Lots of Questions on Sumter (shopping center, move, Lowes)

[danheit]

Hey guys, I found a home that I really like (on line) at 106 Anne Park. Can anyone give me any insight on this area? Is it decent? Would you leave your family home all alone there?

[Ceezer]

Eh.... I can think of (many) areas I'd prefer.

[danheit]

Well, I got a chance to go up and look around Sumter some more at homes and areas. As far as Crosswell goes....ummmm...it's kind of a dump. The home that we really loved on line didn't even get entered once we drove through the neighborhood. We did, however, find a nice place off Alice Drive and Baldwin/Lenoire. Old home in good shape with a fantastic yard and a garage. Couldn't ask for anything more. Waiting to hear back from the owners as to whether or not it will work out for us with the offer we are going to make. Aside from that, the homes off Alice Dr. and the Swan lake section are the only areas around town that I felt comfortable living in. We found some beautiful homes down town in Sumter in the historic section, but the neighbors left much to be desired. However, either way, I am moving to Sumter May 1st. Gonna be back up tomorrow (Monday) to go back to the doctor to show them the results of my TB test for my physical.

[sumter native]

The downtown are of sumter is very restricted on what you can or cant do on YOUR home, even some of the neighbors will make a fuss if you paint it a color they dont like,
In the county the only thing by law that you can do and this comes from steve down at the building ppermit office is paint wall paper and carpet ither than that you have to go thru the county building permits or the zoning commission or covenances on property in the sub divisions,
I live out on Pinewood Road and we have 3 crack houses within one mile of 2 sherriffs deputies so I dont think any of the neighbors would much mind ya living out here lol,
we do have one deputy that he whole neighborhood would like to see gone but hes a real jerk and abuses his badge regularly,
up to and including making a one man road block on a dead end street while he was off duty giving people a hard time about going 32 in a 30mph zone..
WE couldnt find an attorney to sue the county here but everyone of them I talked to said we had a good case(he stopped at least a dozen people that nite lol
He gave me a fit one day about that and said I should pay more attention to the street signs lol
I bought them signs lol and the dot put them up along with the crime watch signs ha well a Senator bought one too lol

[danheit]

Sorry to hear about that. While I don't condone him taking it upon himself to set up a one man task force, I do understand the frustrations with speeding. I have little kids and people tend to come flying around blind corners. I'm always afraid there will be that one time a ball goes into the street.....
Aside from that, I am really wanting to stay within the city limits, as there are added perks for me to do so with being Sumter CITY PD. For instance, if I live outside city limits, no police car to take home. Then it wouldn't do anybody much good! However, this home that we found off Alice Dr. seems to be the ticket if we can work everything out. I am just hoping that they will be willing to work around my timelines. We shall see though! I am known to be a pretty tough negotiator.

[Woodlands]

Originally Posted by danheit

Well, I got a chance to go up and look around Sumter some more at homes and areas. As far as Crosswell goes....ummmm...it's kind of a dump. The home that we really loved on line didn't even get entered once we drove through the neighborhood. We did, however, find a nice place off Alice Drive and Baldwin/Lenoire. Old home in good shape with a fantastic yard and a garage. Couldn't ask for anything more. Waiting to hear back from the owners as to whether or not it will work out for us with the offer we are going to make. Aside from that, the homes off Alice Dr. and the Swan lake section are the only areas around town that I felt comfortable living in. We found some beautiful homes down town in Sumter in the historic section, but the neighbors left much to be desired. However, either way, I am moving to Sumter May 1st. Gonna be back up tomorrow (Monday) to go back to the doctor to show them the results of my TB test for my physical.

Glad you were able to find a place and hope things continue to work out....Your observation of Crosswell is an interesting one that may no doubt be shared by many... City officials have been working feverishly to hault the blighting influences in Crosswell. The area's housing stock is very similiar to that of certain areas "off Alice Drive" but other factors such as schools, crime, proximity to shopping, etc certainly (as you have indicated) tip the scales in more favor of the Alice Drive neighborhoods. Many longtime homeowners in Crosswell may find it difficult now to sell their homes.. and thus the majority may become rentals or purchased by investors who convert them into rentals.. That, in and of itself, is not necessarily bad.. but the caliber of the tenant becomes paramount if the neighborhood is to survive. The fear for Crosswell has been if it fails to attract or retain many working families and its housing stock becomes a hodge podge of rental housing that is not properly maintained.. it could become blighted. If you had to draw a map of the City Sumter and highlight it to feature neighborhoods that meet the HUD criteria for blight.. the map could take on the shape a semi circle that covers areas to the north, east, south/southwest of downtown... with some of the exceptions being bound by Broad Street on the north and liberty on the south..until you reach Lafayette Blvd/Guiginard Drive. West of these streets then the City begin to fail to meet the HUD criteria...for blight.

Good Luck

[painterdude]

Danheit...congrats on the move and hopefully the buy. I'll be in town to close on my house on the 30th. Gonna bring in the mower and some boxes along with the cycle. Plan on making a few small moves and then get a uhaul for the big stuff. Anyone have any connections with big young guys who'd like a few hours work?? I'm thinking of going to the furniture stores and talking to the delivery guys..that's what i'll be doing on this end. Getting near to 60 and with an iffy back I can't do it my self but I'll be damned if I'm gonna pay the 4 grand Atlas Van lines wants. I have a few more moving co's. coming within the next few weeks. Lets see if anyone else is more realistic. pd

[danheit]

PD, if you need a hand, and I'm in town, I will be more than happy to help. Just let me know.

[painterdude]

danheit...thanks for the offer and i might be in contact. Perhaps you and some of your PD classmates might want to split a hundred/hundred fifty bucks for unloading. I have some heavy stuff that the near 60 year old can't carry anymore. I'll be in touch. Meanwhile I'll keep you all posted on the part time moves. pd

[painterdude]

Well, I made my second short move this weekend...cuts some limbs, moved the grass etc.etc. Painted a few rooms and tried some chinese food spots. Had some good breakfast and lunch from the IGA and the Piggly Wiggly down off McCrays Mill and found the local ABC stores. All in all a good weekend. Got the refrig from Lowes and some other stuff as well. Hoping for a move in mid June...have some truck loaders on this end, but still looking for some to unload. Anyone have any big young guys , let me know. btw, froze my ass off this morning...48 degrees and rain...and me with no heat in my van......guess I gotta get it fixed now that I'm leaving florida. pd