North River Ranch, Bayview, Artisan Lakes, Seaire (Tampa, Palm Harbor: purchase, schools)

[jflanagan]

Hi! I love this forum because the locals are so helpful...thanks in advance for that.

We've explored many areas of FL on our "where to retire" tours over the years...both coasts, the middle, north and south - we've seen a lot! We've decided on the gulf coast somewhere near Tampa...but not in the cities; we're done with hustle and bustle.

We probably want to purchase in an active adult community, but not necessarily an age-restricted one, and no golf course needed.

We would like proximity to bike trails, 30 minutes or so to a nice beach, a walkable, lively downtown not too far away, and we do not want to live in a flood or evacuation zone. So far we like Starkey Ranch/Esplanade in Odessa (though the traffic on 19 and 54 is concerning and the taxes/fees are high). We plan to continue looking around Dunedin, Palm Harbor, Tarpon Springs and New Port Richey...but the flood zone thing...

This time we're thinking of checking out the Parrish and Palmetto areas, southeast of Tampa. Specifically, I've found these communities online:

Del Webb Bayview
North River Ranch
Seaire
Esplanade at Artisan Lakes

I would appreciate any input on these areas and communities, e.g. traffic, aesthetics, traffic, safety, vibrancy, traffic. It looks like the area is developing rapidly, from what I can tell? We don't need to think about schools other than desirability for resale.

Thanks!

[MortonR]

I don't know much about these communities, but your requirements made me think of them from what little I do know about them.

I know the area around Parrish as well as farther south towards Bradenton has had a lot of development in the last 5 years or so in the way of major community developments.

RM