Ballast Point
In the late 1800’s, before the bay was dredged, boats coming in for a landing at this part of the Florida Coast would stop at the point to drop their ballast stones in order to become light enough to negotiate the shallow water. This scenic, semi-rural neighborhood was later claimed by Tampa’s upper crust as their own private getaway.
Ballast Point is located on the east side of the peninsula dividing Tampa Bay and Hillsborough Bay. With its slower sense of time and beautiful surroundings residents describe their neighborhood as "where the grand oaks meet the bay."
Ballast Point is one of the hottest comeback neighborhoods in the Tampa Bay area. Reasonable prices, proximity to the waterfront, and painless commutes bring newcomers who are renovating modest, concrete-block homes while others are tearing the small houses down and building large new ones, some nostalgically featuring the clapboards, tin roofs and large porches of old Florida architecture.
Neighborhood Details
Cost of Housing
Ballast Point features an eclectic mix of architectural styles varying from modest ranch homes to Cape Cods to Mediterranean Revival villas, found on oak-shaded lots or waterfront estates. Prices of these homes start at $150,000 for a simple single-family home and rise into the $800,000 range.
Apartment rentals in the area typically run $900 to $1,100 for a two-bedroom.
School System
Ballast Point schools are served by Hillsborough County Public School District. The neighborhood middle and high schools are considered average however, Ballast Point Elementary School is among the top-rated elementary schools in the area.
The University of Tampa as well as Hillsborough Community College are within easy drives from the neighborhood.
Entertainment
The pier at Ballast Point Park is a great spot for fishing, walking or just sitting and admiring the striking view of the Tampa skyline. The wooden pier extends 960 feet into Hillsborough Bay. Dolphins sometimes wander into the bay waters, which they share with people sailing out of the exclusive Tampa Yacht and Country Club. The neighboring MacDill Air Force Base attracts hundreds of thousands each Spring for their annual Air Fest.
Transportation
Ballast Point is ideal for commuters working on either side of the bay. Historic Bayshore Boulevard puts commuters in downtown Tampa in about 10 minutes. The neighborhood has easy access to St. Petersburg via the Gandy Bridge and downtown Tampa via scenic Bayshore Boulevard or the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway.
