Any more liberal, progressive or hippie areas in Tampa? (Miami: condo, co-op)

[Liza54]

Guess the question says it all....
Not into religion, like a free thinking, artsy kinda vibe for families
Any suggestions? ( be specific! )

[Sailor Curt]

Originally Posted by Liza54

Guess the question says it all....
Not into religion, like a free thinking, artsy kinda vibe for families
Any suggestions? ( be specific! )

Check my thread here as I asked this same question, specifically about the St. Petersburg/St. Pete Beach areas and got some interesting replies. (You can also check my posting history by visiting my profile page; I also asked a similar question about the Panhandle area).

From what I could gather by responses, most people felt that either Tampa or St. Petersburg were possibly the most liberal and progressive cities in Florida outside of Miami. (I personally prefer the St. Petersburg area as I just like the way the city and beaches look).

But you were asking specifically about Tampa, so I'll bow out and see if some others can address that area for you.

Good luck on your quest!

[rtjr]

All the hippies I know live in Seminole Heights

[JudiPatooti]

I asked a similar question here once, too, particularly about where the liberal minded people live. What I got from the answers was Hyde Park (yuppy liberals), Seminole Heights, and St. Petersburg. I've also seen an area by the name of Historic Kenwood in St. Petersburg that is definitely free thinking, multi cultural, with an artistic vibe. There's a store there that sells a lot of the people who lived there's handmade creative products ( beautiful ones ) and a very big co-op pottery studio with huge outdoor kilns and things in a large old train station. Very cool.

[Sailor Curt]

Originally Posted by JudiPatooti

I asked a similar question here once, too, particularly about where the liberal minded people live. What I got from the answers was Hyde Park (yuppy liberals), Seminole Heights, and St. Petersburg. I've also seen an area by the name of Historic Kenwood in St. Petersburg that is definitely free thinking, multi cultural, with an artistic vibe.

I've also heard great things about the Historic Kenwood area, i.e., that it is liberal, very artsy, very gay-tolerant, and, judging by the Internet photos that I've seen, has some wonderful older, restored houses set in very neat and clean neighborhoods.

My wife and I have been mulling over the idea of moving to St. Petersburg for over a year now. We like the idea of living there and are continuing to look into it. Right now, it is the bad economy that is hindering our plans as we feel that we would have a hard time finding work there, or actually, in anyplace that we might want to move to at present.

And if we do decide to move there, we are torn between trying to find a great mid-century modern home in a similar neighborhood (like Kenwood) or, purchasing a condo right on the water in St. Pete Beach (which we have visited and absolutely fell in love with. We liked the Starlight Towers, a condo that was built in 1950).

OK, I realize that I'm hijacking this thread to a certain degree! Thanks for letting me rattle on.

[Liza54]

Hey, no problem! I'm just happy you answered! The 'feel' of a place just can't be felt on Craigslist or an MLS. I lived in SoCal and want to surround myself and my kids with that type of person- open minded, tolerant, valuing nature, etc. Just feels better for us. Will start looking in those areas right away!

[matchpoint]

Originally Posted by Sailor Curt

I've also heard great things about the Historic Kenwood area, i.e., that it is liberal, very artsy, very gay-tolerant, and, judging by the Internet photos that I've seen, has some wonderful older, restored houses set in very neat and clean neighborhoods.

My wife and I have been mulling over the idea of moving to St. Petersburg for over a year now. We like the idea of living there and are continuing to look into it. Right now, it is the bad economy that is hindering our plans as we feel that we would have a hard time finding work there, or actually, in anyplace that we might want to move to at present.

And if we do decide to move there, we are torn between trying to find a great mid-century modern home in a similar neighborhood (like Kenwood) or, purchasing a condo right on the water in St. Pete Beach (which we have visited and absolutely fell in love with. We liked the Starlight Towers, a condo that was built in 1950).

OK, I realize that I'm hijacking this thread to a certain degree! Thanks for letting me rattle on.

Free unsolicited advice: Get the condo in St Pete Beach, if you can. If you have the opportunity to live on or within walking distance of a Florida beach....TAKE IT!

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by matchpoint

Free unsolicited advice: Get the condo in St Pete Beach, if you can. If you have the opportunity to live on or within walking distance of a Florida beach....TAKE IT!

I kind of have to agree with this - as much as I love the neat old homes, I don't think you can beat a vintage condo on the beach - that would be my dream someday I think!

[Sailor Curt]

Originally Posted by gypsychic

I kind of have to agree with this - as much as I love the neat old homes, I don't think you can beat a vintage condo on the beach - that would be my dream someday I think!

Thanks matchpoint and gypsychic! I tend to agree with you both, but it is nice to hear the opinions of others to reinforce that. (And to gyspychic: I've read your opinions/advice on these forums many, many times and always appreciate what you have to say. You are very level-headed and precise in your comments. Thanks). The beach is really what I want the most out of living there and I've been in love with St. Pete Beach since I first visited there 30 years ago.

But, I still feel like I am hijacking this thread! I urge others to help the original poster get their question(s) answered . . . I've gotten mine.

[JProg305]

Hi Liza54, I am a Miami native but I've visited the Tampa Bay area many times with my girlfriend, who is a Tampa Bay native. We are both very liberal/progressive. In my opinion St. Pete would be a better choice than Tampa. That is, if you can find a job in St. Pete or somewhere within Pinellas county. Commuting from St. Pete to Tampa can be a real headache. St. Pete has a lot of potential and character. The downtown area is quite walkable, if a bit dicey in places. There are numerous restaurants (including Ceviches/Pincho y Pincho, which serves wickedly delicious tapas and seafood dishes), bars/pubs, delis, etc. The Salvador Dali museum is a must visit for even the casual art buff. The downtown farmer's market has live music, fresh produce, and prepared foods. You can catch a baseball game at Tropicana Field. Kenwood and the Old Northeast are great, funky, eclectic neighborhoods with old restored houses situated in well manicured, xeriscaped lots with lots of tree coverage (which is important when summer rolls around........yikes!). The beaches in Pinellas county are superb! Madeira beach, Indian Rocks beach, Fort De Soto, Caladesi, St. Pete Beach, Clearwater beach, Passe-a-Grille beach, etc., are all very nice. Some of the areas northwest of St. Petersburg are quaint and unique as well. Dunedin has a micro brewery/brewpub and a small, walkable, retro downtown area. Tarpon Springs is a Greek enclave with great restaurants, bakeries, and bric a brac shops. The kitsch factor is substantial due, in part, to Sponge O Rama, a museum that highlights the "glory days" of Tarpon Springs' sponge diving industry in the 50's.