The Tampa area is experiencing change. From adding six more miles to the Riverwalk, to luxury hotels appearing on Ashley Drive, to mortgages growing faster than anywhere else in the country. People are moving to Tampa at an impressive rate and the city is working to embrace the new residents. This means more housing. YIMBY Tampa wants to improve infrastructure and transportation in the area so that when there’s an opportunity to make a home for somebody in their backyard, people want to say yes.
NIMBY versus YIMBY
NIMBY is an acronym that stands for “not in my back yard.” It describes a type of opposition towards certain structures or changes in a neighborhood. For example, if a person is, in theory, in favor of a new bus stop being built, but they do not want it built near their home, that would be an example of NIMBY opposition. The term came about in the 1980s, with some claiming it first appeared in a Virginian newspaper and others saying it was popularized by British politician Nicholas Ridley.
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YIMBY, on the other hand, is an acronym that stands for “yes in my back yard,” and for local Tampa YIMBY organizer Nathan Hagen, it really is that simple. For him, positive community change can come when residents start “Saying yes to more things.” The YIMBY Tampa group, started by Hagen, is one of the many YIMBY groups starting all over the country. It’s a movement around building housing for everyone who wants to be part of the community.
YIMBY Tampa
Hagen is a Tampa native who currently lives and rents in North Hyde Park. After living in Gainesville for several years, he came back to Tampa. During his time in Gainesville, he was able to see what’s possible in terms of a more connected city and how quickly a culture can change around housing and public works. This experience, coupled with the housing boom in Tampa is what inspired him to start YIMBY Tampa.
“At the end of the day, what we need is more housing in every neighborhood in Tampa. What we can’t have is more housing in only some neighborhoods in Tampa. Because what ends up happening is these neighborhoods have the least power in our system of local government.”
He says that this year the group is embarking on a campaign to end exclusionary zoning. Exclusionary zoning laws place restrictions on the types of homes that can be built in a particular neighborhood. According to Hagen, these laws usually result in urban renewal only in certain areas. It would create dense communities without access to infrastructure, amenities, and good schools. For Hagen, it’s about building more affordable housing in all communities in Tampa, not just a select few.
Transportation and infrastructure
YIMBY is about much more than housing. It also means more walkable communities and better transportation options. Hagen says that you can have all the affordable housing you want, but without infrastructure and reliable transportation options, there are going to be issues.
“What we’re seeing in the south of the county is really unsustainable, car oriented development,” Hagen adds.
The future of transportation in Tampa may rely on a referendum to raise Hillsborough County’s sales tax. It will be on the ballot this November. The 1% increase would go towards improving county roads and mass transit. Half of the funds raised would go towards Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority. Hagen is in favor of the sales tax raise stating, “It’s critical for providing the infrastructure for more dense communities in the city of Tampa and in other areas.”
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Hagen’s primary mode of transportation is his bike, something that can be a little difficult in Tampa. He says that there are only three or four neighborhoods in Tampa where you can safely use a bike as a major form of transportation. Something he hopes will change soon.
“Every time you get out there and put your helmet on it’s a political act,” Hagen says regarding biking, “and it shouldn’t be.”
A growing community
YIMBY Tampa is only about six months old. They meet once a month. What started as a group of like-minded people talking about things they already agree upon has turned in to community building and mobilizing people. Tampa is an extensive area with several unique neighborhoods. Members of the group are looking for ways to “yes” to housing in a way that makes sense for each community.
The group’s next meeting is Tuesday, April 26 at King State located 520 E Floribraska Avenue in Tampa. The meeting starts at 6 p.m. Hagen and other members will look at ways they can say yes in their own backyards
“There’s a constituency in Tampa who wants there to be smart growth. And they want there to be affordable housing. They want walkable communities. There are people brave enough to say yes to the things that are required to get there.”