Safety Harbor vs. East Lake vs. Palm Harbor

[Arcenal813]

Originally Posted by dtcbnd03

As a family most trips are going to work, church, school, sports and grocery store so proximity to all of those is really key. It's a big reason some people don't buy a house with more land out in the countryside...even with remote work....cause the daily commute for essentials is brutal.

I had all of that all within a very small radius in East Lake.
There is a Publix shopping plaza 1 mile from where I was:
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/28.1...!3e1?entry=ttu
My dentist was in that plaza.

3 minute drive, 6 minute bike ride.

Another Publix plaza with a Target and all sorts of stuff a mere 5 minutes away.

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/28.1...!3e0?entry=ttu

Medical plaza also 5 minutes away (my primary care physician was there.)
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/28.1...!3e0?entry=ttu

Sports? I play ice hockey -- I would go to TBSA less than 15 minutes away in Oldsmar.
If you have kids who play soccer, the West Florida Flames, one of two Tampa Bay area teams (and one of 11 in Florida) to have MLS Next teams, has a facility there: East Lake Sports Complex:

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Ea...r_19?entry=ttu

There is also a YMCA IN Lansbrook.

In short, I literally had everything I needed within a 5 minute drive, with groceries being 2 minutes.
Despite how the area might look at first glance, I can honestly say that I could walk or bike to just about everything required for daily living. The trail running alongside the length of East Lake Rd is wonderful.

Originally Posted by dtcbnd03

I've heard a lot of people mentioning Westchase or Waterchase. I realize that is just across in Hillsborough county but people say that lots of families with kids live there. I hesitate to look further east cause that just gets further away from the beaches and all the cool laid back downtowns like St Pete, Dunedin, Safety Harbor. But are those better for families schools than say an East Lake / Woodlands / Safety Harbor? Any particular pros/cons for those two or is it simply a preference for people who want to be closer to Tampa vs. St Pete?

Not much different in my opinion. One is in Pinellas County, the other is in Hillsborough.

You mention "downtowns..." While I wouldn't LIVE there, nearby Tarpon Springs has two downtowns, and both are definitely worth checking out:

https://www.google.com/maps/@28.1462...8192?entry=ttu
https://www.google.com/maps/@28.1555...8192?entry=ttu

[dtcbnd03]

Arcenal813 thanks for your helpful responses. We'll drive around Westchase and Waterchase just to get a feel for them...but once you've driven around a few gated/non-gated neighborhoods I feel like the houses are all pretty much the same. With the exception of say East Lake / Woodlands having more woods/animals vs. Safety Harbor having a downtown. A quick search online though does indicate Westchase and Waterchase do have some great community club options (pools, tennis, basketball, playground) for non-golfer residents which I assume are included in the HOA? However, they also seem to have CDD fees tacked on to HOAs. We are looking for a central community aspect so those seem to have great options.

https://waterchase.connectresident.com/
https://westchasewca.com/

[Lillie767]

Originally Posted by Lillie767

You don't need a huge housing stock; you just need one that fits your needs.

A good buyer's agent should be able to scour most of north Pinellas to find your house.

Don't limit yourself to one area.


You mentioned not wanting to be in Flood Zone X, but don't forget to look at the evacuation zone maps. You will want to be in a non-evacuation zone. Flood and Evac zones are two separate and distinct items.
Should read:You mentioned wanting to be in Flood Zone X, but don't forget to look at the evacuation zone maps. You will want to be in a non-evacuation zone. Flood and Evac zones are two separate and distinct items.


Almost all of East Lake Woodlands is in an evacuation zone, whereas east of Alt 19 (Bayshore) and west of 19 in Palm Harbor and Dunedin are non-evacuation zones.

"Knowing and understanding your evacuation zone is important so you can make sheltering plans in advance of a hurricane or major storm. The Pinellas County Know Your Zone app allows you to enter your address to find your evacuation zone, as well as the closest shelters and hotel accommodations."

https://kyz.pinellas.gov/


BTW, it is easy to check evac zones and flood zones for a specific house on https://www.pcpao.org/. Lots of info about updates to the house and permits.

I have corrected an error in my original post.

[FL_Expert]

Originally Posted by dtcbnd03

Arcenal813 thanks for your helpful responses. We'll drive around Westchase and Waterchase just to get a feel for them...but once you've driven around a few gated/non-gated neighborhoods I feel like the houses are all pretty much the same. With the exception of say East Lake / Woodlands having more woods/animals vs. Safety Harbor having a downtown. A quick search online though does indicate Westchase and Waterchase do have some great community club options (pools, tennis, basketball, playground) for non-golfer residents which I assume are included in the HOA? However, they also seem to have CDD fees tacked on to HOAs. We are looking for a central community aspect so those seem to have great options.

https://waterchase.connectresident.com/
https://westchasewca.com/

Westchase and Waterchase offer a somewhat more tidy looking community resembling Disney World. HOA dues cover everything, and there are CDDs as you mentioned. These total amount can vary a lot depending on the specific village, but it’s not hard to figure out what your cost would be. These are very desirable places to live, but the trade off is you lose some proximity to the beach. Housing costs are a little higher too since it’s commutable to downtown Tampa.

Originally Posted by Lillie767

I have corrected an error in my original post.

It is strange how that works. I’m in Zone X and evacuation Zone A which seemingly shouldn’t happen. I take the evacuation zone with a grain of salt personally.

[Irishiis49]

I lived in the Westchase area for five years and moved back to Palm Harbor area...much prefer to be closer to the water...but otherwise that area of Hillsborough is lovely.

[dtcbnd03]

Originally Posted by Irishiis49

I lived in the Westchase area for five years and moved back to Palm Harbor area...much prefer to be closer to the water...but otherwise that area of Hillsborough is lovely.

We drove around Westchase and it seems very nice but houses/lots seem slightly smaller than East Lake. We tried to drive around Waterchase but got denied at the gate which was kinda annoying. We really like the club/pool amenities included in the HOAs for those communities per their websites. I wish there were similar amenities included in the East Lake and Safety Harbor neighborhoods. But ultimately I think Westchase/Waterchase are too far east for our liking because we want to get to the beach and laid back downtowns in Pinellas county.

[FL_Expert]

Originally Posted by dtcbnd03

We drove around Westchase and it seems very nice but houses/lots seem slightly smaller than East Lake. We tried to drive around Waterchase but got denied at the gate which was kinda annoying. We really like the club/pool amenities included in the HOAs for those communities per their websites. I wish there were similar amenities included in the East Lake and Safety Harbor neighborhoods. But ultimately I think Westchase/Waterchase are too far east for our liking because we want to get to the beach and laid back downtowns in Pinellas county.

That’s great you got to check out the area to know all your options.

I think you should check out the neighborhoods off Alderman Rd in Palm Harbor west of 19. It’s close to the gulf, but that area has good elevation so there should be no flooding issues whatsoever. There are some bigger homes in that area too so it may work well for you. By “check out”, google streetview would probably suffice.

[Irishiis49]

Originally Posted by FL_Expert

That’s great you got to check out the area to know all your options.

I think you should check out the neighborhoods off Alderman Rd in Palm Harbor west of 19. It’s close to the gulf, but that area has good elevation so there should be no flooding issues whatsoever. There are some bigger homes in that area too so it may work well for you. By “check out”, google streetview would probably suffice.

Yes we had friends that lived on Leprechaun Lane off of Alderman rd very pretty with huge lots! Also off Alderman is the neighborhood of Autumn Woods a really beautiful sub division! I would definitely check out Autumn Woods (it's not gated)!