Did you know that Tampa Heights was Tampa’s first suburb? Its story is one of rise, fall and rebirth. We are standing in Tampa Heights, a neighborhood with a rich and complex past. This area just north of downtown has seen it all.
In the mid to late 19th century, Tampa faced numerous Yellow Fever outbreaks. Families fled the city to the sparsely populated “heights”. The slightly higher elevation and better drainage meant fewer mosquitos. People thought it was a healthier place to live.
The 1880s brought growth to Tampa with the arrival of the railroad. The cigar industry also took off. A new town called North Tampa was incorporated in the heights area. Its boundaries stretched from Constant Street to Florida Avenue. It ran from the Hillsborough River to just north of Harrison Street.
North Tampa became official in 1886 with its own mayor and council. Ironically, the original landowner, Fortune Taylor, was excluded from this power structure. She was an African American woman who owned 32 acres. She sold most of it to prominent businessmen.
William B. Henderson created a subdivision named Tampa Heights. It was located east of North Tampa. The name stuck and soon the entire area north of downtown became known as Tampa Heights.
North Tampa ceased to exist in 1887. It became the Second Ward of the new City of Tampa. Tampa Heights grew along with the city. By the 1890s, wealthy residents favored Tampa Heights. Elaborate Victorian homes sprung up. Businesses opened on Franklin Street connecting Tampa Heights to downtown.
The city built its waterworks near the river and Seventh Avenue. The Tampa Electric Company added a streetcar barn. Tampa Heights remained a popular place to live.
African American elites also resided in Tampa Heights. However, they faced restrictions on where they could live. Lamar Avenue was a main residential street for them. But they couldn’t live north of Kay Street or west of Jefferson.
During the 1910s and 1920s, Tampa Heights started to decline. Subsequent generations chose to live in other neighborhoods. Families donated their homes to social service providers. This led to unintended consequences. Fewer middle-class families wanted to live near these services. Many large homes became rooming houses.
After World War II, Tampa Heights faced economic decline. The G.I. Bill helped veterans buy new homes in the suburbs. Tampa Heights fell further into decay.
In the 1970s, historic preservation began to show the value of older neighborhoods. Hyde Park and Ybor City became the focus. Tampa Heights received historical designations. But it took longer to recover.
The early 2000s brought change. Investments from companies and entrepreneurs made a difference. The TECO streetcar carbarn became Armature Works. The city’s old waterworks became Ulele. Craft breweries and restaurants filled empty buildings. New construction rose. Historic homes gained new life.
These successes have come at a price. Rising property values have pushed out longtime residents. A socioeconomic divide exists between those visiting trendy spots and those using social services. The question remains, is there room for everyone in the reborn Tampa Heights? Only time will tell.