I could not agree more that Seminole Heights is an amazing community! We live in Hampton Terrace a National Historic District in Seminole Heights. We were looking for a home back in April and had decided on a house in Tampa Heights. After going under contract inspectors found major issues with the home and we ended up bailing! We had to find a home and find one fast! Our lease on our house in Brandon was almost up! A good friend said- hey there is this great neighborhood in Seminole Heights with a gorgeous lake and homes that are beautiful- you should check it out!! After looking at 5 homes that day, nothing struck a cord until we pulled in to this wonderful neighborhood and there it was! Home sweet home and we have been thrilled to be a part of this community since the day we put in an offer! The homes are beautiful bungalows, many carefully restored or upgraded. The restaurants are second to none and the culture and community is just spectacular! Are there rough spots and day to day hotels and such- sure, but you can't deny the spirit of the area. I have been told that the changes that have happened are amazing and that the change to come will be even more amazing. Property values are rising and homes sell quickly! Why? Just ask those who voted Seminole Heights as the best neighborhood in Tampa in Creative Loafing. We wouldn't live anywhere else!!! read more

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Why 5 stars? Because Seminole Heights will always be near and dear to my heart. --- --- --- In 2008, I was living with a roommate in a brand new Channelside condo, and loving life. Unfortunately, that condo was flooding fairly often during the summer rainy season, and we had to move out of there, or risk our stuff being ruined by the rain. So my roommate said, my grandma is renting out a house she owns before the old woman who used to live there just passed away... it's in Seminole Heights. Ok... well, let's see. -I'm living in Channelside, which was awesome in 2008. -I have no idea what Seminole Heights is. -An elderly woman was living there. It looked like it, and smelled like it. -The neighborhood left a lot to be desired. BUT... here's the kicker. Rent was $550... split 3 ways. Where do I sign? -----Fast forward 7 years----- I moved out of the house when my roommate got married, and his wife moved in. I lived in Ybor for about a year and a half, until they moved on, and I immediately jumped back into the house, and lived there for 2.5 years, until they sold it. I loved living there so much, that I bought the house across the street, and lived for another 2.5 years until I just sold that house a few days ago. And here's what I saw happen since 2008: -The only non fast food/chain restaurant I can remember back in '08 was Taco Nazo, which we now know as Taco Bus. It was a small, hole-in-the wall, authentic Mexican restaurant in those days. Apparently Front Porch Grill was also around then, but I was unaware of it. Bo's was still serving sub-par ice cream to lines of people at the time as well. THE END. -Then Ella's opened. Then Taco Nazo changed to Taco Bus. Then Independent opened. Then Refinery. Then about 10,000 other things. I'm not sure of the exact timeline, but those were the pioneers in some sort of order. -Now, Seminole Heights is home to numerous amazing restaurants, and tons more to come. Some are even James Beard award winners. I'm going to sorely miss businesses like Health Mutt and Jug & Bottle, but fortunately, I'm only 8 miles away. -And that's just the business side of things. The neighborhoods have been completely transformed as well. Countless bungalows have been flipped, and are in amazing shape. I never got tired of house gazing while walking my dog through the neighborhood. With an urban neighborhood, you do have the not-so-fun aspects to deal with. Nebraska Ave was full of rent-by-the-hour motels, which resulted in prostitutes hanging around fairly often. And while some of my neighbors were awesome, others were not so awesome. No one ever messed with us, but I just wished that certain neighbors would take care of their property a bit more. 3 different people lived in a house across the street, and all of them seemed to be allergic to mowing their lawn. The lowlight was our dog being viciously attacked by a pitbull, but he managed to escape without injury. Outside of that, we really didn't have one memorable incident. I may have moved on, but I'll always cherish my time in Seminole Heights. Specifically our dog walks inside the square area of Paris---Commanche and 9th---15th. read more

Great neighborhood whether young couple or new family you feel welcome here! The community and people are welcoming and vibrant always something new to do and see. Love walking my dogs every evening and saying hello to friends. We have great restaurants, breweries, close to interstate and am international mall. We have a great library right in the neighborhood and our own Starbucks! Every year there is a home tour which is always fun to join. Real estate is competitive and Thomas Leber is a great realtor if your looking. Always something for sale and or rent here. read more

Seminole Heights - Love our Seminole Heights yard! Central Ave is where it's at! - Real Estate Near Me - Tampa, Florida

If there were 100 stars, Seminole Heights would get the full 100 from me! A little back story on how I arrived in my house in Seminole Heights. My husband and I (who were not even dating at the time of this story) had a mutual friend who lived on Suwanee Ave in Seminole Heights. The first time I went to her house I commented on how beautiful the home is and how it would be my dream to one day live in a home like that. Fast forward to a few years later. The same friend who owned that home played a big part in getting my husband and I together. My husband and I both became friends with the neighbors and would frequent porch parties on the street. He joined a band with a few of them (Genghis Flan) and I struck up close relationships with many neighbors. We began searching for homes near this magical Suwanee Avenue as we could tell that it was a special place. We even started calling ourselves "Suwanabees". When it came time for our friend and her wife to move across the country, they asked us if we wanted to move into their house because they wanted people that they knew would take care of the house and who would fit into the neighborhood. We happily accepted the offer and after renting for almost a year, we ended up purchasing the home. It was one of the best decisions I have ever made. It is hard for me to put into words just how much I love this neighborhood. The plan is to make Seminole Heights my forever home unless something drastic changes. I will list the reasons why I love this place so darn much and will start with the most important. THE PEOPLE: I cannot even begin to describe the sense of community. From the instant I moved into Seminole Heights, most people I've met have been so open minded and fun. I can honestly say that my neighbors are my best friends in the world. We have some really great parties (huge Halloween block party, Christmas movies on the lawn), but also have fun doing nothing at all. I can honestly say that I trust the people that live around me with everything. A couple years ago, something really tragic happened to me unexpectedly. The overwhelming amount of love and support (and meals, ice cream, and whiskey) that my neighbors provided me with was astounding. I don't think that you can replicate this sense of community. It is also a kid friendly neighborhood and I'm loving seeing the neighbor kids grow up. THE ARCHITECTURE: Seminole Heights is a historically preserved district. That means that houses must be approved by an architectural preservation committee prior to making any changes. Driving through the streets of the Heights, you will see many unique 1920's bungalows with big Florida Oak trees. No 2 houses are alike and each house and yard has their own flavor. RESTAURANT SCENE: For some of my neighbors that have lived in Seminole Heights for 15 years, it is truly amazing for them to see where the neighborhood has come to as far as food and drink options. Within walking distance of where I live, I have some of Tampa's top bars and restaurants (which makes me spoiled). Within a 1 mile vicinity is Angry Chair Brewing, Rooster & the Till, Chop Chop Shop, The Front Porch, Heights Pizza, Fodder and Shine, Red Star Rock Bar, The Refinery, The Independent, Florida Avenue Ales, Southern Brewing and Winemaking, Ella's Americana Folk Art Cafe, Mermaid Tavern, Olde Heights Bistro, Cappy's Pizza and just a few miles up the road you will find Tampa Heights, Ybor City, and downtown Tampa. It is really quite convenient for what ever you may desire to eat! THE COMMUNITY: When Domani Bistro tragically burned down, the community rallied around the business and created The Heights Unites. There are frequent neighborhood clean ups and groups getting together to preserve our neighborhood's historical integrity. People here genuinely want to help each other out and support our local businesses. Every year, The Taste of the Heights is my favorite event as people from all over Seminole Heights come out to support our local businesses and community. Well, this may have been the longest review I've ever written, but for good reason! If you haven't been to Seminole Heights, please come visit! You will surely fall in love with at least one aspect of our beautiful neighborhood. read more

Ahhhh, Seminole Heights. In my humble opinion, this is the best neighborhood in Tampa. Why? Because it's the perfect balance of grit and creativity. As we speak, this historic neighborhood is in revival. It is transforming from a "has been" into the "now." Not only are the homeowners of Seminole Heights restoring and face lifting the beautiful, charming 1920's-built homes in the neighborhood, but it is budding with new, creative shops, restaurants, and breweries. And more are sprouting up all the time. A place where street art is tasteful and proudly displayed, adding more character to an already interesting-in-a-good-way area. It is a place where the neighbors care about their community and the decisions our local government makes that affect it. They are active in affecting those decisions for the sake of preserving this veritable gem in the heart of Tampa. I am proud to be a resident of this glorious neighborhood, filled with adorable bungalows, tree-lined streets, creative fare, vibrant people, and modern retro feel. read more