

If you've been to Tampa at any point in the last 20 years, you'd notice that there are more New Yorkers here than native Floridians. And, if you've been here in the last 20 years, you'd notice that very little has changed in those 20 years. So, no... transplants are doing no changing. That said, Channelside is (finally) about to go through a huge renovation as is the USF area and Seminole Heights has been coming along over the last 20 years. I refuse to credit a multitude of transplants for any of that.

[GiovanniTheGreat]

It has a ways to go. A lot of Tampa is still in rough shape and when it does get fixed up, it will be just as expensive as Portland and Austin I'd say but its not at that point YET. Many bad neighborhoods still and it manages to be expensive in the area already. I cant imagine when its at full capacity. It could get to SF levels in 10 yrs though if current trends continue. Unless you have interests geared for this area, do not come. That's my advice.

And I 2nd what ManiacTHW says, USF area and Seminole Heights are the best in Tampa with Carollwood also and Brandon/Valrico for outskirts.

[GiovanniTheGreat]

Originally Posted by Serious Conversation

I live in Indianapolis and have taken a couple of trips to the Tampa area this year, and have really enjoyed it. Is Tampa undergoing a major boom like Nashville, where tons of transplants are coming in and driving up the cost of living and changing the city dramatically in a short time?

And also I been talking to someone who moved to Indianapolis recently, she tells me its great and very much like middle America. According to her, the only bad thing is the bad winters but otherwise its a good place, has greenery and good living for the most part. Good job economy, cheaper COL.. This true?

[MAniacTHW]

Originally Posted by GiovanniTheGreat

A lot of Tampa is still in rough shape and when it does get fixed up, it will be just as expensive as Portland and Austin I'd say but its not at that point YET.

No, there aren't. Every neighborhood doesn't look like Hyde Park, that doesn't mean they're in "rough shape." There are a few historical areas that 275 destroyed that are still trying to recover, but I wouldn't say that makes up more than a fraction of the city.

Originally Posted by GiovanniTheGreat

Many bad neighborhoods still and it manages to be expensive in the area already.

This also isn't true. Avoid most areas of Nebraska and you'll be fine. Sulphur Springs/Suitcase City are probably the worst of Tampa, and even then, I don't feel unsafe in the area. It's nothing compared to other cities with much worse crime. And those areas are not expensive, thus why so many people live in them.

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by MAniacTHW

No, there aren't. Every neighborhood doesn't look like Hyde Park, that doesn't mean they're in "rough shape." There are a few historical areas that 275 destroyed that are still trying to recover, but I wouldn't say that makes up more than a fraction of the city.



This also isn't true. Avoid most areas of Nebraska and you'll be fine. Sulphur Springs/Suitcase City are probably the worst of Tampa, and even then, I don't feel unsafe in the area. It's nothing compared to other cities with much worse crime. And those areas are not expensive, thus why so many people live in them.

I agree with everything Maniac has to say in his posts. I was born and raised in Tampa. It has more "history" than many areas of Florida and is more richly culturally diverse. Tampa has changed a lot over time, as most cities do, and is just now experiencing kind of a "rebirth." This has NOTHING to do with transplants - it has more to do with the awesome mayor, the best Tampa has ever seen, IMO.

[PDF]

Not yet. It's not even close to being on the scale of growth that places like Nashville and Austin are. But give it another 5-10 years and it'll get there.

[StreetSmarts]

Originally Posted by Serious Conversation

I live in Indianapolis and have taken a couple of trips to the Tampa area this year, and have really enjoyed it. Is Tampa undergoing a major boom like Nashville, where tons of transplants are coming in and driving up the cost of living and changing the city dramatically in a short time?

Transplants coming in? Absolutely. Been happening and still continuing- even more now that there is a boom going on.

Tampa is a lot like any other major area of FL. Always changing. People go and then they go. Very transient.

[Serious Conversation]

Originally Posted by GiovanniTheGreat

And also I been talking to someone who moved to Indianapolis recently, she tells me its great and very much like middle America. According to her, the only bad thing is the bad winters but otherwise its a good place, has greenery and good living for the most part. Good job economy, cheaper COL.. This true?

It's middle America but that cuts both ways. It's a relatively inexpensive place to live and the economy is OK - groceries and housing are cheap - but there is a state and county level income tax, the roads suck, crime in the city proper is godawful, not much in the way of outdoor activity for a couple hours in any direction, etc.

I don't love it or hate it here but Tampa just seems to have a lot more going for it that I'm interested in.

[PDF]

Originally Posted by Serious Conversation

the roads suck, crime in the city proper is godawful, not much in the way of outdoor activity for a couple hours in any direction, etc.

Well Tampa isn't that much better in those categories.