Avila (Tampa)

Neighborhood in Hillsborough, Florida, United States

Avila

Neighborhood

Avila

Location within the state of Florida

Coordinates: 28°06′32.4″N 82°27′39.6″W﻿ / ﻿28.109000°N 82.461000°W﻿ / 28.109000; -82.461000
Country| United States
State| Florida
County| Hillsborough
City| Tampa
Area

• Total

| 1.15 sq mi (2.98 km2)
Population

(2010)

• Total

| 2,626
• Density| 2,280/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]

## History

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

### The Rivera Murders

[edit]

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 Murders

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

* Bruce Allen, NFL president of the Washington Redskins[14]
* Adam Bilzerian, poker player[15][16]
* Dan Bilzerian, poker player[15][16]
* Paul Bilzerian, former corporate takeover specialist convicted of securities fraud[2]
* Quincy Black, former NFL player with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers[17]
* Eddie DeBartolo Jr., former NFL owner of the San Francisco 49ers[1]
* Tony Dungy, former NFL coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Indianapolis Colts[1]
* Jon Gruden, former NFL coach of the Oakland Raiders and Tampa Bay Buccaneers[14]
* Derek Jeter, former professional baseball player with the New York Yankees[1]
* Joe Magrane, analyst for the MLB Network[14]
* Vince Naimoli, businessman and founder of the Tampa Bay Rays[1] (d. 2019)
* Lou Piniella, former professional baseball manager predominantly with the Seattle Mariners.[2]
* Jorge Posada, former professional baseball player with the New York Yankees[1]
* Mariano Rivera, former professional baseball player with the New York Yankees[1]
* Warren Sapp, former NFL player predominantly with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers[2]
* Nick Swisher, former professional baseball player with four different teams[18]
* Roberto Alomar, former professional baseball player with eight different teams, primarily with the Toronto Blue Jays
* Alfonso Soriano, former professional baseball player with four different teams, primarily with the New York Yankees and Chicago Cubs

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Ewald, Patti (April 17, 2015). "Neighborhood Profile: Avila, Tampa". TampaBay.com. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Zayas, Alexandra (January 10, 2012). "Avila a magnet for those who can pay". TampaBay.com. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
3. ^ a b c "J. Robert (Bob) Sierra". Sierra-Properties.com. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
4. ^ a b c d e f g h "Avila neighborhood in Tampa, Florida (FL)". city-data.com. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
5. ^ a b c d "Live and Play in Avila". SmithAndAssociates.com. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
6. ^ "Google Maps". Google.com. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
7. ^ a b c d "Employee Arrested After Retired Doctor, Wife Found Murdered in Exclusive 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. ^ a b Ryan, Patty (November 5, 2014). "New reports show tension in Avila mansion before killings". TampaBay.com. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
13. ^ a b Jamison, Peter (May 9, 2014). "Sheriff's Office: Darrin Campbell shot family, torched Avila mansion, killed himself". TampaBay.com. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
14. ^ a b c "Gruden Moves Into Exclusive Avila Neighborhood". The Tampa Tribune. March 27, 2013. Archived from the original on August 18, 2017. Retrieved December 24, 2019.
15. ^ a b 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. ^ a b "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.

## External links

[edit]

* Demographic information on City-Data.com

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