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Paul A Diggs

Paul A Diggs

Suburban Neighborhood in Lakeland, Florida

Polk County 33805
3.2
$192,011 Average Value
$195 Average Price per Sq Ft
10 Homes For Sale

Keeping Paul A. Diggs' legacy

Named after civic leader, educator and one of Lakeland’s first Black social workers, the established residential neighborhood of Paul A. Diggs is defined by a strong sense of community. The civic spirit that Paul A. Diggs championed can be seen today in neighborhood facilities such as Dream Center of Lakeland, a non-profit organization dedicated to meeting residents’ needs and affecting positive change, and the Simpson Park Community Center, an indoor/outdoor complex that brings residents together through recreation.

Community connection at The Dream Center

The Dream Center of Lakeland is the heart of the community. Every Saturday morning, kindergarten through fifth grade children are joined by their peers from other Lakeland neighborhoods for Kids Club. Volunteers share life lessons, sing and play games with the gathered youth. Teens have access to mentoring programs, athletic activities and RISK Club, which aims to teach lessons in managing money, applying for jobs and succeeding in school. Dream Center also offers adult classes in financial management, integrity and parenting, and holds a weekly Sunday morning pancake breakfast known as The Well. The gathering is a family affair that helps maintain community ties by allowing residents to get to know their neighbors and make new friends. Larry R. Jackson Branch Library is also a mainstay in the neighborhood. “We offer free library cards to all of the residents,” shares Jackson Hager, librarian supervisor at the branch. “For kids, we have weekly story times and monthly hands-on science and craft projects, and we try to offer programs on early release days. We also offer larger-scale events like summer programming and themed events, like a Star Wars Day on May 4th, Pirate Day and holiday events.”

Magnet and charter schools nearby

The Rochelle School of the Arts typifies the neighborhood’s focus on education. Offering an array of classes tailored to students’ creative abilities, the magnet school serves students in kindergarten through eighth grade and has a score of B on Niche. Established in 1992, Rochelle was the first of its kind in Florida and has become a model for performing arts schools nationwide. New Beginnings High School is a charter school south of the neighborhood that serves grades nine through 12 and has a D-plus on Niche. The school approaches education through a blended learning technique that supports marginalized and struggling students in reaching educational success.

Recreation and the Lakeland Dreadnaughts

Most recreational activity in the neighborhood happens at Simpson Park Community Center. Amenities include a 10-lane pool, indoor and outdoor basketball courts, a recently renovated softball field and a fitness center. The facility also is home to the Lakeland Table Tennis Association, which competes in tournaments throughout the state. Children can run around Simpson Park’s “Triple Nickle” Playground, a large, shaded playground named after a World War II all-black firefighting parachute regiment. Jackson Park is another popular green space, featuring a playground, shuffleboard courts and a series of historical markers outlining the accomplishments of John S. Jackson, the first Black surgeon at Lakeland Regional Medical Center. Within walking distance is Bryant Stadium, where the seven-time state football champions, the Lakeland Dreadnaughts, play their home games.

Living in Teaspoon Hill and Black Bottom

Present-day Paul A. Diggs encompasses smaller areas historically known as “Teaspoon Hill” and “Black Bottom.” The neighborhood has cozy bungalows and cottage-style properties with Craftsman and contemporary visual aesthetics. Investment properties typically list between $75,000 and $150,000, while newly renovated homes cost between $170,000 and $350,000. The area receives a 7/10 on the CAP Index; however, The Community Services Unit of the Lakeland Police Department works with the neighborhood association and community members to better protect property and persons.

Highway 98 offers dinner and downtown

U.S. Highway 98 is a retail and dining corridor for the neighborhood. For a warm cup of coffee, Mary’s Bagel Café is the go-to stop. Jamaican Jerk Kitchen is right next door, serving traditional offerings like oxtail and curry chicken for lunch and dinner. For a quick bite, Church’s Texas Chicken is a favorite for Southern-inspired meals. Lakeland Seafood and Super Choice Foods along West Memorial Boulevard offer various grocery items, from fresh-caught fish to packaged products. If residents want more options, 98 connects directly to downtown Lakeland less than 2 miles south.

Getting around Paul A. Diggs

Major thoroughfares for the area are West 10th Street, Highway 98 and Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue. Commuters can use these to navigate to other parts of the city or board Citrus Connection buses. For more extensive travel, Lakeland Linder International Airport is about 7 1/2 miles southwest.

Isabel Butler
Written By
Isabel Butler
Jeffery Palmer
Photography Contributed By
Jeffery Palmer
Erika Bizousky
Video By
Erika Bizousky

Agents Specializing in this Area

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Schools

Source:
GreatSchools: The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process. View GreatSchools Rating Methodology

Parks in this Area

Reviews

Niche Reviews
3.2 5 Reviews
2.0 Niche User
1/7/2015 Niche Review
There are a lot of abandoned properties around Lakeland, it looks really bad I think they should at least fix up these housing and give them to single moms that are trying to make a difference in there lives, like trying to go to school while working at taking care of there child.
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Paul A Diggs Demographics and Home Trends

Housing Trends

Median List Price
$239,900
Median Sale Price
$237,000
Median Single Family Sale Price
$237,000
Median Change From 1st List Price
8%
Last 12 months Home Sales
35
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
13%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$195

Neighborhood Facts

Number of Homes
707
Number of Homes for Sale
10
Median Year Built
1958
Months of Supply
3.40
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,282
Significantly below the national average
1,929
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
1,380
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
5,227

Open Houses

  • Saturday, Nov 8
    1 - 4pm

    1238 N Virginia Ave, Lakeland, FL 33805

    $284,990

    • 3 Beds
    • 2 Baths
    • 1,285 Sq Ft
    • 1238 N Virginia Ave
    • New 4 days ago

    One or more photo(s) has been virtually staged. Under Construction. New Construction. Welcome to this lovely 3 Bedroom 2 Bathroom home in the desirable community of Washington Park near everything Lakeland has to offer! Great opportunity for first time home buyer with living room and kitchen combo is ready for you to settle in. Upon entering this open floorplan, the living room will lead you to

    Maykol Romo VESTI LLC

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Distribution of Home Values

Source: Public Records

Homes for Sale

Homes for Rent

Average Home Value





Source: Public Records

Property Mix - Square Feet

This Neighborhood Has More Renters

Demographics

Total Population
2,847
Median Age
35
Population Density
8 ppl/acre
Population under 18
30.2%
Above the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
16.5%
On par with the national average
19.1%

Finances

Median Household Income
$20,405
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$37,282

Education and Workforce

High School Graduates
74.4%
Below the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
9.3%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
4.1%
% Population in Labor Force
52.5%

Weather

Annual Precipitation
56''
Average Winter Low Temperature
51°F
Average Summer High Temperature
92°F
Annual Snowfall
0''

Area Factors

Bikeable

Bike Score®

66 / 100

Very Walkable

Walk Score®

70 / 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score

Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.

Nearby Neighborhoods

Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
NEIGHBORHOOD
Paul A Diggs