Creative Class In Tampa
Sticks of Fire has a post about the creative class in Tampa. I still laugh every time I hear that term. Is there really a separate class of people who are creative? But anyway, the post spurred some interesting comments on the urban design and planning. It would be nice if Tampa could revitalize downtown as a community, but outlying areas like Ybor, Channelside, and Hyde Park are more realistic goals.
As far as Hyde Park, Howard Avenue has great potential for becoming a hub of activity. It already has a start, but it needs more pedestrian traffic and outdoor destinations. One of the problems that Hyde Park faces, also, is property costs. It’s important to retain a mix of living options. Nobody (well, almost nobody) wants to live in a place that’s segregated to one class - even if it’s the creative class. Now that the real estate boom is over, maybe Tampa can take a look at actually controlling growth rather than letting developers choose how our communities look.
