Author Description

Black History in Tampa, Florida, Hillsborough County, can be told in many ways. The property that housed North Boulevard Homes was once called "Roberts City" which consisted of substandard, disease infected, crowded shotgun slum houses. The future residents came from all walks of life seeking a decent place to live, most of them were Blacks, Cubans some Military Families and, and others all searching for a comfortable, affordable home. Everybody who lived in North Boulevard Homes worked and paid some rent. In 1947 the city of Tampa was entering into opening of MacDill Air Field and Drew Army Airfield was being expanded. The shipbuilding companies had been launched and delivered the first vehicles in its wartime program. The African American military men many of whom were drafted stationed at MacDill field were in desperate need of decent places to live in Tampa. The servicemen had limited places to live because of the Jim Crow laws and the segregated living standards in America at the time it caused a dilemma within the military. This dilemma was more critical for those veterans who were desirous of retiring in Tampa. The Housing Authority attempted to help those veterans by giving priority them for housing.The new North Boulevard homes was dedicated without fanfare simply salute to the flag of United States of America in a prayer. The new history began for potentially 534 residents on Sunday afternoon in July 1940. Those residents realized that their lives were changed forever. The rent for these apartments ranges from a low of $10 to a high of $50 a month, at the beginning every resident paid some rent in almost every adult work. Housing was sold clinical in Tampa that when residents received better jobs or when their siblings went to college and we turned usually the families were moved out the philosophy was give other low-income people a chance to move in because residents with better jobs could afford housing outside the project which were designed for lower i