OLDSMAR, Fla. — You'd never know it based on the amount of traffic that flows through Oldsmar on a daily basis, but the population that lives here is only about 15,000 people — and many of those folks are families that have been here for generations.
But that is about to change due to the growth that the city is undergoing.
Wanna know more about it? Simply step into Eve’s Family Restaurant in Oldsmar. It’s like stepping back in time.
For generations, neighbors have stopped here for the taste of home cooking and the sound of familiar voices, often reminiscing about what Oldsmar once was and what it is rapidly becoming.
“The best part is the progress, naturally. Progress is always good,” said regular customer Joan Leckie. “I’m just, I feel sorry for the kids growing up because they’re never going to know what it was like to see an orange grove or see horses or cattle in the pasture.”
Another long-time resident, Gary Ware, says: “I would like to see Oldsmar mature a little more. But it’s all they can handle now with all this growth.”
In the past 20 years, Oldsmar's population has only grown by about 20%. But you wouldn't know it based on its commercial growth: brand-new restaurants, hotels and strip centers are popping up everywhere.
Wider roads, too. But somehow, more traffic.
“It has exploded,” Oldsmar Mayor Dan Saracki said. He credits Oldsmar's expansion to the old real estate adage — location, location, location.
It’s a short drive to downtown culture on both sides of the bay, sporting events and area beaches.
“You can get to St. Pete airport, or you can get to Tampa airport. You can get to the Rays game. You can go to the Bucs game. You can go to a hockey game,” Saracki said. “Everything is - we are a centrally located, unique area.”
Chris Falso, whose grandmother, Eve, started the landmark diner decades ago says it’s bound to happen.
“You can't ignore something that's a smack dab in the middle of everything. You know? It's in your face. It's always there. It always will be there,” Falso said. “And when people start to realize what the city has to offer, you'll start seeing the growth even more.”
Nearly 50 years ago, Oldsmar had the foresight to build its own water and sewage plants, but they're not massive. And those resources could be strained if the city grows too quickly.
Saracki says it's up to the city council, working closely with the city manager, to make sure that development plans here are not only managed, but sustainable.
The challenge, say those who value the city’s small-town charm, is managing Oldsmar’s growth.
They'd love to transform the sleepy downtown area into something more like nearby Dunedin. But grow too fast and it could strain the city's water system and schools.
“We only have two elementary schools here in Oldsmar, and they are very, very popular,” said Saracki said. “But I think that could be a problem if we continue to grow with apartments and more townhomes. It could be an issue.”
The boom is clearly underway.
In the next year, dozens of townhomes will rise in downtown Oldsmar, and there's talk about the historic flea market undergoing a massive redevelopment.
Longtime residents — nostalgic for the city's days of two-lane roads and acres of orange groves — say they know times are changing. They just hope Oldsmar can maintain some of its old-time charm.
“We are aggressively looking for a developer right now to build us a quaint nice downtown where people can gather and have another public park or maybe even live concerts,” Saracki said. “But we are focused to ensure the success for future generations of Oldsmar.”
Leckie adds: “It brings tears to my eyes because it’s so beautiful. I really enjoy it. I still enjoy it here.”