Historic Ybor City - An "Old World Gem" in Tampa Bay Gem

    Once known as Tampa’s Latin Quarter, Ybor City is today an exotic blend of aromas, flavors, sights and sounds. From the scent of roasting Cuban coffee in the morning to the rhythms of Latin music late into the night, Ybor City is a feast for the senses reminiscent of an ancient European city.

    For lunch or dinner, you can choose from an extremely broad array of cuisines - Spanish, Cuban, Italian, Greek and French or share authentic tapas and a pitcher of Spanish sangria in a café atmosphere reminiscent of a Mediterranean village. All this can be done on a single stroll down La Setima, the main street of this Historic District of the city of Tampa Florida.

    Ybor City was originally established by Vicente Martinez-Ybor in the 1880’s as a cigar-manufacturing center. It was soon populated by thousands of immigrants from Spain, Cuba and Italy who for the next 50 years rolled millions of cigars each year.

    Ybor City is one of only two National Historic Landmark Districts in Florida. Red brick buildings, wrought iron balconies and narrow brick streets provide an atmosphere of Old World Charm. In 2010 the Ybor City Columbia Restaurant was named a "Top 50 All-American Icon.” Ybor City today is a refreshing change of pace from the typical Florida beach town, golf community and those all-too-present regional malls.

    Here you'll find a lively 24/7 live, work and play community. Ybor City is becoming the “creative hub” of the Tampa Bay area where businesses as diverse as advertising, architecture, interior design, community planning, engineering services, technology transfer and media production are all part of the fabric of the community. And, to meet the needs of its new residents, new low-rise condos are springing-up all through the historic neighborhood.

    You must actually"come and explore" Ybor City to really appreciate its magic. No plastic mall directory, no strip mall signs, no big-box retail stores; just a walkable community with vintage fashion, funky retail shops and restaurants that have been operated by the same families for generations. It captures just the right amount of “Old World Charm” in a “New Age” cache.

    If you're relocating to the Tampa Bay area of Florida and would like more information on my Tampa Bay real estate services for homes buyers, request my Tampa Bay Information and Real Estate Package. Or, E-Mail Me or call me directly on my cell phone at (813) 263-6806.

Wondering Where in Florida to Move To?

Tampa Bay Should Clearly be on Your List

    If you have been considering relocating to Florida, there are many reasons to consider Tampa and the Tampa Bay area as your primary destination. The city of Tampa and Tampa Bay has been ranked:

• #8 among the “Top 10 Cleanest Cities” by Forbers magazine among the "Best Sports Cities in North America" by- Sporting News Magazine
• among "Top Spots in the Country for Business" by Forbes Magazine
• # 4 among the "Top 20 Cities for Golf" by Golf Digest
• #4 among the "Top 5 of America's Most Popular Big Cities" by Pew Research Center
• Tampa ranked #2 right behind St Petersburg which was #1 among the "Top 25 Mid-sized Cities for Arts" by American Style Magazine
• among the "10 Great Cities in the U.S. to Start a Business" by Kiplinger
• #7 among the “Top Cities in the U.S. Where the Jobs Will Be in 2012 " at #7 by Forbes Magazine
• #4 among the "Best American Cities to Do Business"by- KPMG"
• and, the Tampa International Airport was ranked the 3rd "Best U.S. Airport" by Condé Nast

    Intriguing, isn't it ? But how much do you actually know about Tampa and Tampa Bay. Here are some interesting facts for you to evaluate and consider:

    Tampa is at the heart of Hillsborough County although as it has grown, some of the fastest growing communities are springing up over the border into Pasco County. Across Tampa Bay, Pinellas County includes the larger cities of Clearwater and St. Petersburg as well as several smaller towns like Dunedin, Palm Harbor and Tarpon Springs plus the several barrier island keys which stretch from Clearwater down the coast to St Perersburg. The metropolitan area has a total population of 2,780,000 and its population has grown by just over 17$ since 2000.

    Tampa Bay offers a very pleasant year-round climate. Holding the Guinness World Record for most consecutive sunny days at an amazing 768, the area averages 361 sunny days per year. The average year-round temperature is 73 degrees. The coldest month is usually January when the average dips to the mid 50’s and the warmest months are typically July and August when the highest average temperature reaches the mid 80’s. The temperature in Tampa Bay almost never reaches 90 degrees.

    Compared to the rest of the United States, the cost of living in Tampa Bay is 9.0% below the national average according to BestPlaces.com

    The Hillsborough County School District is the 3rd largest district in Florida and the 8th largest in the U.nited Satets with with a very active and well-regarded magnet school program. The area also offer a wide range of charter and private religious-affiliated schools. The Pinellas County School District is the 7th largest district in Florida and the 24th largest in the United States.

    Tampa Bay has excellent health care facilities. The 1,018 bed Tampa General Hospital in downtown Tampa is one of the largest hospitals in Florida and is is affiliated with the University of South Florida - College of Medicine. In addition Tampa is the home of the world-renowned Moffit Cancer Center. Across Tampa Bay in Pinellas County, there are several more well-regarded hospitals and health care facilities in Clearwater, St Petersburg and Tarpon Springs

    And don’t forget about those beaches. No matter where you live in Tampa Bay, you'rew never more than a 30 minute drive to some of the finest beaches in Florida stretching from Clearwater Beach to Pass-A-Grille Beach at the southern tip of St Petersburg.

    For lovers of watercraft, you can go boating, sailing and fishing 12 months a year in Tampa Bay on both the protected Tampa Bay and out on the Gulf of Mexico.

    For arts and cultural buffs, Tampa’s award as one of the Top Arts Destinations comes as no surprise to locals. From the stellar Broadway Series of performances at the Starz Center for the Performing Arts to opera and ballet to the surreal masterworks of Salvador Dali at the Dali Museum in St Petersburg, there is an eclectic collage of arts and cultural venues.

    As a place to start a business, Tampa was rated by Kiplinger as a” nascent start-up scene.” Local governments are business-feiendly and Tampa’s small-business owners benefit from the state’s lack of personal income tax and its low 5.5% corporate income tax.

    So you see, whether you are a young family looking for a place to raise your kids, an entrepreneur thinking about starting a new company or retirees looking for a warm and comfortable place to call home, Tampa Bay should definitely be on your list of “must see” places before you choose a Florida location.

    And, no matter what type of residence you may be dreaming of in your new destination, whether its a seasonal or a permanent home, a modest home or condo in a traditional or golf course neighborhood, a home in a historic neighborhood, a luxurious golf course mansion or an elegant waterfront home or condominium, Tampa Bay includes what you are looking for at a price point today that makes this area even more attractive than it has ever been before. Visit my Tampa Bay Florida real estate website for even more information on why Tampa Bay is so attractive to so many.

    If you'd like to know more about any facet of the warm and sunny lifestyle offered here in Tampa Bay, feel free to E-Mail Me or call me for more immediate service at 813-263-6806.