New Tampa

"Welcome to New Tampa, the fastest growing community in Hillsborough County!" That's the greeting of the New Tampa Community Council, a chamber-of-commerce type organization that serves both the business and community interest of New Tampa residents. And fast growing it is—New Tampa's population jumped from 7,100 in 1990 to some 37,500 in 2005—and the growth hasn't stopped yet. This clean, upscale new community, 24-square miles annexed by the city of Tampa in 1988, comprises thousands of acres of beautiful master-planned residential communities and big-box shopping centers—with more of both still to come. New Tampa received recognition as one of the top ten upscale communities in the US; projections say that by 2013, one-third of Hillsborough County's residents will live in New Tampa.

Big, sprawling and new it is; a town with community character it's not. New Tampa is considered "too new" for some who find it discomfiting to live in an area that's nothing more than shops and residential communities. Others, however, love how this once-rural, well-planned area, now Tampa's largest neighborhood, lets them enjoy a little bit of suburbia right outside the big city proper.

New Tampa is bordered by Lutz to the east, the University of South Florida/Temple Terrace area to the south, Thonotosassa to the west and Wesley Chapel to the north. Even among locals, New Tampa is often mistaken for Wesley Chapel and vice versa—but New Tampa folks stand firm on the fact that, since they pay Tampa taxes, not the residents of Wesley Chapel, they and they alone are considered New Tampa.

Although the area has been settled on and off and here and there since the mid 1800s, New Tampa remained largely undeveloped until it became part of the city of Tampa in 1988, largely due to the 1985 launch of the upscale, master-planned Tampa Palms community, one of New Tampa's oldest residential neighborhoods on nearly 10,000 acres. More communities followed; they continue to follow today.

Homes in New Tampa

The average price of a New Tampa home is $353,000; the median price is $276,000.  In July 2007, the Hunter’s Green community had both the highest and lowest priced homes in New Tampa: the lowest being $95,000 for a one-bedroom, one-bath, 894-square-feet condo; the highest, $1.6 million for a five-bedroom, six-bath, single family, 7,850-square-foot luxury golf course home.

Tampa Palms, New Tampa's oldest, largest and most prestigious residential community, developed when New Tampa was still unincorporated, was named the top master-planned community in the U.S. by the National Association of Homebuilders. Within Tampa Palms are 3,500 acres of conservation and open areas, 22 distinct residential villages with 1,900 homes, three multi-family villages with 1,425 apartment homes, a golf course and country club, a swim and tennis center, parks, churches, schools, shopping centers, restaurants…and more. With such a wide variety of homes in Tampa Palms, it's not hard to find one within your budget: condominiums start in the high 100s; single family homes start in the high $200s and go up into the multiple millions for exclusive luxury estates.

Arbor Green is another of New Tampa's popular master-planned, gated communities; its 600 acres of planned development includes 91 acres of lakes and 105 acres of conservation area. Arbor Green backs up to Flatwoods Park, a 5,400-acre wilderness park with a seven-mile paved biking trail and many hiking paths. Residents within Arbor Green's private villages enjoy a lavish community center and a 6.6-acre fitness and athletic club. Homes in Arbor Green run from the low 200s up to $1 million.

Cory Lake Isles is one of the largest lakeside communities in Tampa, offering new homes and home sites along the 10-mile shoreline of Tampa's largest lake; most homes are on the water, either beachside or dockside. The community's wide, brick-laid streets are designed with immaculately landscaped and tropically lush isles. And Cory Lake Isles is bordered by 17,000 acres of protected woodlands. Homes in Cory Lake Isles start in the $300s; waterfront estates run from $1 million, up. Most homes, however, being lakefront with boat docks, range from $500,000 to $800,000.

And this is just the tip of the iceberg—there are so many New Tampa communities to choose from! Consider Northwood, with its glamorous tile-capped stucco entryway and pastel-stuccoed homes with arched entries. There's also Cross Creek, Grand Hampton, Heritage Isles, Hunter's Green and Pebble Creek, another of New Tampa's early communities.

New Tampa Schools

Children in New Tampa attend mostly "A" schools in the highly acclaimed School District of Hillsborough County, a "Blue Ribbon District" according to a 2002 report card of the nation's best schools. Elementary schools include: Chiles Elementary, Clark Elementary, Heritage Elementary, Hunter's Green Elementary, Pizzo Elementary, Pride Elementary and Tampa Palms Elementary—all but Pizzo, which earned a "B" during the latest grading period, are "A" schools. Older children attend Benito Middle, Liberty Middle, Freedom High and Paul Wharton High. New Tampa children in grades K-5 may also attend the University of South Florida's Patel Charter school; USF being the first public university in the nation to establish a charter school.

Shopping and Dining in New Tampa

What's your shopping pleasure? No matter what your taste or style, you will certainly find whatever you might need or desire in and around the New Tampa area. New Tampa is only 15 minutes away from Tampa's SOHO (South Howard), Ybor and Channelside districts, not to mention International Plaza and Bay Street. And coming soon to the Wesley Chapel area, literally right up the street, is nearly three million square feet of shopping space in three new malls set to open by the end of 2008: The Groves at Wesley Chapel, a $175 million project with a Toys 'R Us, Best Buy, and Bed Bath and Beyond; the Cypress Creek Town Center on I-75 and SR 56, nearly one-million square feet; and the Shoppes at Wiregrass, a $105 million shopping experience including Macys, Dillards, JC Penny's and much, much more.

A few New Tampa dining stops should make your "must try" list, including Circles New Tampa Bistro in the Pebble Creek center on Bruce B. Downs; Circles offers an eclectic mix of seafood, steak, lamb and more. Also try Mulligan's Irish Pub on Regents Park Drive in the Pebble Creek Golf Club mall—word has it that their authentic Irish dishes are out of this world. Another local favorite is Lee Roy Selmon's, named after the first Tampa Bay Buccaneer to win a slot in the NFL Hall of Fame; Selmon's offers "soul satisfying comfort food" in a "spirited sporting atmosphere."

Leisure and Play in New Tampa

When you're tired of shopping and sampling all the tastes available in the New Tampa area, unwind in your community's private parks or nature conservation areas. Or, drop by New Tampa Park on Commerce Park Boulevard; it offers ball fields, concessions and playing courts. The largest New Tampa park is still under development at this writing: it is the New Tampa Nature Center at the end of Dona Michelle Drive. The Nature Center now offers trails, but its 200+ acres will soon also include a nature center, picnic areas, hiking trails and various multi-use trails for bikers and equestrians. Plans are also underway for another new five-acre park with playgrounds, a dog park and a skate park.

New Tampa is also home to a few annual events, including the Taste of New Tampa in May, with proceeds benefiting New Tampa schools, as well as the New Tampa Arts Festival in November. The New Tampa Arts Festival is the community's only juried fine art show.

And if that's not enough, New Tampa residents are also with easy reach of the nearby Lowry Park Zoo, Florida Aquarium, Tampa's Museum of Science and Industry, Busch Gardens and Adventure Island, as well as lots of sporting fun with the Tampa Bay Bucs, Devil Rays and Lightening.