Soho has been getting a lot of play lately, so I think it's time for its own thread.

Building A New Avenue
http://media.tbo.com/photos/trib/2007/jan/0127ct2.jpg
Martin Lum, left, of List Properties goes over blueprints with Zimmer Construction project manager Nathan Zimmer outside 407 N. Howard Avenue.

Photo by: KELVIN MA / The Tampa Tribune


By JOSE PATINO GIRONA The Tampa Tribune

Published: Jan 27, 2007


WEST TAMPA - Howard Avenue may have started to redefine itself.

Just north of Kennedy Boulevard, six professional office buildings have recently been completed or are under construction.

Some developers predict that Howard from Kennedy to Interstate 275 will become an office building row.

"It is your almost-Hyde Park location," said Martin Lum of LIST Realty of Tampa. "We feel that it is the up-and-coming area."

LIST has purchased four lots - 306, 401, 403 and 407 N. Howard Ave. - which the company is developing, has sold or plans to develop.

Howard has high visibility, constant traffic and a central location near downtown, South Tampa and Tampa International Airport, Lum said. He predicts some of the remaining property along the stretch, which includes houses and vacant lots, will probably be converted to office buildings.

"That is the highest and best use," he said.

Gary Cohen, president of ABC Capital Corp. in Tampa, echoes Lum's view.

ABC Capital created the City Central development by rehabilitating the former American Red Cross site and building a similar structure next to it.

One of the buildings, 217 N. Howard Ave., has been purchased by three law firms and a commercial-building project consultant. The other, at 215 N. Howard Ave., is for sale.

Cohen said the corridor, with its visibility and accessibility, may become a hot spot for stores and offices.

Plans to redevelop the Fort Homer Hesterly Armory property, 522 N. Howard Ave., could bring more businesses.

Three groups are vying to transform the 1941 armory building, with proposals ranging from a video, film and sound studio with creative arts businesses, to an ice rink with stores, restaurants and condominiums, and a hotel with cafes, restaurants and a cultural center.

Keith Koehler of Koehler & Co. CPA said the changes along Howard will affect the neighborhoods, potentially drawing new residents.

Koehler paid LIST $225,000 for property at 401 N. Howard Ave., where he plans to move his accounting office in two months. He said the 2,400-square-foot office will cost $350,000 to build.

Koehler, 40, isn't new to the area. In 2004, he built a 2,700-square-foot office at 502 N. Armenia Ave. and relocated his business there from South Tampa. He's selling the two-story Armenia building for $750,000.

Neighbors say they are pleased with the development along Howard.

Eight years ago, Jose and Aurora Llorente moved to a modest rental home at 308 N. Howard Ave. It was a tough neighborhood with drug dealers, said Jose Llorente, 65, a retired truck driver, but the new office buildings have helped clear out the bad element.

"This is the most beautiful thing that could have happened in this zone," said Llorente, a native of Cuba.

But he worries his landlord may sell the property.

"I wouldn't like it if it happened," Llorente said.

Reporter Jose Patino Girona can be reached at 98130 835-2110 or jpatino@tampatrib.com.

http://southtampa.tbo.com/southtampa/MGBTBXXZEXE.html

Actually, this is more like NOHO! Thanks for posting the article.

IT is South Howard, not soho - that name was invented by a bunch of assine transplants that were trying to make themselves feel important.

^lol... he is right folks...

And for the old Tampa folks, you all know that NoHo is certainly not an accurate name. . .

Doesn't it say "SoHo District" on the Tampa neighborhood signs in the area now? I swear I have seen them.

Doesn't it say "SoHo District" on the Tampa neighborhood signs in the area now? I swear I have seen them.
I live right around that area, and I've seen them around. There's also a small shopping center called "SoHo" near the intersection with bayshore. It's the one with Bella's Italian restaurant in it.

There is also a condo/apt building called SOHO. I agree the whole SOHO thing is stupid as well. I know very few people who actually call the area that. I hear them use either S. Tampa or Hyde Park.

And for the old Tampa folks, you all know that NoHo is certainly not an accurate name. . .

When I think of NoHo, I instantly laugh at the name and then I remember it should be referring to West Tampa. :nuts:

I didn't know what it meant until now nor have I ever heard it used except here but, I thought it was kinda cool. I'm about as trendy as overalls and usually also think of this type of thing as stupid but it seems all larger cities have areas with little names like this. I thought it was a sign of "growing up" in a city way but I guess not eh? I'll go crawl back under my rock...:goodnight

My objection is to using a worn out name to try to emulate some other city - like London or NYC. At least Hyde Park is an old Tampa name - a copy, but at least it was original - why can't you just make your own neighborhood cool so people learn about it. . . why do you need to copy other people all the time. . .

Hannibal
"Trendy as overalls" is my new catchphrase, it rocks!!!

I think its a great name. Why not use it?

Since South Tampa has many smaller neighborhood type communities with their own retail, restaurants, how about this list for names:
SoWe District - the area on South Westshore Blvd around El Prado and Euclid Aves.
SoMac District - the area on South MacDill Ave from around Bay to Bay to Fair Oaks Ave.
Bay to Bay District - the area around, well you know, Bay to Bay Blvd from Himes to MacDill Ave.
and so on....

Does anyone know about the old fenced in white gas station next to MacDintons, and across from Dubliner/Sangria's on Howard Ave. I see it used for parking, but I would like to purchase the building, and open a cafe/bar called"The Filling Station". Keep the garage doors and open them during good weather, have my wait and bar staff dressed in old gas attendant uniforms, keep the counter area as the bar. Please let me know who owns that piece of property, and what is the dealio....THANKS!

Does anyone know about the old fenced in white gas station next to MacDintons, and across from Dubliner/Sangria's on Howard Ave. I see it used for parking, but I would like to purchase the building, and open a cafe/bar called"The Filling Station". Keep the garage doors and open them during good weather, have my wait and bar staff dressed in old gas attendant uniforms, keep the counter area as the bar. Please let me know who owns that piece of property, and what is the dealio....THANKS!

You should be able to enter the address in on the Hillsborough County Property Appraisers website and get ownership information.

TampaIam,
I'm not sure about the property on Howard, but there is a similar, bigger building on Platt, near Hyde Park Cafe that is up for lease.

Maybe I'm old fashioned but

Since South Tampa has many smaller neighborhood type communities with their own retail, restaurants, how about this list for names:
SoWe District - the area on South Westshore Blvd around El Prado and Euclid Aves.
SoMac District - the area on South MacDill Ave from around Bay to Bay to Fair Oaks Ave.
Bay to Bay District - the area around, well you know, Bay to Bay Blvd from Himes to MacDill Ave.
and so on....

Ok, I admit it. I am old fashioned. For decades that area was called . . .drum roll . . . Palma Ceia . . . There was Hyde Park and there was Palma Ceia and there was Beach Park . . .

Then someone discovered the plat maps and put up those "neighborhood" signs to confuse the matter. . .

I prefer to call it Palma Ceia - that is a unique and accurate name

^I agree about the plat maps...

Funny how we don't hear anyone clamoring for the Swastika neighborhood's name to be posted about.

Well, then you have the Neighborhood Associations in the Neighborhoods, Bayside West Neighborhood Association is bordered between Euclid Ave to the North, Gandy Blvd to the South, Manhatten Ave to the East, and the Bay to the West. Yet there is a "Welcome to..Gurnsey Estates" that was put up by the city on Westshore Blvd near Fair Oaks.

I believe Soho and Hyde Park are one in the same. imo
You have to have lot's of money to live in that area and it is becoming a trendy area of Tampa..

It's almost as if Ybor- Central Park- DT- Hyde Park - Tampa Heights-Seminole Heights- Channelside are almost all connected in some way around the center DT core..

Another sign people want to live near DT, and make Tampa that complete city it want's to be..

I believe Soho and Hyde Park are one in the same. imo
You have to have lot's of money to live in that area and it is becoming a trendy area of Tampa..

It's almost as if Ybor- Central Park- DT- Hyde Park - Tampa Heights-Seminole Heights- Channelside are almost all connected in some way around the center DT core..

Another sign people want to live near DT, and make Tampa that complete city it want's to be..

Dont forget about Harbour Island and Davis Islands.

and gilligan's island. :lol:

Dont forget about Harbour Island and Davis Islands.

Yes can't forget those also.. Thx

and gilligan's island. :lol:

I have never been there. What is the food like?

It's "island" food, but on the bright side there's not much of a wait. ;)

It's "island" food, but on the bright side there's not much of a wait. ;)

What about that 3 hour tour? :lol:

And the millionaires?

please stick to the topic folks.

i wish someone would blow up the south howard district. everyone down there reminds me of the characters from laguna beach, 5 yrs removed from high school. grow up already.

I would venture to say it is more like 10 to 15 years removed. . .

Nonetheless, I think blowing it up may be a bit extreme. Avoiding it is a bit less drastic. Although your reaction points to the really problem with "hip" and "trendy" areas - they tend to be annoying.

whatever... :bash:

i wish someone would blow up the south howard district. everyone down there reminds me of the characters from laguna beach, 5 yrs removed from high school. grow up already.

Wow, angry comment. I don't think this area is quite as homogeneous as you characterize it. I've seen lots of families w/ little kids eating at Evos and Panera, and the crowd at Xtreme is somewhat diverse.

Of course, I don't go to the bars there and maybe that's what you're referring to.

Regardless, I'm curious as to when Post is planning to begin their mixed use project on Howard between Swann and Inman.

I would venture to say it is more like 10 to 15 years removed. . .

Nonetheless, I think blowing it up may be a bit extreme. Avoiding it is a bit less drastic. Although your reaction points to the really problem with "hip" and "trendy" areas - they tend to be annoying.

That's why I moved from Thornton Park area of Orlando. It's not always the area that is bad, but the type of people it attracts. Some parts of Hyde Park are nice (I live there now) but there are too many people around that don't "get it" just like my little place in DT Orlando. The vibe gets ruined in this neighborhood Thursday-Saturday evenings. The place is left trashed by Sunday. No sense of community. They should cater to the more high end people that live around here and not the 50-70 thousandaires that come in from the burbs or conversion condos and then leave.

I like the SoHo area. It actually has people who have goals. AND most of the people there are under 40.

Wow, angry comment. I don't think this area is quite as homogeneous as you characterize it. I've seen lots of families w/ little kids eating at Evos and Panera, and the crowd at Xtreme is somewhat diverse.

Of course, I don't go to the bars there and maybe that's what you're referring to.

Regardless, I'm curious as to when Post is planning to begin their mixed use project on Howard between Swann and Inman.

its pretty homogenous.. it's a bunch of frat boys and sorority girls that have graduated and are working in tampa and need a district to remind themselves of what it was like going to The Swamp in gainesville or Bullwinkles in tallahassee.. stop by any of those bars on the weekend and it will make you gag knowing that these people cannot escape the highschool/fratboy college scene. restaurants are pretty bad too-- never have i seen so many chicks dressed up yapping on their cell phones, screaming, "like-- omigod!.. NO.. HE.. DIDN'T!!!"

and if, by homogenous, you mean white.. then, no-- it's not homogenous.. then again, there are black, hispanic, and asian frat boys and sorority girls.. it is homogenous in the TYPE of person that goes there.. and it is sickening.

the soho district is the epitome of someone who grew up in tpa, went to a local college with their friends, and moved back home withtheir friends.. the epitome of people who lack culture and have never experienced life outside of the bay area. i know this because i grew up around here, and i bump into A LOT of people that i know the VERY FEW times i get dragged down there.

Well, I'm sticking with "angry comment." If you find it that sickening, don't go there at all; no one's forcing you. It obviously makes you miserable.

I like the Soho and Hyde Park area. I think it is fun to sit at a cafe and watch people be fake and make fun of them behind their backs. I love to watch their drama I get a kick out of it. I think it is theraputic to sit and laugh at how their lives revolve around gossip, Laguna Beach, The Hills, and "trendy" California clothing. I like the restaurants too.

The one point I agree with in this diatribe is the "grow up" part. I'm just wondering who would benefit from that advice. . . ;)

Another fine display CEE. Blowing up areas and people because you don't like them. Quality - yes you are.

Cee has made a few attempts at race baiting and many of his bigotted comments are directed at white people. You can see that quite easily from his other posts about Ybor and Channelside.

A little look in the mirror might help you. I couldn't imagine going through life so miserable.

^^ Me neither. Now back to the thread's topic: SoHo bashing! Am I allowed to say SoHo? It's so trendy and all. . . ;)

I like the Soho and Hyde Park area. I think it is fun to sit at a cafe and watch people be fake and make fun of them behind their backs. I love to watch their drama I get a kick out of it. I think it is theraputic to sit and laugh at how their lives revolve around gossip, Laguna Beach, The Hills, and "trendy" California clothing. I like the restaurants too.

its fun to sit back and watch people be fake and make fun of them behind their backs.. then you realize that everyone is doing it to each other.. and then you see the big picture and realize that what you're doing is just the same thing that people did in the lunchroom in high school.. and then you realize what you're doing is ACTING LIKE A HIGH SCHOOLER. at that point, it starts to get pathetic and you become ashamed of what tampa has turned into. and then you get on to skyscrapercity.com and post about it, only for people on skyscrapercity.com to defend it like it's the greatest thing in the world to live in that high school mentality :bash:

^^Actually much of the time Tampa is criticized roughly. I find that the discussions on Tampa are some of the more intense discussions on Skyscrapercity when we're not off topic. Now if you're referring to Southern California styles when you were talking about Laguna Beach, then yes some people over do it way to much, old and young. Trust me it isn't really my thing. However to recklessly come on the boards and say you want ot blow up a district of Tampa for that reason, it may and will offend people. Matter of fact, people would respect your oppinion more if you weren't so overly harsh about it.

^^Actually much of the time Tampa is criticized roughly. I find that the discussions on Tampa are some of the more intense discussions on Skyscrapercity when we're not off topic.
definitely... I tend to think it starts at the top. :)