St James Plantation (Southport, St. James: modular homes, subdivision, live in)

[PaulieM]

Originally Posted by NCGT

I'll disagree a bit with this. Yes St. James is a nice community but 99% of the people who live outside the subdivision don't care about it and aren't jeolous of it. There are dozens of communities in a 30 mile radius that are as nice and in some cases far superior to St. James Plantation. Most of the hostility stems from what outside area residents see as arrogance and a power grab with the subdivision incorporating into a town and threatening to annex surrounding areas. I don't live in the area so I'm just an outside observer but it seems obvious to me that the surounding communities are not only NOT jeolous but are trying hard NOT to become part of the town of St. James.

NCGT, you nailed it.

[dreamstar72]

Then it pissed me off, what give U the right to say just because I moved to Wilmington from NY Im rich! I moved here mainly because my daughter needed help. As for us rich land owners in NY the joke is on jerks like you. I owned a 1 acre lot, plus it had a stream out back, 1400 sq ft house (all redone inside and out, mid size barn in a nice location(small town) and I got the huge sum of 91,000 yes ninety one thousand dollars. My daughter who lives in wilmington paid 156,000 for a 900 sq ft house, that needed lots of work, and 0.14 acre lot, yes point fourteen. So saying just because Im from NY Im rich well Im not. I moved because of my daughter, I hate golf, snobs, LOVE WALMART, but most of all I hate jerks like you that assume something is true.

Originally Posted by Missanna

I get so frustrated with wealthy people moving to our area and looking down on those of us who grew up here. I would say someone is snobby if they don't like shopping at WalMart with folks who live in trailers...which happen to be just about the only affordable housing for those of us who didn't sell a house in yankee-land and move to the South, drive up land prices, and steal the land that has been in families for generations due to the increase in taxes.
Brunswick County is beautiful but very rural. Expect to drive at least 45 minutes to Wilmington or Myrtle Beach, SC, to do much shopping, at least for the time being. St. James has plopped itself down on the outskirts of a small beach community and declared itself a town, and it is trying to determine the fate of those outside it's gates without giving them a vote. I personally wouldn't want to live in a gated town that wants to keep out the average joe. I work close to St. James and in the tourist season, I can't make it to the local bank (normally a 10 minute drive) during my lunch hour. Lots of overwhelming, crazy traffic. Expect to exercise a lot of patience.
I post this because there are many people who feel the way I do, but the local media and governments want to raise the tax base and put the needs of the newcomers over the needs of the locals. There is going to be a big problem in the future if something isn't done to even out the situation. Housing for folks who teach or fight fires or work at that fancy boutique is almost out of reach now.
That said, we welcome those who would move here and try to blend in, slow down, and speak with a drawl.

[CrimsonDregs]

The lies and rumors about St. James started long before the annexation issue came about. Annexation by the way was created by the NC legislature as the only way a town can grow or control its surroundings. The annexation process was created long before St. James was a town. And it was created by southerners, it's not an imported idea and it's not the way we do it up north (for once).

[NCGT]

Originally Posted by CrimsonDregs

The lies and rumors about St. James started long before the annexation issue came about. Annexation by the way was created by the NC legislature as the only way a town can grow or control its surroundings. The annexation process was created long before St. James was a town. And it was created by southerners, it's not an imported idea and it's not the way we do it up north (for once).

I don't live in that area but why exactly does St James (a single residential subdivison) need to "control it's surroundings"?

[seashellbelle]

Originally Posted by NCGT

I don't live in that area but why exactly does St James (a single residential subdivison) need to "control it's surroundings"?

I don't live in St. James either, however, I feel it is a great community with many amenities. Annexation is a way for any incorporated town to gather additional tax revenue, period. St. James is simply looking after it's best interest, and it is strictly a business coup, that they have taken advantage of. I don't condone this nor do I disagree, it is simply a matter of economics, and they jumped on board and are doing do. Oak Island has also done the same thing, Southport failed, hence those who live in Southport will bear the additional brunt of public services, unless the Town Council can tighten their belts, which, with a newly elected Mayor, I am hoping they can now see the light.
Beyond gaining additional tax revenue, those who were not annexed, were basically getting a free ride regarding public services, such as fire and police.
I am not for or against annexation, but feel costs of public services should be spread equally among all residents, the free ride is over. Unfortunately, until another more equitable avenue can be provided, annexation is the only mode to gain additional revenue.
Eminent Domain will be the worse case scenario.
NCGT, so curious, since you don't live in the area, I see you posting on this forum frequently, what is your attraction? Are you a distant property owner, or are you seeking input from those of who do live here? Many of your posts and opinions are taken straight out of the newspapers and I don't always feel that what they report is accurate.
Just curious.......

[NCGT]

I've never read a local (Southport area) newspaper so my opinions are strickly my own based on what I see happening. St James incorporated which I have no problem with (don't live there) but I was under the impression that they did so to avoid annexation themselves. I just don't understand the discussion about annexing surrounding properties. Properties surrounding St James have significantly less property value than homes inside the subdivision so they'll generate little tax revenue in comparison. Besides, St James already has public utilities, an in-house fire department and the entire subdivision is gated with 24 hour security. What else could they possibly need to fund that would require the annexation of value inferior and mostly rural neighbors, especially when the neighbors overwhelmingly seem to oppose it?

[CrimsonDregs]

There are dozens of communities in a 30 mile radius that are as nice and in some cases far superior to St. James Plantation.

Name One!

Clearly you have never been here nor have you ever visited St. James. We visited 34 different local area developments before choosing St. James, I doubt that you have such a perspective. The developer recently exceeded $100,000,000 in amenities with no end in sight, in spite of the economic downturn. But more than this is the spirit of the community.

BTW this thread precedes the annexation issue and contains many unfair attacks, lies, and ridiculous rumors about St. James, so your assertion that the animosity expressed here has to do with the annexation issue is absurd.

[quote] I don't live in that area but why exactly does St James (a single residential subdivison) need to "control it's surroundings"? [/QUOTE}

Clearly you have visited neither Southport nor Oak Island to see the rampant and sometimes absurd development that they wish they could have controlled or mitigated.

[rubber_factory]

Originally Posted by CrimsonDregs

Clearly you have visited neither Southport nor Oak Island to see the rampant and sometimes absurd development that they wish they could have controlled or mitigated.

Yeah, like St. James?

[NCGT]

[quote=CrimsonDregs;11555162]Name One!

Clearly you have never been here nor have you ever visited St. James. We visited 34 different local area developments before choosing St. James, I doubt that you have such a perspective. The developer recently exceeded $100,000,000 in amenities with no end in sight, in spite of the economic downturn. But more than this is the spirit of the community.

BTW this thread precedes the annexation issue and contains many unfair attacks, lies, and ridiculous rumors about St. James, so your assertion that the animosity expressed here has to do with the annexation issue is absurd.

I don't live in that area but why exactly does St James (a single residential subdivison) need to "control it's surroundings"? [/QUOTE}

Clearly you have visited neither Southport nor Oak Island to see the rampant and sometimes absurd development that they wish they could have controlled or mitigated.

How about I name 2. Ocean Ridge Plantation and Landfall. And yes I've been in St James Plantation quite often. I was in there yesterday doing an inspection on a vacant lot on St James Drive near the marina. I'm in and out of there a few times each month so I'd say I'm quite familiar with the subdivision.

[rubber_factory]

Originally Posted by CrimsonDregs

Name One!

Kiawah Island
Fripp Island
DeBordieu
Daniel Island
The Cliffs at Keowee
Landfall
Sea Pines
Daufuskie Island