Downtown Revitalization: Tallahassee

[thelakelander]

I moved to Ocala Road because I was already working at a Winn-Dixie (started in high school and transferred to Tallahassee) full-time at Tennessee and Ocala at the time. However, there's a ton of off-campus apartments and such, south of the tracks as well. I left in 2001, and I'd say, it's probably doubled since then. I image it will boom with the Gaines Street makeover.

[CityLife]

Tacachale, good post about Tally. Spot on with a lot of your points.

Since you didn't get to see the progress of the Gaines St. corridor, I don't think you realize how much residential has already been built there and how much will soon get built there. The original photo essay is great, but doesn't even show 1/3rd of the new residential in All Saints and in the area that is starting to be branded Southgate. Southgate is basically everything south of Jefferson, east of Woodward, north of Gaines, and west of Macomb/Railroad. This area is pretty much becoming where students with money live and is also heavily populated with Greeks (both are drivers of nightlife). The best projects haven't even been completed yet and it is already quickly becoming the most desirable place for students to live. There is also quite a bit of new development/rehabs in the area west of Stadium Drive between Jackson Bluff and Pensacola. Gaines St. is much more convenient and accessible for residents of all 3 of these areas.

The Tennessee Strip has never been easily accessible for FSU students that live off campus anyways and there are very few who live off campus that can walk or bike there. Gaines St. has a million times more potential and things going for it. The shift has already started to happen, but just wait till College Town and some of the other projects get built. The Strip has been dying a slow death in the past few years for a variety of reasons and when things start to line up a little more I'd be shocked if Gaines doesn't supplant it. I know quite a few others feel the same way, including some people with Seminole Boosters who have worked on College Town and FSU's director of Facilities and Planning, who I've spoken to about it. 

[peestandingup]

You guys in the know, what areas would you recommend non-student young professionals with kids look into living? Walkability/bikeability & close to urban amenities would be a plus of course.

[BackinJax05]

Great story. It would be nice if Amtrak would return to that beautiful, historic station.

[thelakelander]

You guys in the know, what areas would you recommend non-student young professionals with kids look into living? Walkability/bikeability & close to urban amenities would be a plus of course.

I've haven't been through them in a decade, but while living in Tallahassee I thought the neighborhoods east of downtown's Monroe Street, north of Apalachee Parkway, west of Magnolia Drive, and south of Lake Ella Park fit the bill.

[CityLife]

I'd concur with Lake's take. After I graduated I worked in Tally for a year and lived off Call St. between Franklin and Monroe. Basically just east of Downtown. There are some beautiful parks in that area and some decent historical housing, but really not much to walk to, as most stuff DT is on the other side of Monroe.

Midtown is a hot area in Tally right now with older students, grad students, and young professionals. I have no clue how its defined geographically, but the Monroe/Thomasville split seems to be the center of it. There are quite a few restaurants and bars in this area, and also some nice residential areas nearby.

[peestandingup]

Thanks, guys. Yeah, looks like east of Monroe is the way to go. That district has some decent schools & town isn't far at all. Would be a breeze to bike to. The north side around (and on past) I-10 seems to have the best schools, but screw that. I think we've all had enough of that lifestyle while living here the last 5 years & having to commute to find anything of real substance.

[mbwright]

If you want a more urban feel, then Midtown is good.  It just depends on your priorities, and funds. 
Ther is a lot of growth on the east side of town, and the schools are pretty good.  There is a very wide variety of properties available, from restrictive HOA's, to acreage.  I live on  2 acres on the east side of town, and unlike Jax, I'm only about 20 minutes away from most everything.  I personally avoid the Thomasville Rd/I-10 Killearn area due to traffic.  It is always a mess.  If you need a good realtor, let me know.

[tufsu1]

You guys in the know, what areas would you recommend non-student young professionals with kids look into living? Walkability/bikeability & close to urban amenities would be a plus of course.

the midtown area is ideal...look in the 5th,6th, and 7th Avenue areas

[Tacachale]

Lake and City, I'm sure you're right about the new development. But I think West Tennessee is simply to convenient to to many people (especially those with cars) for Tallahassee to be rid of it anytime soon. There are a lot of students looking for walk- and bikeability, but there are also those who just want to pile their bros into the F250 extended cab and take advantage of their Thirsty Moose Club membership.

[Tacachale]

You guys in the know, what areas would you recommend non-student young professionals with kids look into living? Walkability/bikeability & close to urban amenities would be a plus of course.

the midtown area is ideal...look in the 5th,6th, and 7th Avenue areas

I'd also say the Midtown area. A good friend of mine was looking at a gorgeous old place out near Leon High School, though he ended up buying somewhere out in some development.

[thelakelander]

Lake and City, I'm sure you're right about the new development. But I think West Tennessee is simply to convenient to to many people (especially those with cars) for Tallahassee to be rid of it anytime soon. There are a lot of students looking for walk- and bikeability, but there are also those who just want to pile their bros into the F250 extended cab and take advantage of their Thirsty Moose Club membership.

What do you consider as the Tennessee Strip?  From my understanding, its roughly two blocks of Tennessee Street between Dewey and Copeland. 

[CityLife]

That is what most people in Tallahassee consider it too. Really, the only irreplaceable spot on the strip is Bullwinkles, which was always my favorite watering hole. Poor Pauls has a pretty loyal following too, but it could easily be moved elsewhere. I've heard 2nd hand that the owner of Bullwinkles has or is exploring the possibility of moving to Gaines St at some point. As big as the place is, it could easily use a little more space. Especially on Friday nights. Plus they would be able to get Gameday business with a move to Gaines.

Tac, people will be able to drive to Gaines St. almost as easily as they can to Tennessee St. The big difference will be that more students can walk/bike there, it will be a much safer drinking environment, and closer proximity to Doak for gameday partying. Plus an opportunity to construct a true College Town strip like you see in a lot of great college towns.

[Tacachale]

There's more on West Tennessee than just the stretch around Bullwinkle's. Further west there's Momo's and a hookah joint we used to go to; there's the bowling alley and I believe several other bars and restaurants spread around there. Don't quote me on it but I think all that stuff is before you get out to the student apartments on and around Ocala. I'd tend to agree that the Gaines project looks like it will be a much safer and better planned environment, but again, I just don't see West Tennessee Street going away any time soon.

At any rate, I'm hoping to get back out there for a long weekend this spring. A good friend of mine just moved out there, and I want to take my wife to Mission San Luis, which, incredibly, I've never gotten around to seeing. I'll be sure to check out the progress on Gaines Street. It's been a while since I was out that way.

[thelakelander]

There's more on West Tennessee than just the stretch around Bullwinkle's. Further west there's Momo's and a hookah joint we used to go to; there's the bowling alley and I believe several other bars and restaurants spread around there. Don't quote me on it but I think all that stuff is before you get out to the student apartments on and around Ocala. I'd tend to agree that the Gaines project looks like it will be a much safer and better planned environment, but again, I just don't see West Tennessee Street going away any time soon.

We were referring to the "Tennessee Strip".  There is a lot of strip development west of FSU's campus but that's not considered the "Strip."  That's just a typical auto oriented commercial corridor, in similar fashion to North Monroe Street, Apalachee Parkway, and Thomasville Road near I-10.  The "Strip" is specifically a cluster of bars and clubs between Dewey and Copeland Streets.  Personally, I don't think it will take much for Gaines Street to overtake it in prominence once the streetscape is complete.

At any rate, I'm hoping to get back out there for a long weekend this spring. A good friend of mine just moved out there, and I want to take my wife to Mission San Luis, which, incredibly, I've never gotten around to seeing. I'll be sure to check out the progress on Gaines Street. It's been a while since I was out that way.

The Mission is pretty cool.  You'll enjoy it.