Pace, FL yay or nay?

[leavingdabronx]

Thank you to everyone that took the time to reply. I will be down to check out Pace and surrounding areas in a month, two days after Christmas to be exact.

[hounddogdm]

I live in Pensacola Florida and grew up in the panhandle area. A more realistic commute time from Pace to West Florida Hospital is approximately 30 to 45 minutes, depending on traffic. No its not like the bronx, but considering there is only one highway into town, hwy.90, this makes it very busy, depending on the time of day you travel. You can go through Milton and get on the Interstate 10, but that is about 10 to 15 minutes from Pace. You might be able to make it in 20 minutes if you constantly speed, which many people do, yet I do not recommend. I am not a follower, except for the law. I use to work in Pace, a nice community. There again just the one main Hwy.90. Many people have moved here from Michigan and other northern states and many complain about it being to crowded for a small area. Thankfully Pensacola is near by, and there again if you go the speed limit it will take you longer than what you were initially told. I live 14 miles from the beach and it takes me 45 minutes to get to the beach, that's when I'm not stuck in traffic. Enjoy your travels, and maybe come visit first and see for yourself, only you can decide whats the right place for you. Take care Hounddogdm@cox.net

[MrTudo]

Excellent information hounddogdm ! And a good idea about coming down to check it out.

[chocolateandmusic]

Hey! I love Pace!! I think you'll like it to because I was in the same situation.I actually lived like 5 blocks away from Sacred heart Hospital in Pensacola(Which is not a bad town/city eaither!! I think it only has like 50,000 people but not sure!!) Anyways I was in Pace a Lot because my sister lived over there. It is a very small town and it is SORT OF rural. But I Like it because even though it is small, Close knit community, there are good place to eat and fun stuff to do. THey have the avalon bowling alley and Oops alley also. They have an awesome buffet called Ryan's, Wal mart, Good barbeque places, blockbusters, all the fast food places, Practically everything you need. The community is very good. The people are like super nice, There is a little bit of diversity (Some white people, Some black people, Some Hispanics(The hispanics are mostly Mexican), and it is full of good people. A lot of things die down early on Saturday Night because people go to sleep earlier that day to go to church the next (Probably like 95% of the population go to church on Sunday! NO KIdding!) I went to Family Christian Center? I think that's what it's called. It's a really nice place and the people are very nice and willing to start a conversation even if you are a newcomer. There are a lot of trees and it feels very Country! Especially at night since there is not too many lights at all...But you don't have to worry because the crime rate is really low.

They have good schools and PJC, and the UWF are good colleges and universities very close by. Another thing I loved about it here is that you can easily drive to so many states! WE used to take shopping trips to the mall in Foley, AL (It was like 45 minutes to get there) (As long as you don't drive like a turtle trust me most of the road once you hit Alabama is very solitary!) You can go to New Orleans in Like 5 and a half hours, Baton Rouge, The Casinos at Biloxi, MS, Plusr Georiga, and a bunch of other place in Florida obviously. It's like 6 hours to Disney World. As far as the commute, I can tell you living a couple blocks from the hospital, that to get to Pace and Visit my Sister, it was a pretty long drive...Probably about 30 minutes. IF you drive fast (75 mph) You can do it in 20. I THINK(not positive) that there is a shortcut bridge, but you have to pay a toll (WHich I assume you would pay in Gasoline anyway by taking the long cut, so why not?!) WEll I hope this helped! Definitiely move there!!!

[me3tv]

Wish I had my two cents here before the trip. First note I am a native but have been living in NJ for 25 years and away from Pace for 35. But roots still there... family ... pioneer stock. We plan to return in two years. My dad was born in Pace in 1920 ... my Grandfather was a millwright for the John C. Pace lumber company there. Long gone .. the tree land became pulpwood land and the land ownership went to St. Regis - to Champion - to Int. Paper. Now a lot of NW FL land is moving from the paper companies to development. Pace is feeling some of that growth .. as is much of NW Fla. (see history - Mod deleted. Actually, my roots are Chumuckla ..even more country than Pace.

Was not surprised to read one entry from S. Fla writer who had no idea where Pace is. OH well. A number of communities around Pace seem to be ideal for your type of professional -- Moors (actually Milton - but an easy trip to P'Cola by 10 and south over new bridge to the beaches. Other nice developments are Hammersmith and Stone Brook. These are all off the water enough that no serious hurricane damage is likely ever. Lots of small horse farms dot the area. Pace is good but maybe a bit crowded around the hwy 90 shopping strip beween pace and milton.

If you have a need for some city feel - there are some outstanding homes newly built in the lower end of Pensacola proper and you could be in a town life situation that is nicely high end and still close to the WF Hospital.

Our own return plan will likely involve old family property on Mulat Bayou on Garcon Point - not far from The Moors development. Some of the lower elevations in that area got whacked by Ivan's 30 ft. surge up the bay. That one was a really rare and odd occurance - it hit "just right" on the bay.

I hope to hear how you fared in your look at the area. Pace - Milton - lots of good choices. Pensacola has some great areas too.. among the growth areas is Cantonement. The whole area is "home" to me and I appreciate the people and the heritage and the land. It might just grow on you - coming from the "city". And it seems to me (in NW NJ) that it is easier to fly into NYC from Pensacola than it is to drive in from the Jersey burbs. Well, almost. I mean -- if you just HAVE to see a broadway show.

I use zillow and google earth to scope out places around there as we plan our escape from the high cost NE. I suggest you use those sites liberally.

[swwhitte]

I have lived in Texas, California, and Arkansas, and now I am moving to Pace, FL. If you like living near the beach and near the country, Pace is a good place to be. Home prices are very reasonable. Taxes are on the high side but not as high as California. Weather will be a big factor if you are not used to heat and humidity. Every place has it's trade offs. That's why swimming pools are very popular here. My family is excited about our move to Pace, FL.

[pug_lover]

If your goal is to live in an ultra conservative, southern style small town then Pace is the place for you. It is a very small town with very little there. It's really just a place to drive through on your way to Pensacola. The commute from Pace to West Florida Hospital is a piece of cake. It might take you about 15 minutes.

Everyone has their opinion, but maybe whoever said this should come visit. In the last few months Pace has exploded. There is a new Petsmart, Publix (the best grocery store in the U.S. with a fantastic selection and huge organic section...great deli to including fresh cannolis, etc. that they'll make to order), SuperWalmart, Chilis, Applebees, antique stores, two Starbucks within blocks of my house, Supertarget, many restaraunts some of them very new, the best school district in the area, some of the nicest people you'll ever meet, and more businesses being built every day.

I know the big city, and depending on your thing, Pace is a preppy suburb of Pensacola. It is no longer just a place you drive through on your way to Milton. People are buidling and buying houses out here.

You're right about the lack of apartment complexes, but I lived in Pensacola for years, and I wouldn't live there if someone paid me. The drivers there are insane, people are rude and much less sociable, and the crime is starting to show up on the news a lot lately.

You're close to the big city if you want to drive across the bay to Mobile, AL. Many people I work with go to Mobile, Biloxi (Mississippi), or New Orleans on the weekend. My husband and I didn't even have to drive a full day to go to Atlanta. I know people who go up there on the weekend to do their Christmas shopping.

You need to know that the reason that people complain about the cost of living here is because in comparison with the amount of money most people make here, the cost of living is ridiculous. You have people who, working the average job around here, making maybe $8.50 an hour, but trying to pay $800 in rent for a 1BR apartment (if you want one in an area--again in Pensacola -- that is decent and not in a crappy neighborhood) $1300 before taxes are taken out isn't much. If you want to do much of anything, or are trying to make a car payment, you're pretty much screwed.

Pensacola is undergoing a rejuvenation. Enough people moved to Pace or left the area that I think they finally got the message...Pensacola post Ivan looked like crap, was full of buildings that weren't safe, even in the middle of town, and wasn't keeping up with modern times. There are many new medical buidlings, and they have been steadily working at cleaning certain neighborhoods up, much to the delight of the people who have homes there...bless their hearts.

There is a place on Cervantes that serves pizza that rivals places in New York, and some privately owned places that could compete anywhere...including one owned and operated by a great chef. One of the restaraunts always ends up in the travel magazines, and deserves to. Here in Pace there is a great sushi restaraunt/hibachi bar called Okki Japanese Steakhouse. Everyone I know who likes sushi swears by them. The Red Barn BBQ is the best you'll get in the area, and this sandwich place called The Sandwich Mill makes some of the best healthy sandwiches I've ever had (makes his own recipe of French mustard which is wonderful).

Best thing you can do is come visit, walk through a few businesses and drive through a few neighborhoods. If you know what routes to take, you can get to Pensacola very quickly without speeding, and bypass traffic. If you're from the city, even rush hour on Highway 90 from Pensacola to Pace is absolutly nothing...