This Old House Magazine has generated some interest in Seminole Heights and I have received a few questions regarding the neighborhood. Hopefully these bullets will answer some of your questions.
- The quality of life in Seminole Heights is great and there is a little something for everyone. It is like a small town within the city. However the first thing most residents will complain about is the slow commercial development in the neighborhood. Used car lots, cheap hotels and pawn shops still dominate much of Nebraska and Florida Avenues. The other disadvantage it the distance from beach, however the bay water front is not far away.
- You can walk to a variety of businesses in Seminole Heights but you will still be dependent on a car. No train system, however the bus service is decent. Traffic is very heavy on Hillsborough Ave. Florida gets a little choked up during the evening rush hour but over all its not too bad. You can usually jump on I-275 and be anywhere in the bay area in a reasonable amount of time. You just need to learn what times to avoid the I-4 & I-275 junction.
- Crime is typical of what you would find in a densely populated area. Seminole Heights encompasses an area that includes ~30,000 residents. Much of the crime is a spill over problem, given Seminole Heights central location in Tampa many people (to include criminals) transit through the neighborhood along Florida, Nebraska, and Hillsborough. Another issue is some of the social services are still in the neighborhood for the needy. Many of these institutions were established in the neighborhood's tougher years. Personally, I feel safe taking a walk at night and it is common to the neighbors out at night too. If I see a suspicious person I call the police. We are very proactive in keeping crime out of the neighborhood.
- Yes the neighborhood is very social and there are many activists in the community. If you choose to mind your own business most of the time people will leave you alone, unless you the person that parks appliances on the front lawn. Codes are more restrictive in the historic district and on occasion people get fined for illegal construction projects.
- There are plenty of private and neighborhood sponsored events. I love that kids, young adults and the elderly can gather for potlucks and porch parties. This is a very diverse neighborhood.
- No condos in Seminole Heights however there are some decent apartments. USF is only a 10-15 minute drive away and many professors and students living here.
- The Independent and Sangrais, both higher end drinking establishments, are expected to open within a year (fingers crossed). You can always grab drinks at the Bungalow Bistro or the Front Porch.
- The Seminole Heights Foreign Legion is open to the public. Cookouts, dances and cheap drinks. A great community center.
- We are centrally located. Downtown and Ybor City are about 2-3 miles south. USF and Busch Gardens are only 10-15 minutes away (season passes are a steal). The airport is pretty close (usually a $20 cab ride). The Buccaneers stadium and the Yankees spring training camp are only 2-3 miles west. BTW, the Bucs training camp is next to the stadium and they are offering free tickets to this years camp.
- South, Martin Luther King Blvd
- West, Hillsborough River
- East, 22nd Street
- North, Hillsbrough River (river bends around the neighborhood)
- Get off at Exit 47 Hillsborough Ave.
- (Hampton Terrace) If you go east on Hillsborough, make a left on Nebaska and then make a right on any side street. I reccommend making a right on Clifton St. before the Publix.
- (Seminole Heights Historic District) If you go west on Hillsborough Ave. turn either way on Central Ave. There are plenty of restored homes north and south of Hillsborough Ave along Central Ave.
- There are many other areas of the neighborhood with great homes but thats where I would start if you are just passing through.
Now our constitution contains no standards to prevent politicians from putting partisan politics ahead of Florida voters. Presently, the law only requires that districts be roughly equal in population and that 
they consist of contiguous territory. That means that all parts of the district must touch. But the legislators even stretch that rule to the max. A connecting strip a yard wide and miles long satisfies that requirement. An example is Senate District 27 which is considered "contiguous". Sometimes contiguity is accomplished by crossing bodies of water -- like Congressional District 11 which covers parts of Hillsborough, Pinellas and Manatee counties.
The new rules or standards proposed by FairDistrictsFlorida.org will prohibit drawing districts to favor an incumbent or a party. While ensuring that racial and language minority voters have the equal opportunity to participate in the political process, the standards will require that districts be compact and community based. Communities -- like Seminole County -- will not be divided among multiple representatives. 
Congressional and legislative representation will not be! Presently Democrats and Republicans are registered to vote in Florida in roughly equal numbers with independents making up 20% of the voters. Yet one major party holds almost two-thirds of the Congressional and legislative seats. There are no independents in the Florida Legislature or in our Congressional delegation. This is because the party that controlled both houses of the legislature at the last redistricting in 2001, drew the boundaries to create "safe" "can't lose" districts. Whichever party was in charge would have done the same thing. Whichever party controls the legislature in the 2011 redistricting, the political playing field will remain unbalanced -- unless we change the rules to make it unconstitutional for them to conduct business as usual. 
At the request of 
Tell-a-friend!
Posts
