South Tampa

South Tampa is very popular due to it’s proximity to the Tampa International Airport, beaches, shopping, and non-franchised restaurants.  There are quite a few “sub-sections” of South Tampa, each with their own appeal. 

Ballast Point

This neighborhood encompasses the Tampa Yacht and Country Club, a pier, a park and a community center. Housing includes condominiums, townhomes and single-family homes on sites that range from inland lots to oak shaded waterfront estates.

Bayshore Boulevard provides scenic travel to downtown Tampa while Gandy Boulevard extends a route across Old Tampa Bay providing access throughout Tampa Bay.

BEACH PARK

Among the oldest neighborhoods in Tampa, Beach Park is graced with 200 to 300 year old oaks, towering palms, and other indigenous flora. During the “boom” of the 1920’s, some 30 large Mediterranean style homes were built for the “well to do.”
This provides a beautiful accompaniment to the new homes being built throughout the existing neighborhood. Its community spirit is deeply rooted in tradition and character.
Many people, both from the area and those moving to Tampa FL, might be interested in knowing a little more about Beach Park in South Tampa.

The excitement of growth reached a fevered pitch in the Tampa of 1923-25 when the jungles of the city’s Interbay Peninsula began to attract the attention of developers. homebuilders, investors, and home buyers. The six mile Gandy Bridge was completed in November of 1924 and further fueled the Beach Park boom.
In December. 1924. the Tampa Sunday Times observed. ‘Beach Park, one of the most pretentious of all the subdivisions marks the entrance to the Interbay Peninsula. It is situated on Old Tampa Bay just off Memorial Highway. A little over a year ago this property was a wild tropical garden, impregnable and uninhabitable. Today it is a setting for winding streets. parkways, yacht basins and the most magnificent homes in Tampa. The Beach Park Company was the brainchild of a leading Tampa real estate firm. The Mabry Hall Company. They divided the 350 aces of Beach Park into four units, selling lots at $2,750 and “estate-size” parcels of up to $10,000. The firm made headlines in local papers for the record time in which the units were sold.

The concept for Beach Park as expressed by the developers in an interview in 1924 was that the subdivision would be the most beautiful, attractive, interesting residential suburb on the whole west central section of Florida.” The plans called for wide winding streets, landscaped parks and parkways. inland lakes, yacht basins, elaborate entrance gates and imported tropical plantings. Most important was the requirement that all homes built in Beach Park be examples of Mediterranean design. Franklin 0. Adams. the Beach Park Company architect and chairman of the board of art control called the style “Spanish Platteresque.” It was the Florida builders boom time version of Italian Renaissance. Moorish. Spanish or a combination of all three characteristics of the homes built in conformity to the requirement were stucco exteriors, terra cotta roofs, interior and exterior archways and generous use of decorative tile. A practical reason for the concrete, brick and stucco construction was that The Park was located in the county arid had no fire protection!

Although the lots were costly by 1920’s standards. the developers planned for a wide range of house-s within Beach Park They wanted variety arid envisioned homes ranging from $6,000 to $100,000. The Beach Park Company used expensive state-of-the-art construction equipment to clear the land and carve out waterways. They promised to complete streets, sidewalks and parkways even if all lots were not sold to give the appearance of a well-populated neighborhood. No hoteIs or apartments would be allowed. Residents could keep up to ten thickens, but no roosters! And one horse per residence was permitted provided its stable did not offend any neighbors. The Beach Park Company provided a bus for transportation to the city. They hired watchmen who patrolled the area on horseback.

Today Beach park is a wonderful neighborhood, with winding low traffic streets and a large park (Swann Circle park) in the middle. The schools that serve Beach Park are Grady elementary, Coleman middle school, and Plant high school. On the West side some of the most beautiful waterfront streets are found. Prices range from the mid $400,000’s up to several million on the water.

CULBREATH BAYOU

Charming winding streets under a canopy of massive trees interconnect the landscaped and pristinely groomed homes within this highly respected neighborhood. Located between Beach Park and Sunset Park, Culbreath Bayou epitomizes a quiet, family oriented community, while serving as a sterling example of tasteful design and thoughtful planning.

CULBREATH ISLES

Largely comprised of massive, traditionally styled homes, Culbreath Isles was one of Tampa’s first, totally secured and most exclusive neighborhoods. Developed in the mid to late 1960s, Culbreath Isles set a standard, yet unsurpassed, for impressive waterfront living.

Many of the elegant homes front on deep-water canals. Swimming pools, boating docks and elegant yachts are commonplace in this private haven, just west of Westshore Boulevard, overlooking Old Tampa Bay. All utilities are underground and careful attention is paid to maintain meticulous, distinctive landscaping.

DAVIS ISLAND

Today Davis Islands is a thriving mix of residential, multifamily, commercial, and parks. It is home to about 2,600 people. At the tip of Davis Island there is open green space with Peter O Knight airport, Davis Island Yacht club and two dog Parks, as well as a little “beach” for relaxing. Tampa’s main hospital, Tampa General is located at the North tip of the Island, and is always there when you might need it.

Even for those who do not live on the Island, the Davis Islands Village is quite a draw, with eight restaurants and three bars. Many with live music on the weekends. The district and Davis Island itself have the feel of a small town just a bridge away from the center of the city. There is an active community organisation, with many residents involved and feeling pride for their great neighborhood.

The Schools for Davis Islands are Gorrie elementry, Wilson Jr High, and Plant High school.Helpful info on Tampa Schools. Both Gorrie and Wilson are located just over the bridge in Hyde Park.

HARBOUR ISLAND

Harbour Island is a private, gated, master-planned community in South Tampa and is directly linked to downtown Tampa by two bridges. Secluded and worlds away from the stresses of day-to-day life, this unique community is Tampa’s island paradise in the city. With the Harbour Island Athletic Club, restaurants, and boat slips close at hand. There is a healthy mix of single family homes, townhomes, and condos on Harbour Island giving a choice to a wide range of people. It is just a short walk over the bridge to Channelside bars and restaurants, the St. Pete times forum, and the Tampa Aquarium. Though during major events, traffic can be a concern, it is urban living at it’s best. Harbour island is in the Gorrie elementary, Wilson Jr High, and Plant High School dist. Harbour island has a few scenic ponds and a walking path down the center known as central park.

HYDE PARK
Is the most sought after Historic district in South Tampa. The area with it’s mature oak tree lined streets and wonderful location, Hyde Park is definitely one of the nicest areas in South Tampa. The neighborhood sits close to the Downtown area, but still retains a quiet serene feeling. People enjoy strolling on the brick streets to the Hyde Park village for refreshments or some shopping. Or walking the other direction for walking, jogging, or bike riding along the bay shore. The Two Schools in the Neighborhood, Gorrie and Wilson, are also historic buildings. (Gorrie only serves part of Hyde Park, the other elementary school serving Hyde Park is Mitchell for more info click the link and select the boundary maps for these schools. You can always use the School locator to check any address for the corresponding school)

The area is controlled by the Architectural Review Commission or ARC. The ARC is in charge of making sure that the architectural history of the area is preserved and maintained. In the Designated areas of Hyde Park, Seminole Heights, and Tampa Heights, the ARC must be consulted in regards to any renovations to the exterior of the property or new construction.

The well-preserved residential sections south of Swann Avenue include examples of the above as well as the turn-of-the-century “Princess Anne” style, a simplified version of its Victorian predecessor, the Queen Anne. The numerous Bungalows, with their distinctive elephantine or truncated porch columns, share the shaded streets with Mediterranean Revival styles of the 1920s and the simpler American Four square.

INTERBAY AREA

This well-established area affords immediate access to the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway and an abundance of shopping centers on Gandy and MacDill. These treelined streets just north of Gandy, near Bayshore, present a selection of impressive, classically styled houses.

NEW SUBURB BEAUTIFUL

New Suburb Beautiful is one of the most aesthetically pleasing neighborhoods in South Tampa. There are few places were all the homes and gardens are so well tended. is also known as a great child friendly area. The quiet tight streets lend themselves to children running around and playing in the front yards. From New Suburb Beautiful it is just a short walk to the SoHo and the Macdill/Bay to Bay corridor of Tampa, with the many boutiques and restaurants there to be found.

New Suburb Beautiful runs from Morrison on the North, to Howard and the crosstown on the East, to Prospect on the South, and Macdill on the Westside.
A map can be found here.

PALMA CEIA

Palma Ciea is a beautiful and thriving South Tampa Neighborhood. The area which is built just to East and South of the Palma Ceia Golf Course. The part just to the East of Macdill is often referred to as Palma Ceia Park and the part to the South of the golf course is call Palma Ceia. This Neighborhood is filled with brick paved streets and full of old Bungalows and Mediterranean style homes. Palma Ceia is centrally located, so people who dwell there are never far from anything. The commercial area along Bay to Bay, has recently become home to many cafes, restaurants, and boutique shops.

Palma Ceia is large and feeds into two elementry School districts, with half feeding into Mitchell, Wilson, Plant. While the other half feeds into Roosevelt, Coleman, Plant. (If you know an address and what to know which school look at this link: https://choice.sdhc.k12.fl.us/locator/)