Tampa Heights: Volunteers Envision a Bright Future for this Community
Located just one mile north of Tampa, Tampa Heights was the first suburb to be developed back in the 19th century. Now it’s attracting a lot of attention for potential redevelopment and revitalization thanks to a movement started by Tampa Heights community members and business owners who call Tampa Heights home.
“Tampa Heights is a beautiful community. It is a picturesque neighborhood where stately oak trees, brick streets, and dedicated residents create a small-town feeling. The convenience of being close to downtown and Ybor City, as well as easy access to both I-4 and I-275, affords Tampa Heights a uniquely central location.
“Its glorious past sets the stage for the renaissance now taking place. Established in the early 1880’s, notable ‘Heights’ residents included Judge Joseph Robles, W.B. Henderson, and Wallace Stoval, founder of the Tampa Tribune. Thomas Puch Kennedy, the son of one of Tampa’s earliest pioneers is credited with naming Tampa Heights when he moved just one mile north of downtown to the “Highlands”. Thus began downtown residents’ first flight into the suburbs. One hundred years ago, Tampa Heights was developed as the first suburb of Tampa. One hundred years later, the neighborhood is experiencing resurgence as downtown’s newest/oldest suburb.” Courtesy of tampaheights.org.
Earlier this month the Tampa Heights Civic Association in conjunction with the Congress for New Urbanism and Urban Charette organized a one-day community service project called The Franklin Street Better Block to help shape Franklin Street and all of Tampa Heights for that matter. The “block party” featured local vendors, retailers, and residents who hosted pop-up storefronts to demonstrate what a thriving, urban corridor Franklin Street’s “Yellow Brick Row” could look like in the near future. Posters were strategically placed over windows of abandoned buildings to simulate boutiques, pet shops, and bars. What an awesome concept! Check out photos from the block party below.
“By bringing Better Block to Tampa Heights, we will simulate what a thriving and lively corridor would look like on Franklin Street,” said Brian Seel, president of the Tampa Height Civic Association Board. “The block is part of a Tampa neighborhood where we are starting to see urbanization. Our project builds on this momentum and gives the community a voice in the development of Franklin Street.”
The Franklin Street Better Block’s Facebook page had this to say about the Better Block movement: “Better Block is a community demonstration tool that acts as a living charrette so that communities can actively engage in the future of a place. The project has been used as a tool across the country to help redeveloping communities experience the possibilities for change in their neighborhood.”
Due to the overwhelming demand for quality homes in walkable neighborhoods within close proximity of cultural centers, the business district, and the water, Domain Homes has led the way in the redevelopment of some of Tampa’s hottest areas. At the center of Tampa’s urban core is the Hillsborough River. Our newest neighborhoods are about a five minute walk to the river or a ten minute walk to the Straz Performing Arts Center with many cool restaurants and hotspots along the way.
Commuting to the suburbs and paying tolls is passé. If you’re looking for a new home in Tampa Heights, Seminole Heights, or North Hyde Park, give us a call at (813) 413-4154 and speak with one of our new homes specialists about the Domain leading edge buying experience.
Photos courtesy of Franklin Street Better Block Project on Facebook.
—
At Domain Homes, our philosophy is simple… to build homes that inspire and enrich our homeowners lives. For more information, check out our website domainhomes.com and be sure to “Like” us on Facebook.