Regentrified South Tampa is considered by many Tampa residents to be the affluent and hip epicenter of Tampa. The neighborhoods of SoHo, Hyde Park, Bayshore, Davis Island, Palma Ceia, make up the South Tampa area. Bayshore Boulevard is perhaps the most prominent and well-known landmark in South Tampa as it features the longest continuous sidewalk in the world. Peninsular South Tampa is seemingly in the middle of it all; its just a short drive west to St. Petersburg and the beaches, is minutes from Downtown Tampa and the Tampa International Airport and MacDill Airforce base is located at the very south tip of the South Tampa peninsula.
Housing
Depending on which part of South Tampa you’re in, housing ranges from older homes in need of TLC, recently renovated historic homes, quaint cottages, bungalows, Mediterranean style homes, apartment buildings and luxurious sprawling homes and condos. Davis Island is a self- contained community that offers custom homes, high rise luxury apartments and conods. Addresses in historic Hyde Park and along Bayshore Boulevard are some of the most prestigious in Tampa. Many neighborhoods feature shady sidewalks, brick roads and each has a special charm whether it be historic, whimsical, modern, extravagant or trendy.
Things To Do
Jogging, walking and bike riding along Bayshore Boulevard. Parades, like the famous Gasparilla Pirate Invasion Parade, a long standing Tampa tradition, and other seasonal parades, marathons and other community events. South Tampa also provides joggers, bicyclists and rollerbladers a link to St. Petersburg with the “old” Gandy Bridge which is called the Friendship Trail Bridge.
Golf courses and country clubs include the private Palma Ceia Golf & Country Club, Bayshore Yacht Club and Tampa Yacht and Country Club the city’s elite residents spend their leisure time. Cobb Cinebistro in Hyde Park Village features a movie theater that serves fantastic food and regular and adult beverages, including a full liquor bar and lounge. Other entertainment includes nearby movie theaters AMC West Shore 14, Channelside Cinemas 10 and the Muvico Centro Ybor 20, the Straz Center for Performing Arts, the Tampa Museum of Art, the Florida Aquarium, historic Ybor and the Channelside district.
Dining and Shopping
Neighborhoods in South Tampa offer their residents a variety of chic specialty stores, cafes, restaurant and bars as well as Hyde Park Village which features, Anthropologie, Coco Brazil, Tommy Bahama, Engel and Volkers, Pottery Barn, Williams Sonoma and many more.This area is very close to Downtown Tampa, so the downtown restaurants and shops are easy and quick to get to.Just to the east of downtown is IKEA. It is also a short drive north to the Westshore Plaza Mall and the International Plaza, which is home to such high end stores as Burberry, Crate & Barrel, J.Crew, Gucci, Neiman Marcus, and Nordstrom.
Additional dining options at nearby International Plaza features Bar Louie, Blue Martini, The Capital Grille and Ocean Prime and Westshore Plaza features Maggiano’s Little Italy, PF Chang’s and Mitchell’s Fish Market.
Traffic and Driving
Pedestrian traffic is frequent in this area as the enchanting sidewalks and beautiful Tampa weather encourage residents to get out and walk around. Crosstown Expressway, I-275 and the Gandy Bridge to St. Petersburg are all easily accessible from South Tampa.
Schools
Gorri Elementary,Ballast Point Elementary, Mitchell Elementary, Wilson Middle, Madison Middle School, Robinson High School and Plant High School. Private schools include Montessori Childrens House Of Hyde Park, Academy of the Holy Names Elementary, Tampa Preparatory and Bayshore Christian School. There are three different neighborhood public libraries in the South Tampa area.
Business
Of course much of South Tampa’s commerce is generated by its high end retail stores and restaurants other industries and employers include MacDill Airforce Base, Tampa General Hospital, construction and remodelling services, banking, personal services and healthcare.
From Wikipedia