Introducing South Tampa and its Two “Island Communities”

    South Tampa encompasses the southernmost portions of the city of Tampa, Florida. Some folks describe it as everything south of Hillsborough Avenue down to MacDill Air Force base. Others think of South Tampa as being just that which is south of Kennedy Boulevard. In fact, the folks most proud of their South Tampa roots comment that everything north of Kennedy Boulevard should be identified as part of “South Georgia.”

    South Tampa consists of many individual neighborhoods each with its own attributes and attractions. There is a wide variety of home styles and prices from Old Florida bungalows, villas and town homes to stately mansions and high-rise condominiums. Many older homes have been beautifully restored. In other cases, one or more small homes have been torn down and replaced by a large elegant executive home. We’ll discover here two of those South Tampa neighborhoods. Harbour Island and Davis Islands, two very different types of South Tampa island communities .

    Harbour Island is the 177 acre island home of a private, gated, master-planned community in South Tampa. The island is linked to downtown Tampa by two bridges. The island overlooks downtown Tampa, the waters of Hillsborough Bay and the entrance to the Hillsborough River. In addition to single family homes, condos and town homes, Harbour Island has a marina, shopping areas, casual and formal restaurants and the Harbour Island Athletic Club and Spa. One of the main attractions of living on Harbour Island is the ability to walk to your job in the Class A office space on the island, itself, or in downtown Tampa.

    The upscale Westin Tampa Harbour Island hotel is on the island. The Bayshore and Hyde Park neighborhoods and the Channelside area where the Florida Aquarium, the Tampa Bay Times Forum arena, home to the Tampa Bay Lightning hockey and Tampa Bay Storm Arena Football teams, an IMAX theater, and much more are all within comfortable walking distances from Harbour Island.

    Harbour Island homes range from the low $200,000s for a 2-bedroom condominium to more than $5.5 million for the most elegant waterside single-family homes.

    In its own way, secluded away from the stress of your day job, Harbour Island offers an upscale island paradise right in the heart of the city of Tampa.

    Davis Islands is a Tampa neighborhood that was originally built upon two small natural islands at the mouth of the Hillsborough River, known as Little Grassy Key and Big Grassy Key. Today there are still techincially two islands divided by a canal; thus the name Davis Island(s). The islands were built from mud dredged from the bottom of Tampa Bay in the 1920s. Davis Islands is named after its original developer, D. P. Davis, who planned to build a resort community with 3 hotels, a 9-hole golf course, and an airport. His plan was to develop the 834 acres with over 11 miles of water frontage and seawalls and 27 miles of winding streets. Many of Davis' dreams were realized, such as the golf course, the airport, a business district, hotels, apartments, canals and parks.

    Davis’s development stalled with the end of the Florida Land Boom in the late 1920’s, but some of the original Mediterranean-style buildings still stand and have been given local and national historic designations. Others including the tennis club, the golf course and the Coleseum are no longer in place. Davis Islands includes the Peter O. Knight Airport and the Davis Island Yacht Club. There is also a municipal yacht basin and a seaplane facility next to the Knight Airport.

    Davis Islands is now a mixed retail and residential area with a wide range of home styles and price points. Its location close to downtown Tampa, its water views, and its boating and general aviation aviation facilities have made it a popular place to call home for those who love boating, sailing and flying. Homes range widely in price from modest homes in the $150,000 to $200,000 range to historically significant and elegant homes priced in the millions. In the retail district of Davis Islands, there are numerous casual and upscale restaurants, cafes, bars, and shops and the entire island is very pet-friendly.

    Professionals, families and retirees who enjoy the lifestyle found only in a “walk-about neighborhood” close to a major city may find Davis Islands a convenient and enjoyable place to find the home they’re looking for.

    You can learn about more Tampa area communities on my Tampa Florida real estate website.

    I would be more than happy to show you homes and condominiums in either of these two very different downtown Tampa neighborhoods. I'd be delighted to answer your questions if you'll complete my brief Request for Tampa Bay Information form or E-Mail Me. For more immediate action, call me at 813-263-6806. I'd be delighted to hear from you.