Tampa Westchase Real Estate

 Westchase Tampa is one of Tampa's most desirable and upscale neighborhoods dating back to 1992. It is a great area if you want to be close to the famous Clearwater beaches, downtown Tampa or St. Pete, Tampa International Airport and shopping of all kinds. The Westchase area is a well manicured and family friendly area but the price per square foot is usually higher than other Tampa Bay locales such as Lutz, New Tampa, Wesley Chapel, etc. And like many new or newer communities such as Westchase, the developers of them were able to pass along some of the infrastructure costs onto the residents by way of long-term extra fees called “CDD’s”…meaning, Community Development District fees. Included in your tax bill, Community Development Districts are governmental entities charged with the task of maintaining the common areas in planned communities.

Westchase is also for those that like neighborhood restrictions and uniformity of design in its landscaping. There is a flow to the landscape as you stroll or drive through its 10 square miles and on any given day, you will see grounds maintenance crews planting flowers, trimming trees or spreading mulch. Like other planned communities, governing rules for its residents are set in place to protect the property values, promote a calm uniform look and maintain the majority of those living there. This doesn’t mean that all the homes look the same, for there are different neighborhoods of different home styles. The Westchase Tampa community offers a mix of conservation and manicured landscaping in and amongst 29 individual Westchase neighborhoods with different personalities and amenities. Westchase residents stay in touch with the community through its active Westchase Homeowner’s Association and World of Westchase (WOW) magazine and website. Each of the 29 neighborhoods has a Westchase Volunteer to welcome newcomers and stimulate their community participation. Some of the active clubs and memberships include:

• Westchase Artist Society is a local group of all Tampa Bay visual artists wanting to grow the art community by educating artists through workshops, planned projects and excursions, while providing an arena for showcasing artists as well. Connections can be made through its website.
• Westchase Singles Club has its own website with over 1800 members from the Tampa Bay area and boasts it is the second largest single club in Florida. They offer monthly Happy Hour Events, Holiday Parties, Speed-dating hours, Singles Cruises and Seminars. 
• Tampa Bay DINKS is a social group (of over 40 Westchase couples) that caters to those who do not currently have children and have never had children. There are house parties, bike rides, 5K runs, Book club and just local Friday night ‘hang-out’ meetings.
• Westchase Seniors go to theatre parties, morning coffees, holiday parties and more. Just be 55 years or older and join in.
• Westchase Soccer Association is for recreational soccer programs for all children in the greater Northwest Tampa area. 
• Westchase Community Foundation is a non-profit and public charity serving the Westchase community with its volunteers and contributors. It raises and allocates funds to aid very ill children.
• Westchase Colts Youth Football has more than 200 member families and is a non-profit organization that provides youth tackle football and cheerleading program to all young people in the Tampa Bay area. It is to promote team sportsmanship, financial scholarship, and physical fitness, while also having fun
• Westchase Mom’s club, Deer Park Dad’s club, stork club, book club, writer’s group, bunko groups and more pop up when the need arises

Some of the best of Westchase Tampa’s Hillsborough County Public Schools are located in the Westchase area.

• Lowry Elementary School, another “A”  rated school located off Waters and Country Hollow in the community of Countryway is very active with its social, cultural, and educational activities held throughout the year. They sponsor Used Book Fairs Plans Walk-A-Thons, bicycle rodeos, Golf Tournaments, and restaurant “Food Nights” offering social get-togethers at local casual restaurants.
• Westchase Elementary School on Linebaugh Avenue, in the heart of town, has continued to earn an “A” rating since 1999.   Highly active with its PTA, Student Advisory Council (SAC) and Dad’s Club, it sponsor events such as Science nights, Art Festivals, Family Bowling, Gasparilla Bead Collection for charitable causes and others throughout the year.
• Davidsen Middle School on Montague, in the heart of a residential neighborhood where 97% of students meet the state standards in writing has an active Parent Teachers Student Association (PTSA) and hosts Medieval Fairs, Valentine’s Dances, teacher appreciation weeks, dances, year end themed festivals and more.
• Davidsen Middle School on Montague, in the heart of a residential neighborhood where 97% of students meet the state standards in writing has an active Parent Teachers Student Association (PTSA) and hosts Medieval Fairs, Valentine’s Dances, teacher appreciation weeks, dances, year end themed festivals and more.
• Deer Park Elementary (named after all the deer’s that gave up their homes) on Citrus Park Drive, and the newest member to the Westchase area schools, earns an “A” rating, where 90% of all students are meeting the state standard in reading, math and writing. Their PTA and clubs host fund raising activities like their popular ‘Taste of Deer Park’ with local food, carnival rides, blood drive and music. They are also looking to put together a Deer Park favorite recipes cookbook and continually striving for community participation.

• Alonso High School seems to go up and down in the State ratings and prides itself in its various business and technology related competitions, including skills tests, performances using various computer applications, interviews and speeches.  It holds 5K Runs, blood drives, relays and other fund-raising events throughout the school year. There are over 35 clubs that students can join to encourage team spirit, extracurricular activity and community involvement.

The Hillsborough County Public School system believes parents in Westchase Tampa should have a choice when fitting their children’s needs with a school. Here are the options:

1. Remain at the school based on your home address.
2. Choose a Magnet Program, where the elementary, middle or high school offers a theme-based program utilizing technology stimulates and encourages your child’s individual talents through a rigorous program of study.
3. Choose from 3 non-magnet schools that are outside your address area
4. From middle school on, there are career and technical programs along with post secondary education.
5. Choice Hardship allows parents that meet the criteria of a hardship (court order, medical, military transition or other) to submit a request for a school that is already operating at full capacity.

Charter schools have their own academic program, hire their own teachers, control their own budgets and are run by non-profit organizations. They all meet the Sunshine State Standards.

Frequently Called Numbers

Choice Information Line: 272-4692

Headstart (Pre-K): 744-8941

Magnet Curriculum:  272-4811

Transportation to School:  982-5500

Westchase’s recreation includes its own 18-hole Championship Golf Course/Country club, 2 junior Olympic-sized swimming pools, tennis courts, soccer fields, basketball courts, recreation center, beautiful walkways and playgrounds. Westchase is full of active families who you will see walking, jogging, dog walking up and down Linebaugh and Countryway Blvd, the main thoroughfares of the community.

• Baybridge Park is a new five-acre park with outstanding playground equipment, exercise trail and also a picnic pavilion, public restrooms and plenty of lighting. Reservations can be made for local parties and the Park offers water and electricity hook-ups. All people in Hillsborough County are allowed the use of this park and Glencliff Park.
• Glencliff Park offers soccer play, basketball court and a softball diamond in addition to a beautiful nature trail for leisurely walks and contemplative time passing.  Many residents frequently bike over to the park, lock their bikes at the bike rack and go for hikes in the woods. There is also a playground for children, areas for picnicking, a fishing and pond viewing platform and public restrooms. The Park can also be reserved and offers electricity and water hook-ups. Located south of Linebaugh on Countryway Blvd, this is truly a much appreciated family park.
• Westchase Golf Club is a daily-fee golf course started in 1992 and offers outstanding course conditions, interesting pathways, terrific service and brings a lot of value for the money. There is a 9500 sq ft clubhouse that is also rented out for social events, group outings and weddings. You can eat at the Westchase Grill either before or after your game. Renovation of the club includes new outside patio furniture, multiple televisions, new carpeting, wall coverings and wall art..
• Westchase Swim and Tennis Center and Village Swim and Tennis Club offers a variety of programs for children and adults as well as recreational swimming and tennis for all Westchase homeowners. There are clinics, teams, water exercise, run and swim workouts for all ages. You will find ‘KidzArt’, (drawing based enrichment program utilizing art to promote self-confidence) Creative Movement classes, TaeKwonDo and even a Spanish learning class, emphasizing music, movement and creativity for those 4 months and up. They even have their own BLOG spot to encourage residents to help the Swim and Tennis committee learn what they want with the programs and facilities.
• Upper Tampa Bay Regional Library is conveniently located just a ½ mile north of Linebaugh on Countryway Blvd. This Hillsborough County neighborhood addition begun in 2005 is a 15,000 sq ft facility offering all the usual library functions as well as establishing a “Friends Group” consisting of like-minded individuals that started a “Library Tree” art piece depicting contributors to this county library for years to come. After choosing a favorite read either in the Library or Gazebo Bookstore, you can stroll outside and leisurely read in the Outdoor Gazebo located on the premises.

Westchase has two of its own downtown Shopping Centers, as well as an additional neighborhood shopping area on Linebaugh and Countryway Blvd, anchored by a Publix Grocery Store.  There are other major shopping malls about 20 minutes away at Westshore Plaza and International Mall.

The Avenue at Westchase located in the heart of Westchase on Linebaugh Avenue, is an exciting mix of specialty shops and salons, popular restaurants, health food grocery and professional office space and offers people a fun place to work, shop, stroll or relax.

West Park Village Town Center central to the community offers quick and slow restaurants with outdoor seating as well; shopping, YMCA, businesses and apartment dwellings above the area. Westchase Square Retail Center servicing the western core of Westchase includes a Publix supermarket, banking, restaurants and other day-to-day shops, meeting the everyday needs of all residents.

Citrus Park Town Center Mall is only a couple of miles away offering more than 120 shops and restaurants including major department stores.

While the Community of Westchase consists of mostly single family homes, built Florida-style with open floor plans, there is:

 West Park Village, a village created with Old World charm. There are the classic bungalow style homes, townhomes, villas, apartments and condos situated amongst two of its very own Westchase downtown areas full of shops, businesses and restaurants. West Park Village is a Westchase neighborhood for walking, visiting neighbors on their porch swings and wishing or discovering for the very first time, a slower pace and time.

Two of the gated Westchase neighborhoods that offer maintenance-free living are:

The Vineyards and The Enclave residents don’t want the responsibility of yard maintenance and yet still wanting to live in a single family home. In addition, for more freedom, there is:

Berkley Square, Arlington Park, Saville Rowe and West Park Village, offering townhome living in Westchase. Villas can be found in the Villas of West Park, Stonebridge, Saville Rowe and Woodbridge. For Westchase Condos, there are the waterfront Lake Chase condominiums with their own community amenities.

The majority of single family homes can be found in the rest of the Westchase Neighborhoods: Abbotsford, Bennington Square, Brentford, Bridges, Castleford, Chelmsford, Glencliff, Glenfield, Greens, Harbor Links/Estates, Keswick Forest, Kingsford, Radcliffe, Shires, Village Green, Woodbay, Worthington and Wycliff.

Westchase Rental Communities cater to those who like exclusive, care-free living styles and include:

Lexington Park is located just north of Countryway Blvd and Linebaugh and offers its resident’s security gated entry, clubhouse, basketball, billiards, multi-media room, 2 swimming pools/spas and huge fitness center. The spacious apartments come with garages, full size washer and dryers, gourmet kitchens and more.

West Park Village in the heart of downtown Westchase is for those renters wanting a small town feel with park benches, tree-lined streets just like those offered to homeowners, and the convenience of shopping, dining, and their very own Starbucks coffee on the corner of Linebaugh and Montague. With its own resort style swimming pool, community center with clubhouse and offering short term leases, West Park Village rentals are a popular choice for those deciding if they want to make Westchase a more permanent place for homeownership.

The Preserve at Westchase offers creative interiors and many amenities for luxurious living. These apartments have the advantage of 20 acres of natural preserve (hence the name) for their enjoyment. This gated community also has a pool, fitness center, on-site management, clubhouse and sports court.

Located just south of Countryway Blvd on Linebaugh, residents have the convenience of the neighborhood Publix, cleaners, restaurants, a bank and more within walking distance.

Ashton Gardens is a grand facility for 55+ communities, located off Linebaugh and Countryway Blvd. This 120 acre community caters to Tampa's upscale retirees. You will find Independent Living arrangements, Assisted Living apartment suites and opulent villas for sale. Here you will experience all the amenities of a five-star resort, but also have the comforts of home within a community of like-minded residents. Forbes.com chose Tampa as the best place for retirees, comparing 100 of the largest U.S. metropolitan areas with traditional criteria, availability of health care, job market for retirees and leisure activities.

Westchase’s Northwest Tampa location also offers highway accessibility to some of the best Beaches, Disney Land Orlando, Busch Gardens, MacDill Air Force Base and Downtown Tampa; full of all sorts of entertainment and job opportunities. And being only 10 minutes from Tampa International Airport, you can see why Westchase is a popular location for professionals to call home. This community, built around Florida preserved wetlands, was specifically designed to provide a serene environment, afford those interested in maintaining an active lifestyle, and encourage community involvement, in conjunction with offering a variety of popular-styled homes for thousands of people. Call me to take you on a tour of this fabulous area in Tampa to see if this neighborhood is right for you.

Home prices in Westchase range from the $300’s to $700’s and vary from village to village.