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West Tampa

West Tampa: a cigar-city neighborhood with land people want

West Tampa grew up around cigar factories more than a century ago, and many of its small frame homes have been in the same families for generations. Today it sits between downtown and Westshore, and builders have taken notice.

Quick answer
  • West Tampa was its own city from 1895 until Tampa annexed it in 1925
  • It lies west of the Hillsborough River, north of Kennedy Boulevard
  • Parts are in the National Register's West Tampa Historic District
  • We buy single-family homes, duplexes to fourplexes and vacant lots

Where West Tampa came from

Hugh Macfarlane, a Scottish-born attorney, bought land west of the Hillsborough River in the early 1890s and built it into a cigar manufacturing town. West Tampa incorporated as a city in 1895 and was annexed by the City of Tampa in 1925. Its historic borders run roughly from the river and Rome Avenue west to Dale Mabry Highway, and from Kennedy Boulevard north to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.

The workers who rolled cigars lived in small wood-frame houses close to the factories, many of them on narrow lots. Over time the neighborhood added bungalows and, after the war, concrete block homes. Many of those houses are still standing, and many have been handed down through families.

Historic status: check before you plan

Much of the old core of West Tampa is in the West Tampa Historic District listed on the National Register of Historic Places. National listing on its own does not usually block a private owner from demolishing. The City of Tampa's local historic districts, where demolition needs review, are Hyde Park, Seminole Heights, Tampa Heights and Ybor City. West Tampa is not one of those, but the city has designated a small number of West Tampa buildings individually.

Rules can change, and some properties have their own designations, so we check each address with the city before we talk about what a builder could do. If your home turns out to be protected, we will tell you plainly, and we may still buy it for renovation. See historic districts and teardowns. We are not attorneys.

Narrow lots and family land

Many West Tampa homes sit on narrow platted lots, and some families own two lots, or a house with an empty lot next to it that a grandparent bought decades ago. To a builder, that can change what is possible. Whether two lots can be built on separately depends on City of Tampa zoning and lot-of-record rules, so it always needs a zoning check.

Owners also ask about the city's tree protection rules. A large protected oak on a narrow lot can limit where a new home can go. Our guide on tree rules explains why it matters.

Inherited houses and family decisions

A lot of West Tampa homes are inherited. Several siblings may share the property, and some may live out of state. That is common, and it can be sorted out. If the estate needs to go through probate, we pay for it. We are happy to talk with every heir, so nobody feels left out of the decision. Our guide on inheriting an older house covers the steps.

What a sale looks like

Tampa Teardown is run by 131 Cash Home Buyers. We do one walkthrough, then give a written cash offer based mainly on what the land is worth to a new-construction buyer, minus demolition and our risk and holding costs. It is below full retail. If listing would clearly net you more and you have the time, we will say so.

No repairs, no commissions, and no clean-out. We pay the normal closing costs, close at a licensed Florida title company, and set the closing date that works for you and your family.

Questions owners ask

Is West Tampa a historic district?
Part of it is on the National Register. It is not one of the City of Tampa's four local historic districts, though some buildings are individually designated. We check every address.
Several of us inherited Grandma's house. Can we all sign?
Yes. Everyone with an ownership share signs, and they don't all need to be in Tampa. The title company will explain how out-of-town signing works.
The house is full of belongings. Do we have to empty it?
No. Take what matters to your family and leave the rest.

Read next

Inherited an older house? How to tell if it's a teardownFor heirs of a long-time Tampa Bay homeowner: how to tell if the inherited house is a teardown, what to do fir…Tampa Heights: Tampa's first suburb, and what a sale looks like nowOwn an older Tampa Heights house? Part of the area is a local historic district. We explain what that means an…Historic districts and teardowns: what owners should knowWhy demolition is restricted in Tampa and St. Petersburg historic districts, which boards review it, and what …

General information, not legal, tax or zoning advice. Every lot is different; local rules decide what can be built. Updated November 2026.

After 30 years

When it’s time, it should be simple.

You don’t need to fix the roof, empty the garage, or figure out zoning. Tell us about the house. We’ll look at the land the way a builder does, make a written offer, and close when your next home is ready.

Our offer is below what a fully updated house would list for, because we buy as-is and pay to clear the lot. If listing would clearly put more in your pocket and you have the time, we’ll tell you.

Call (727) 353-6206

What’s your lot worth?

Send the address. Alex will call you, usually the same day, and tell you plainly what we can pay and why.

Free. No obligation. Nobody will pressure you.

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