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Updated November 2024

But instead of an expanded Interstate 4, the Ybor neighborhood is left with blight that will likely drag on for at least 20 years.

Residents are now living next to empty, trash-strewn lots where old bungalows used to be. Some homes, waiting for FDOT to move and restore them, are dilapidated, with vagrants living underneath.

The neighborhood is part of Ybor's Historic Landmark District. It abuts the Interstate and is located north of Centro Ybor and Hillsborough Community College.

"We moved here because this neighborhood is historic and has potential," said Chris Koury, who built a $500,000 house next to a now-abandoned FDOT home. "Once you start blighting a neighborhood and abandoning a home, it becomes a target for the hookers and anyone else who needs a place for shelter."

The state paid top dollar for the properties and, in the process, removed them from the tax rolls. That means Hillsborough County collects less money for public services, such as local roads, sidewalks, sewers and libraries.

In many cases, FDOT overpaid for the homes, according to the Hillsborough County Property Appraiser's Office.

For example, the state paid $455,000 for a home at 1212 E. 12th Avenue in July 2007. At the time, the county estimated the value at $175,000. It's now boarded up, and the county estimated the value at $14,000.

The house next door, at 1216 E. 12th Avenue was sold to FDOT for $620,000 the same month. Two years later, it was in such bad shape that the state demolished it.

Kris Carson, FDOT spokeswoman, said the state may not need the land for 20 to 30 years, but it has to acquire it now.

"Prices aren't going to be any better 20 years from now, if say, that's going to be when it's built, so we want to get them while we can," Carson said. "A lot of people are willing sellers right now."

Plus, Carson said, the state has to be ready to build when the federal government gives it the money for a project like the interstate expansion or high speed rail.

"If the federal government comes to us and we don't have the right-of-way purchased, they'll pass us up," Carson said.

FDOT has purchased a total of 64 homes for transportation projects, some in other neighborhoods, such as West Tampa.

The state's intentions are good, Carson said.

"Years and years ago when I-4 first went through Ybor, we really divided the community, so when I-4 was going to be widened again, there was a plan that said let's try to save the fabric of this community, invest money in these homes and save these homes," she said.

Carson acknowledged that the state pays above market value, but said it actually saves the taxpayers money, in some of these deals. That's because going to court to force a sale using state eminent domain laws is often much more costly.

"The laws in Florida are very generous toward the homeowner to assist them, especially if the state is going to need to take their property," Carson said.

One of the reasons why the prices are so much higher than county property appraiser estimates, Carson said, is that the state takes other factors into account.

For example, the home at 1216 E. 12th Avenue was a boarding house and the previous owner collected $80,000 a year in rental income, Carson said.

This section of E. 12th Avenue is south of Interstate 4 and east of where it connects to Interstate 275. The area was once filled with historic homes on tree-lined streets. Now, it's one lot after another of abandoned homes and empty lots. Some residents say they've seen vagrants living underneath homes.

There's no doubt the area along 12th Avenue, where Koury lives, is in the way of future transportation projects. He said he was aware of this when he built his home a few years ago but was told by FDOT that the Interstate expansion was likely 30 years away.

"That was good enough for me," he said. "I don't plan on being here that long."

When high speed rail looked like a possibility early last year, things changed, Koury said. FDOT put a stake in his back yard, to measure the possible train route.

"Our house would definitely have to go for that," he said.

But now, FDOT is quiet again.

Vince Pardo, manager of Ybor Community Development Corp., said there isn't much the city can do about the neighborhood's problem right now.

"As additional homes disappear, we plan to make a nice green space that will stay there until a road project happens," Pardo said.

FDOT currently has six homes left to move in the 12th Avenue area, but Carson said she's not sure when that will happen.

The plan is to move the homes to city-owned lots, use federal money to restore them and then sell the homes in low-income homeownership programs. Now that the city administration has changed, those plans are in limbo, Carson said.

Meanwhile, Koury says his neighborhood gets worse.

In November, the state paid $165,000 for the house next door to Koury. The family living there moved out, and Koury said it's unsecured and attracts vagrants.

"Every week, we have a new set of trash here," Koury said.