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Tampa Heights
Where is Tampa Heights? Where is Hyde Park? Where is Ybor City? Which location elicited a “Huh?” response? These are three of the oldest areas in the city of Tampa, all well known… all except Tampa Heights. Currently bordered by I-275 to the South, Nebraska Ave to the East, N. Boulevard to the West and Martin Luther King Ave to the North, Tampa Heights was Tampa’s first residential neighborhood, developed in the late 1800′s, officially becoming a neighborhood in 1889. In an extensive article about Tampa, the Tampa Tribune’s Mid-Winter edition of 1900 explained “The principal residence sections are Hyde park and Tampa Heights,… Both of these sections are improved with paved streets, electric lights, and residences both costly and elegant.” It was home to Tampa’s most successful residents. The bankers, grocers, cigar factory and box factory owners lived here in glorious Victorians. It now has both National and Local Historical District status.
The area is rich in history. In May of 1898 thousands of U.S. troops poured into Tampa before embarkation to Cuba for the Spanish-American War. The first and largest of seven camps was in Tampa Heights.
Driving around Tampa Heights today one can see evidence of our illustrious past. There are a few and were many Churches and Temples for residents to walk to for religious services. The old Waterworks Pumping Station No. 3, built in 1905 still stands. There is a natural spring on the property, which was the original water source for the city. There were public schools, grocery stores and numerous public parks. Tampa Heights was and still is a diverse community. In the Northwest quadrant are a number of beautiful, old cemeteries sitting side by side. Walking through you can’t help but admire the ornate granite headstones and statues, some bearing crosses, some Stars of David.
If you look at old street scene photos you will see beautiful home after home. Standing in the same location today (along the southern border) you see a house or two scattered among vacant lots. What happened to Tampa Heights? Until the ’60s, things seemed to be going well. The demise was most likely a combination of factors. The wood frame houses, built at the turn of the century were deteriorating and expensive to upkeep. The infrastructure was also aging and with the construction of I-275 in the early ’60s traveling to the new developments in the suburbs was easy. The houses went from enviable mansions to rooming houses to crack houses. In an effort to combat the downward spiral, a number of the truly decrepit structures were demolished.
Who made the first move to revitalize Tampa Heights? It was definitely a collaborative effort between Preservation groups, the city, concerned residents, urban pioneers and financial institutions. In the early ’80s, Tampa Preservation Inc. worked with the city to purchase vacant land and dilapidated structures. They then built new, historically accurate houses on the land and renovated the existing houses for sale as single-family homes. Individuals as well as the city and organizations must support the turning points of neighborhoods. According to neighbors, Gail Holly and Lionel Garcia, Patricia Willsey started renovations on her home at 2106 N. Morgan St. in the early 1990′s. This 3,000 sq. ft. home built in 1907 boasts a wraparound porch, fish scale shingles and stained glass. Gail and Lionel were 2nd in renovating their 1912 Key West style, 2-story home at 2206 N. Morgan St. that is now memorably; pink with turquoise shutters. These were the pioneers that sparked a trend.
Mayor Greco took Tampa Heights under his wing and formed the Mayors Heights Project in 1998. It was a partnership between the city and non-profit organizations to spur development. They purchased a vast quantity of land and dilapidated structures which were then sold to owner occupants, used for large commercial projects such as the GTE Federal Credit Union building on 7th Avenue, Mobley Park apartments and the Tampa Heights Office Village.
In 1999 the city created the Old Tampa Police Department Site Community Redevelopment Area (“CRA”). This area is now known as the Tampa Heights Riverfront CRA and is being developed into The Heights, a major mixed-use development with offices, residential towers, boat slips, a park and a portion of the Riverwalk.
In 2001 Bank of America picked Tampa Heights to be one of four cities in the country to benefit from their America – Block by Block program. They became another partner in the group effort to revitalize Tampa Heights by co-developing projects and making significant construction loans when few others would.
Concerned residents saw the movement and realized there was a need for a plan. Together with the City and the Planning Commission they put together a neighborhood plan outlining the desired direction for Tampa Heights. Tampa City Council passed it in 2003.
For more than 17 years now, people have been restoring the old and in some cases building new to replicate the old.
Where do we hope this will go? Well, who wouldn’t love to see every single home and business restored to its historic glory? We do hope that guidelines and laws continue to keep these gems from being torn down as once was allowed. We hope that people continue to take pride in history and maintain this area. We hope that retail shops and restaurants choose our location, being that we are closest to downtown and we are on the river. We hope that eventually people will know where Tampa Heights is located.
About the Author
Carpet Doctor inc. has been in business for 14 years. visit www.carpetdoctorinc.com
10903 brucehaven dr.
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Lou Reed – Street Hassle (complete music video)
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