Tampa Bay Neighborhoods, in detail.

If you are planning to move to gay Tampa Bay, then you are probably curious about where to live.  The bay area has three main cities, Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Clearwater.  Each city has its own personality and gay neighborhoods.  Below are some guides to get your started.  (return to Gay Neighborhoods)

Tampa

Hyde Park
An area of older bungalow style homes. Prices range from $250,000 upwards. Some of the Hyde Park area is in a Historically designated area. In the center of Hyde Park is Olde Hyde Park Village, a collection of upscale shops from Williams & Sonoma to the Pottery Barn. Hyde Park is adjacent to Bayshore Blvd. Bayshore Blvd features the longest continuous sidewalk in the world. It is popular for jogging and roller blading, 24 hours a day.

New Suburb Beautiful
What a tacky name for such a nice area!! It is an area of older homes, featuring all styles from Mediterranean to Colonial. Most of the homes have been renovated. Prices will range from $200,000 to $500,000

Davis Islands
A man-made island, developed in the 1920’s, contains a variety of styles of homes. The 1920’s homes were the Mediterranean Revival style. Many of the homes here are on canals leading to the bay, or more expensive homes on the Hillsborough Bay. Homes range upwards from $150,000. Davis Islands is only 5 minutes from downtown Tampa.

Palma Ceia
Palma Ceia is in the center of the peninsula of South Tampa. The area is highlighted by many tree shaded brick streets and older homes built in the 1920’s, 30’s, 40’s, 50’s, . Home prices here will range upwards from the low $100’s.

Beach Park
Beach Park is located on the west side of the South Tampa peninsula. It is an area of streets dominated by towering oak trees, and larger homes ranging from $300,000 and up. Many of the smaller homes are being torn down and replaced by larger half million-dollar homes. It is minutes away from Westshore Mall, a very upscale shopping mall.

Bayshore Beautiful
This area is bounded by Bayshore Blvd. And is an area of older homes and large old oak trees. The homes here will range from the low $100’s to over a million dollars for homes located on Bayshore Blvd.

Tampa Heights
This area is just north of downtown Tampa and is in the first stages of redevelopment. The area is just north of downtown Tampa. The homes are a variety of styles from the turn of the century Victorian style to Bungalow styles. The city is putting millions of dollars into this community and encouraging new development in the keeping with the style of the community. Homes here start in the $60-70,000 range for homes in need of repair, to the mid $100’s.

Seminole Heights
This area of bungalow style homes is located about 10 minutes north of downtown Tampa. Some of the area has been designated as a historic district. There is a lot of charm to this area with large oak trees and older homes.

                                               St. Petersburg

One of the beautiful aspects of the St. Petersburg area is the diversity of many of its neighborhoods. While there is no “gay ghetto”, there are many neighborhoods that are Gay & Lesbian friendly.   St. Petersburg's proximity to the Gulf Beaches, expanding culture with World-class museums, affordable housing prices, effective transportation network, and increasing job opportunities all beckon for potential residents to take another look.

Up-N-Coming Neighborhoods 

Historic Kenwood - This neighborhood located just west of I-275 and North of Central.  Avenue is known for its very active association. Wrought iron decorative street signs mark the entrances. The housing is primarily bungalows from the 1920’s with hardwood floors and large front porches (the site of many “Porch Parties”) A gazebo in Seminole Park serves for many get-togethers.  (Prices from $120,000 to 200,000 plus).

Old Southeast - Just South of downtown, this neighborhood was established in the late 1800’s. Many fine homes from this era still exist with a wide variety of sizes and styles to choose from. Brick streets and large waterfront Lassing Park add to the character of the neighborhood. ($120,000-$300,000 on the water).

Roser Park - Adjacent to Bayfront & All Children’s Hospitals, and USF, Roser Park is truly one of the most unique neighborhoods. Take a stroll along Roser Park Drive and Booker Creek to see why. Just recently listed on the National Historic Register,  renovations are picking up ($100,000 - $200,000 and up)

Central Oak Park - The only neighborhood that crosses Central Avenue, this diverse area is one of the most convenient. Minutes to the beaches, downtown and I-275 insure a quick commute to your destination. Brick streets and housing built in the 20’s and 40’s contribute to the charm. Hardwood Floors abound. Houses range from small fixer-uppers to larger homes along the western edge. The area has the highest elevations in the city ($85,000-$200,000)

Uptown - Just North of Downtown, Uptown offers several architectural styles from which to choose. One of the oldest neighborhoods in the City, there is great history & pride to the area. Brick streets, mature oak trees, and a variety of housing add to the character. Round Lake, just off 4th Street offers a peaceful respite in an urban area. ($100,000-$200,000)

Established Neighborhoods

Crescent Heights & Crescent Lake - These neighborhoods overlook 56-acre Crescent Lake Park. Bordered by 4th & ML King Streets just north of Uptown, these areas were developed in the 20’s and 40’s. Stately oaks and brick streets add to the charm. Huggins-Stengil field at the south end of Crescent Lake serves as the spring training field for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays Major League baseball team. A wide variety of houses exist. ($175,000 - $500,000)

Euclid/ St. Paul - This area, West of Crescent Lake has many larger homes that compare with the North Shore area, but not quite as expensive. There has been lots of renovation here in the past years, not to mention it is close to Home Depot! ($130,000-$650,000)

North Shore - Commonly called Old Northeast, this neighborhood was the first developed in St. Petersburg. many of those fine homes still stand today and provide a deep sense of history and pride for the area. Just north of downtown and adjacent to Tampa Bay, North Shore enjoys wonderful public waterfront parks, including a heated pool, tennis courts and a Palm Arboretum. ($200,000-$1,000,000 waterfront)

Pinellas Point - The Southern tip of St. Petersburg was originally settled by Indians.  Several Indian Mounds still exist today. The housing was primarily built in the 1950’s with very large homes along the water overlooking the Skyway Bridge. The “Pink Streets” area is unique in that pink tinted concrete was utilized for the streets ($100,000-$1,000,000)

Woodlawn  - Often called Greater Woodlawn, This neighborhood is north of downtown and west of Crescent Heights. Built in the 1920’s, Woodlawn has a unique circular block and large restored entrance pillars with landscaping. ($130,000-$400,000)

Waterfront Communities

Broadwaters & Maximo Moorings - These neighborhoods are located West of Pinellas Point overlooking Boca Ciega Bay. With some of the quickest access to the Gulf of Mexico, they offer great waterfront values. They mostly consist of ranch style homes  built in the late 50’s & 60’s. ($120,000 - $750,000)

Coquina Key - This island community in the southeastern part of the city offers great value and terrific access to Tampa Bay. Amenities such as beautiful sunrises, a community pool, and large park  make a great neighborhood. ($90,000 off water-$300,000)

Tropical Shores - This “hidden” neighborhood just off Old Southeast is truly a treasure. Well-maintained properties built during the 60’s in a wide variety of sizes. This is the closest waterfront neighborhood to downtown, and lots of renovations. ($125,000-$600,000)

The Gulf Beaches

Madeira Beach - Often called “Mad Beach” this community is very diverse. Gays, lesbians, old Florida, tourists, and rednecks all mixed together with a wide variety of homes, condos, and rentals. 

Pass-A-Grille - Key West charm, great sunsets, and real characters. typical of island living, located South of the Don Cesar Resort on St. Pete Beach.

Sunset Beach - Also similar to Key West, Sunset Beach also has a “Gay Beach” at the southern tip. Located South of Treasure Island with many beach cottages, stilt homes, & condos. 

                                                       Gulfport

Gulfport deserves it’s own listing because of the rapid renaissance of the area. Stroll down the beaches overlooking Boca Ciega Bay. Gulfport has become a haven for artists because of the laid-back atmosphere. The first Friday of every month is Gallery Walk along Beach Boulevard.   

                                                     Clearwater

Dunedin - Just north of Clearwater, this section has a old downtown which is very artsy.  It also has one of the few gay bars in northern Pinellas County.  Dunedin is affordable, with its main drawback of not being convenient to the rest of the bay area resulting in longer drive times.

Safety Harbor - Similar to Dunedin, Safety Harbor is an artsy town.  It does have a great advantage of being convenient to the bridges and roads.