Avila (Tampa)

Last updated
Avila
Neighborhood
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Avila
Location within the state of Florida
Coordinates: 28°06′32.4″N82°27′39.6″W / 28.109000°N 82.461000°W / 28.109000; -82.461000 Coordinates: 28°06′32.4″N82°27′39.6″W / 28.109000°N 82.461000°W / 28.109000; -82.461000
Country United States
State Florida
County Hillsborough
City Tampa
Area
 • Total1.15 sq mi (2.98 km2)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total2,626
 • Density2,280/sq mi (879/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes
33613

Avila is an affluent neighborhood in North Tampa, considered to be one of the most exclusive communities in Tampa, Florida. [1] The gated community is occupied by star athletes, socialites, and professionals. [1]

Contents

History

Developer J. Robert "Bob" Sierra laid the groundwork for Avila in 1978. [2] [3] Surrounded by eight-foot walls, its name was inspired by the Spanish city of Ávila that was itself protected by imposing walls. [1] [2] The vast majority of the current homes in Avila were built in the 1980s. [4] The neighborhood was created with various dining options and its centerpiece, the Avila Golf and Country Club. [5] [1] [2] [3] Amenities include six tennis courts, a swimming pool and fitness center, and an 18-hole course redesigned by famed golfer Jack Nicklaus in 1988. [5] [1] [2] [3]

PGA pros are on staff for private golf lessons. [5] [1] [2] Avila was constructed with two entrances, one on Lake Magdalene Boulevard and another on North Florida Avenue. [2] The neighborhood is guarded 24 hours a day and patrolled by security guards who use radar guns to monitor the speeds of vehicles. [2] The security committee was once led by Tony Muniz, chairman of the Tampa Sports Authority. [1] [2]

Geography

Avila's boundaries are roughly Highway 41 to the west, Crenshaw Lake Road to the north, and Lake Magdalene Boulevard to the south. [6] The community contains a dozen lakes, a conservation area, and oak, cypress, and pine trees. [5] [1] The only street exceeding a mile in length is Guisando de Avila, measuring 1.17 miles in length. [4]

Demographics

As of 2010, Avila had a population of 2,626 with a median age of 53.6 years. [4] Among the residents, 83.7% were born in America but only 39.3% were Florida natives. [4] Nearly 83% of married-couple families contained two working parents and 13% of all households contained a single-mother. [4]

Economic data

The 900-acre community contains 395 residences where homes typically sell for $600,000 to $5 million. [2] [7] As of 2015, the median household income was $72,594. [4] The average household contained 2.6 people with 42% of residences containing a minimum of nine rooms. [4]

The neighborhood is zoned for the public institutions of Maniscalco Elementary School, Buchanan Middle School, and Gaither High School, but 47.6% of school-aged children attend private schools. [4] [8] [9]

Criminal Events

The Rivera murders

On January 9, 2012, retired doctor Hector Rivera (76) and his wife Debra (55) were murdered at their Avila residence shortly before 8:00 p.m. [2] [7] Hector's body was found in his driveway at 814 Taray De Avila while Debra's body was located in a bathroom within the 11,000 sq ft (1,000 m2) mansion. [7] [10] The following day, Debra's personal assistant and driver Julian Ospina-Florez (31) was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder with theft noted as the motive. [7] Ospina-Florez was found guilty on September 1, 2015, and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole three days later. [11]

The Campbell massacre

On the morning of May 7, 2014, Darrin Campbell (49) killed his wife Kimberly (51), his son Colin (18), and his daughter Megan (15), fatally shooting each in the head. [12] [13] The former executive at Pabst Brewing Company then attempted to cover up the crime by setting the $1 million mansion at 16223 Sierra De Avila on fire using gasoline and fireworks as an accelerant. [12] He committed suicide as the house burned down, a home being leased by the Campbell family from former tennis professional James Blake. [13]

Notable residents present and past

This is a list of people who have lived in the Avila neighborhood at some time.

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Ewald, Patti (April 17, 2015). "Neighborhood Profile: Avila, Tampa". TampaBay.com. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Zayas, Alexandra (January 10, 2012). "Avila a magnet for those who can pay". TampaBay.com. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
  3. 1 2 3 "J. Robert (Bob) Sierra". Sierra-Properties.com. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Avila neighborhood in Tampa, Florida (FL)". city-data.com. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Live and Play in Avila". SmithAndAssociates.com. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
  6. ↑ "Google Maps". Google.com. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "Employee Arrested After Retired Doctor, Wife Found Murdered in Excusive Tampa Subdivision". ABCNews.go.com. January 10, 2012. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
  8. ↑ "16314 Millan de Avila, Tampa, FL 33613". SandPeakRealty.com. Archived from the original on August 18, 2017. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
  9. ↑ "16216 Sierra De Avila, Tampa, FL 33613". Realtor.com. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
  10. ↑ Vander Velde, Jessica (January 10, 2012). "Driver accused in Avila killings of Hector Rivera and his wife, Debra". TampaBay.com. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
  11. ↑ Phillips, Anna M. (September 4, 2015). "Life sentence for Julian Ospina-Florez, Avila murderer". TampaBay.com. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
  12. 1 2 Ryan, Patty (November 5, 2014). "New reports show tension in Avila mansion before killings". TampaBay.com. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
  13. 1 2 Jamison, Peter (May 9, 2014). "Sheriff's Office: Darrin Campbell shot family, torched Avila mansion, killed himself". TampaBay.com. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
  14. 1 2 3 "Gruden Moves Into Exclusive Avila Neighborhood". The Tampa Tribune . 27 March 2013. Archived from the original on 2017-08-18. Retrieved 2019-12-24.
  15. 1 2 Trigaux, Robert (September 17, 2014). "Years after $62 million judgment, Paul Bilzerian is alive and well on Caribbean island". TampaBay.com. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
  16. 1 2 "16229 Villarreal De Avila, Tampa Report". Neighbor.Report. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
  17. ↑ "Avila house fire where four died was on one of Tampa's most prestigious streets". BizJournals.com. May 7, 2014. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
  18. ↑ Rapoport, Jon (March 20, 2012). "Tampa Gated Community Home To Jon Gruden". IFolloSports.com. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
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