The only thing larger than the homes found in East Lake is the 2,534-acre body of water on its western border. A census-designated place of over 30,000 people, East Lake sits adjacent to Lake Tarpon and is conveniently located less than 10 miles from Florida beaches and harbors. Life in East Lake is spent outdoors between its many parks, preserves and wildlife sanctuaries, as well as a few golf courses and recreational centers. Its real estate is equally diverse, with housing options ranging from apartment complexes to luxurious gated communities. “You’ve got three different sections in there,” Charles Rutenberg Realtor Karen Sewell says. “You’ve got the condo market, the townhome villa market and single-family homes. You can have up to multi-million-dollar homes in East Lake.”
Golfing, fishing and boating around Lake Tarpon
Lake Tarpon is widely regarded as one of the top largemouth bass fishing lakes in Florida. It's also known for bluegill, crappie and alligators. Boat ramps are found at the John Chestnut Sr. Park, which has over 250 acres of biking trails, playgrounds, horseshoe pits and a dog park. The East Lake Recreation Center has a baseball diamond and fields for soccer and lacrosse, while the Cypress Forest Recreation Center has an indoor basketball court and a couple of play spaces. There are also several country clubs and golf courses, many of which are found in gated communities such as East Lake Woodlands. “They have an 18-hole professional golf course,” Sewell says. “I’ve had golfers come and play on that course that are members of the Congressional Country Club in D.C., and they have told me they like this course better.”
Florida architecture with condos and townhomes
Neighborhoods are primarily located on the western edge, closest to the lake. Condos run between $150,000 and $350,000, while some villas and townhomes cost around $350,000 and $500,000. Spacious homes with 3-5 bedrooms and Florida, Craftsman or Mediterranean architecture will be $500,000 to $1 million, while larger custom homes with 5-10-acre lots will cost between $1 and $6 million. “It’s been well maintained since the 80s,” Sewell says. “Its reputation is not just nationwide, but worldwide. I’ve got people coming from Canada, France, England, Scotland and Ireland who know about East Lake.”
Shopping and dining at Ridgemoor and Oldsmar Plaza
Locals benefit from having three shopping centers around the area. The Shoppes at Boot Ranch and Oldsmar Plaza are both located at the southwestern corner, while Ridgemoor Plaza is right next to the lake. The Shoppes has big box stores such as Walmart, Target and Publix, while Oldsmar is anchored by an AMC movie theater. Craft Street Kitchen grills prime and Wagyu beef smash burgers, while Clear Sky Club Haus serves tapas and pub grub alongside specialty cocktails.
The educational pathways to East Lake High
East Lake is zoned for Pinellas County Schools and has multiple educational pathways depending on which end residents live on. Cypress Woods and Brooker Creek Elementary both have gifted and talented programs and were respectively rated an A and A-minus on Niche. Carwise Middle offers accelerated and advanced placement courses and earned a B-plus, while Tarpon Springs Middle is 10 miles northwest by Sunset Beach and earned an A-minus. East Lake High School has a 23-to-1 student-teacher ratio and a 99% graduation rate; it has an A rating on Niche. Solid Rock Community School is located north of Keystone Road and has a seed-to-table garden and lunch program with its own animal sanctuary.
Bus travel through State Road 586
Most locals drive. East Lake Drive runs north and south through the community, while U.S. Highway 19 on the other side of Lake Tarpon brings commuters north to Port Richey and south into Clearwater. Though most locals drive, public transportation is available. The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority has multiple bus stops on the south end by State Road 586. Route 812 takes passengers 5 miles southwest to the Countryside Mall, while Route 62 runs 21 miles south to Tyrone Square in Petersburg. The Mease Countryside Hospital is directly south of Oldsmar Plaza and is open for 24 hours. The Tampa International Airport is over 20 miles southeast.
Environmental factors
The south end is at the highest risk of flooding from hurricanes and heavy rainfall since its closest to the lake and Tampa Bay. The east side is also at risk of wildfires due to its heavy forestry.
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