The live, work, play concept is more of a lifestyle than a location. It is a place where strangers become neighbors and foster a deeper sense of community.
Usually comprised of restaurants, shopping, residences, office buildings and cultural attractions, residents in these innovative communities have everything they need just a stone’s throw from their doorstep. There is no need to hop in the car and navigate through traffic to go to work, to go out to eat, take dogs for a walk, go shopping or even go to a farmers market or pop-up events — all of these activities are just a short walk away.
Live, work, play neighborhoods are designed to maximize quality of life. Artwork and beautiful outdoor common areas decorate every corner in many of these developments. Events and common areas bring residents together and enrich the cultural scene. A myriad of dining options, proximity to urban attractions and endless opportunities to enjoy active lifestyles ensure residents never run out of things to do.
With many existing communities to choose from and more on the way, new residents might not only find their dream home, but their dream job and neighborhood all in the same place. Here are just a few of Greater Tampa Bay’s most comfortable and convenient communities.
On The Horizon
The live, work, play concept is growing in popularity, and Greater Tampa Bay is rising to meet the demand. Look ahead for these emerging communities that are currently under construction.
Water Street Tampa — Downtown Tampa
A revolutionary live, work, play community near downtown Tampa is turning heads across the nation.
Water Street Tampa, headed by none other than Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik and business magnate Bill Gates, brings an enormous mixed-use development alongside Amalie Arena, Sparkman Wharf and other downtown attractions. The project first broke ground in 2018 and is constantly making new developments.
The community is designed with an emphasis on health and wellness. Outdoor common areas, including space along the waterfront and pedestrian trails, as well as sustainable buildings and technology, benefit both residents’ and the environment’s health.
Taking up a significant portion of the land and sky along Tampa’s waterfront, Water Street is establishing itself as an attraction in its own right. Many restaurants, retail stores and shops, businesses, hotels and new residents have already made a home in Water Street.
Water Street at a Glance
- 56 acre-development area
- A total of 9 million square feet of space for commercial, residential and recreational use
- $3.5 billion project
- It was the first neighborhood in the world to earn the WELL Design & Operations designation from the International WELL Building Institute. This designation means that special care has been taken to ensure factors including air, water, nourishment, light, sound, materials and more are of the utmost quality for health and safety.
Key Features
- Residential
- 4 towers
- Heron
- The Residences at The Tampa EDITION
- Asher (part of 1050 Water Street)
- Cora
- By completion, Water Street will include a total of 3,500 residences
- 4 towers
- Office
- 3 office buildings
- The Offices at Sparkman Wharf
- Thousand & One
- 400 Channelside Drive
- A combined 2 million square feet of office space
- 3 office buildings
- Retail and restaurants
- Sparkman Wharf is a dining and recreation destination within Water Street, with several restaurants, boutiques, dessert shops and drinking establishments to choose from.
- A Publix Greenwise Market opened in the Heron’s ground floor in August
- Hotels
- 3 hotels
- The Tampa EDITION
- Slated to open in 2022
- JW Marriott Tampa Water Street
- Tampa Marriott Water Street
- The Tampa EDITION
- 3 hotels
At Water Street Tampa, long commutes to work, dining and shopping are a thing of the past. Following its pledge to wellness, the neighborhood is designed to be nearly completely walkable. Not only does this functional layout cut down on resident’s time spent in the car so they can use their time more efficiently, but a walkable community promotes the health of its residents and the environment around them. Now, commutes on foot can be spent basking in the glow of the cityscape amid Water Street’s impressive high rises and canopy shade trees.
Whether it is seeing a friendly face during their commute on-foot or having the world at their fingertips using the neighborhood’s cutting edge 5G WiFi, residents of Water Street Tampa have ample opportunity to connect with each other and world around them.
Phase I of Water Street development will be completed in 2022, and Phase II is slated to conclude in 2027.
By press time in December, two of Water Street’s residential towers had opened — Heron and Cora — and Asher was slated to open in January 2022.
Midtown — Westshore District, Tampa
West of downtown Tampa, in the Westshore District, is Midtown Tampa, a community that calls itself a city within a city — and they mean it. Apartments, office spaces and celebrated restaurants accompany hotels, common spaces and scenic walking trails. City living has never been so local.
The $500 million development is brand new to the Westshore District, with construction nearly complete as of press time. This contemporary, sleek, self-sustaining community offers every modern convenience in itself, but factor in its location right off Interstate 275 and adjacent to Dale Mabry Highway, and getting around truly becomes a breeze.
NOVEL, Midtown’s primary apartment complex, offers studio through three-bedroom sized units and sits above the Retail Plaza and Midtown Commons areas. The complex is replete with top-notch amenities such as a resort-style pool, dry cleaning lockers and co-working office spaces, plus a parking garage right by the residences. For a bite to eat or a cup of coffee, simply head downstairs.
Working within Midtown will be a cinch. The eight-floor Midtown West building is open for lease and has already welcomed tenants, including two billion-dollar companies. The Loft at Midtown Tampa is a three-floor building featuring the Element hotel, offices and restaurants. In addition to businesses within the community itself, Midtown places working professionals within easy commutes to top employers in the Westshore District, home to the Tampa International Airport, as well as downtown Tampa and the surrounding areas.
Speaking of restaurants, the selection present at Midtown Tampa is unrivaled. The first Joffrey’s Coffee spot outside of a Disney location has a place here, along with Tampa’s first Shake Shack and award-winning Italian restaurant BellaBrava. Renowned chef Chris Ponte is opening a new, modern American-style restaurant, called Ponte Tampa, and a concept restaurant from Oprah will follow in 2022.
Live, work, play communities often take pride in promoting active and healthy lifestyles, and Midtown certainly excels in this area. It is home to Midtown Lake and Watercourse trail, outdoor common areas and the Greater Tampa Bay area’s first REI Co-Op store, which brings outdoor gear, expertise and even a bicycle maintenance team, and several health and wellness facilities such as gyms, fitness centers, a chiropractic clinic and more. A Whole Foods Market grocery store right there in the community makes healthy eating as convenient — and tasty — as ever.
Grassy common spaces perfect for live music, bars and eateries to unwind in and practical necessities like an eye doctor, salon, car wash and dry cleaner are all available at Midtown Tampa. Events and farmers markets fill the common areas with neighborly activity on a regular basis.
With more tenants and residents calling Midtown home every week, this growing community invites the community to come and see what the buzz is all about.
Orange Station at the EDGE — Edge District, St. Petersburg
Orange Station at the EDGE is not expected to open until 2024, but this monumental project along St. Pete’s Central Avenue is definitely one to join in on sooner rather than later.
Orange Station will rise 16 stories up within St. Petersburg’s Edge District, a culturally and historically rich community just west of downtown. This ultimate live, work, play environment adds to the exciting development and growth in this unique part of St. Pete.
The development will offer both condominium and apartment options for residents, as well as office space for the growing numbers of businesses moving to St. Pete each year.
A European-style plaza will invite working professionals, residents and the public to mingle among the outdoor cafes and art installations. A parking garage with both public and private spaces is not only a convenience for residents and workers, but it improves the public’s ease of access into this buzzing urban area as well.
(Lindi, a visual):
- 42 workforce apartments, The WYE
- 61 luxury condominiums, The Residences
- 130,000 square feet of apartment space
- 106,000 square feet of Class A office space
- 21,400 square feet of street-facing retail
- 590-space parking garage
- June 2022, expected groundbreaking
- Spring 2024, expected opening
Orange Station will pay homage to several monumental events in St. Pete’s history.
The Orange Belt Railway brought St. Pete’s first settlers here in 1888. The railway inspired Orange Station’s name and the establishment of a station along the SunRunner rapid transit line.
Orange Station is being built where the St. Pete Police department was formerly located. An outdoor plaza will feature an art installation that honors The Courageous 12, a group of Black police officers who fought for, and earned, the same rights as their white peers in the police department.
Orange Station is welcoming inquiries for condominiums, office space and retail and dining tenants.
EXISTING AND FLOURISHING COMMUNITIES
Wiregrass Ranch — Wesley Chapel
City convenience meets country comfort at Wiregrass Ranch, an expansive live, work, play community in Wesley Chapel.
Living in harmony with the land is essential to life at Wiregrass Ranch. The community was the vision of the Porter family, who desired to create a family-oriented development on their cattle ranch and citrus grove. After utilizing the land for generations, the Porters brought that vision to life in the 1970s. The family remains stewards of the land so residents can enjoy their home’s natural beauty.
Another unique element of Wiregrass Ranch’s design is its multi-generational approach. The dynamic community contains several distinct neighborhoods perfect for multiple demographics. Apartments and townhomes with resort-like amenities are great for younger professionals and young families. Many options for single-family homes ensure there is plenty of room for families to grow in place. Older generations can stay close to their families, with 55-and-older and assisted living communities within Wiregrass Ranch.
(Lindi, a visual):
- 5,000 acres
- 67-acre retail and entertainment complex
- Established in 1942
- 9 distinct neighborhoods
- Estancia at Wiregrass — townhomes, single-family homes
- Persimmon Park — single-family homes
- Windmere Estates — townhomes
- Esplanade — 55+ resort-style single family homes
- The Ridge — resort-style single-family homes
- The Arbors — townhomes, town estates, manor homes
- Horizon Wiregrass Ranch Apartments — amenity-rich apartment living
- Beachouse Assisted Living & Memory Care — full-service senior residences
- 100+ retailers at The Shops at Wiregrass
- 98,000-square-foot Wiregrass Ranch Sports Arena
- 30 minutes from downtown Tampa
The variety of quality, accessible health care is a strong reason Wiregrass Ranch is such a standout among live, work, play developments. Advent Health’s 148-bed hospital serves residents close to home, while Florida Medical Clinic, North Tampa Behavioral Health and Farina Medical Plaza cater to an array of medical needs. In addition, Farina Medical Plaza contributes the “work” element of live, work, play. The new facility is a Class A medical office building with 16,000 square feet of health care facility space, equipped with advanced medical technology.
Healthy and active lifestyles are a focal point at Wiregrass Ranch. Residents benefit from having a sports tourism destination right there in their backyards. The RADD Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus is an enormous multipurpose facility that hosts many championship tournaments and sporting events. Just a few amenities within the facility are eight basketball courts, a cheer area, an athletic training and conditioning space and a VIP Sky Deck viewing area. In addition, the several community centers and resort-style pools within Wiregrass Ranch foster an outdoor active lifestyle.
The Shops at Wiregrass meets any resident’s shopping needs, with department stores such as Dillard’s, Macy’s and JCPenney, specialty shops and clothing stores, eclectic boutiques and numerous dining options.
Also considering the several schools within walking distance of the community, including Pasco-Hernando State College’s Porter Campus, it becomes clear that Wiregrass Ranch has much more to offer than merely a place to live, work and play. This wholesome community exceeds expectations and meets the needs for almost every aspect of life.
400 Central — Downtown St. Petersburg
Visitors to St. Petersburg will immediately notice 400 Central, a graceful high-rise that towers over downtown. It is one of the tallest buildings along Florida’s West Coast at 515 feet. The Residences at 400 Central make every word in live, work, play count — especially that last one.
In 400 Central, each one- to four-bedroom condo unit has spacious, sleek, modern, open floor plans, with multiple designer styles available and 10-foot ceilings as the standard. Penthouses meet the demand for those seeking next-level luxury on the 44th and 45th floors. Up above, at the 46th floor, residents can take in a birds eye view of the bay from the Sky Lounge Observatory.
Its location in St. Pete’s core puts 400 Central in walkable proximity to attractions others travel from around the nation and world to come visit — including the Dali Museum, the St. Pete Pier, the Museum of Fine Arts — as well as a collection of eateries, coffee shops, boutiques, farmers markets, craft breweries and much more.
Fine dining abounds in this part of town, with options just beginning at renowned restaurants Teak, Il Rotorno, Ceviche, The Canopy, The Urban Stillhouse and Sea Salt.
In terms of work, St. Pete and this walkable part of it, especially, is home to numerous businesses, including those in the flourishing local fintech industry. The community itself caters to work-from-home professionals as well, with private coworking space and a board room.
Hyde Park Village — Hyde Park, Tampa
The Hyde Park neighborhood of Tampa is one of the city’s oldest and most historic. Tracing its roots back to 1886, Hyde Park has seen the decades and centuries come and go, preserved in its antiquity while welcoming and encouraging growth.
The neighborhood is conveniently located west of downtown Tampa, along the Selmon Expressway. Along the beautifully landscaped suburban streets lies a combination of housing options. Homes with 19th-century architecture mingle with newer apartment buildings and condominiums designed to maintain the area’s historic integrity. Beautiful parks and the Bayshore fitness trail beckon residents into the outdoors.
At Hyde Park’s center is the elegant and charming live, work, play development, Hyde Park Village. This all-in-one destination features restaurants, cafés, retail shops and — last but not least — the stylish and sophisticated Hyde House, a gallery-style workspace which opened in 2019.
The Village Circle, recognized by its iconic fountain, is the hub of Hyde Park Village. Eateries such as Irish 31 and On Swann, dessert spots including Sorrento Sweets and Sprinkles and watering holes including The Candle Pour and Wine Exchange mix upscale and classy with casual settings.
Clothes shopping can be explored at Vineyard Vines, Lululemon, Social Status or the recently opened Kittenish and Nike stores. Health and beauty stores such as Bluemercury and Clean Juice and keep patrons looking and feeling good, while SoulCycle provides a fun way to stay active. These are just a few of the many tenants that make Hyde Park Village such a well-rounded, self-sustaining community.
The successful Hyde House coworking facility is a unique blend of stylish socializing amenities, coworking offices and event spaces. It boasts 65 private offices, ample coworking and networking areas, five event spaces, an auditorium and a members-only bar and kitchen.
This concept only continues to develop. Hyde House recently expanded with the addition of Public Studio, a multipurpose development in a 2,400-square-foot area on West Snow Avenue. Designed especially for creatives, the studio features film studios, galleries, event venues and space for photographers working on commercial shoots. Art galleries and pop-up shops can also be expected.
The Mason — Downtown St. Petersburg
The Mason in St. Petersburg is a luxury residential development that encourages a healthy blend of personal and work lives. Its apartment offerings come equipped with the amenities required for the office away from the office. In today’s work-from-home environment, this kind of accommodation is quickly becoming a must-have.
The residential building itself hosts a business center with accompanying meeting rooms, as well as complimentary wireless internet access. If looking to host a coffee meetup, cocktail hour or casual event, The Mason comes through. Between its gastro lounge, level eight floor or P11 rooftop, event spaces of every kind are available for the professional or informal.
Located in downtown St. Peterburg, the Mason is surrounded by some of the area’s most renowned bars, eateries and hangout spots, including the St. Pete Pier, not to mention its proximity to the Central Arts and Waterfront Arts districts. St. Petersburg is an exciting, modern city for young professionals looking to be a part of their community, and The Mason embodies this lifestyle.
The Heights — Tampa Heights, Tampa
The Heights comprises 50 acres of top-notch Tampa real estate north of downtown and west of Ybor City. One of the oldest in the area, this neighborhood has seen one of the largest swells of development in recent years.
Armature Works, a 73,000-square-foot multi-use facility, houses dozens of new restaurants, bars and hangout lofts that breathe fresh life into Tampa’s history. This impressive space was converted from an old Tampa Electric Company warehouse dating back to 1910. The venue’s updated industrial look remains true to the building’s history.
Restaurants like Southern-inspired Steelbach and Euro American-style Oak & Ola, coffeeshops like local Buddy Brew and event spaces for every conceivable function combine to make Armature Works the model of the play mentality. Networking, events, markets and holiday celebrations bring the community together on a regular basis. These are a few reasons why Armature Works has become one of the area’s most well-known venues.
The Heights Union brings roughly 300,000 square feet of alternative, mixed-use office space to the Tampa Heights neighborhood. This space provides flexible access to offices for a variety of businesses, with most of those being life science companies. The impressive roster of tenants includes Pfizer, Axogen and White & Case.
Within The Heights is The Pearl, a 314-unit luxury apartment complex that opened its doors in 2018. Exemplifying the value of convenience within live, work, play communities, The Pearl is located within easy walking distance of the aforementioned hotspots. The Pearl, with its innumerable amenities, skyline views and sustainability-focused design, accentuates what the Heights is all about — living, working and playing in their highest forms.
Casa Ybor — Ybor City, Tampa
The history and culture of Ybor City is deep and rich. Casa Ybor, a retail, residential and office community, aims to “Celebrate the Renaissance of Ybor City.” Leading the revitalization effort, this neighborhood strives to combine the background of its founding in 1885 with the modern touches of today’s world.
Retail spaces like Buchman, Casa Bomberos and Casa Gomez will feature shops, bars and restaurants in converted historical buildings. Many of these spaces, along with Casa Marti, Casa Oliva and Casa Pedroso, will include apartments above these retail spaces, which overlook the streets below.
Casa Ybor is a stone’s throw away from some of the city’s most celebrated places, including the famed Columbia Restaurant, Gaspar’s Grotto and the Ybor City Museum. Office spaces available for lease have been newly renovated and opened for business. Casa Gomez and the Don Vincente maintain their historic, architectural façades while containing spruced-up, modernized interiors. This neighborhood inspires the harmonious blend of living, working and playing in one of Tampa’s most historic and culturally rich locations.
