Village of Providence (Huntsville, Black, Five Points: crime rate, house, neighborhoods)

[zenjenn]

So, what's the deal with this place? My parents were in town for Thanksgiving and wanted to see it. It seemed a pale shade of what is advertised. Very few stores in the "village" and what was there was practically a ghost town - and this was on Black Friday. My parents walked the streets and picked some home fliers and the home prices are astronomical. I mean I guess the place has some potential but that's a lot of money to put down on a house based on "potential". If the village itself flops the location is not that good. I guess maybe it has value for people who work in CRP? Or something? I don't get it. I can't see how the stores and restaurants there are staying in business currently if it was that empty on Friday.

[Elizabeth_G]

zenjenn, I think Village of Providence is more of a lifestyle. The restaurants are usually quite busy, but agree, the shopping is less than "wonderful". I've eaten at most of the restaurants and they are quite good. Just ate at Grill 29 last week. It was delicious! When the Village of Providence first opened, I didn't like the area at all, but the more I show property there, the more I begin to really enjoy it. Agreed, prices are high...but again, you are paying for a lifestyle.

[Southlander]

I have some inlaws who built there...I agree with isellhuntsville. They were looking for a community with a built-in organizing board for socials and to meet neighbors, since they are a bit older and were coming in (from a large town in another state) with no friends, few family and no co-workers (they're retired). They first chose a golf community, but their building plans never meshed. They seem to be quite happy in Providence.
I like the concept, and like a lot about the house plans, but can't (or won't) go the prices!

[zenjenn]

Honestly that "lifestyle" is exactly what my parents were looking for. That's why they wanted to see it. They are considering eventually getting a seasonal home to spend part time in Huntsville to be close to us, and liked the idea of the lifestyle as advertised. Yet when they saw it in person, they didn't see that lifestyle really actualized there.. at least not yet. I see they are still building storefronts though.

[clamoore]

zenjenn, take a look at Five Points/Old Towne. The lifestyle has been reality there for a while. You can cut out the middleman and save from paying the markup on "walkability" and "community". You can easily walk to restaurants and downtown. You have good neighbors to form friendships with.

[hsvkr]

Place. Me and my family have lived there for over three years now. We wouldn't want to be any other place. Working in Research Park we LOVE the convenience. I can go home during lunch and spend time with my wife and kids. Our neighbors are wonderful. We have MANY planned and organized functions as a community (Easter bunny comes around Easter for the kids, Porches and Pumpkins during Halloween, Santa meeting the kids around Christmas, Movies at the park for the kids during summer, Pool parties during summer, just to name a few) The "stores" down by the fountain are GREAT. We love to walk down and get something to eat and listen to live music by the fountain.

I could go on and on and on....but I believe that you get the idea. If you have the chance to visit again we would love to have you.....

[Southeastern]

Originally Posted by zenjenn

If the village itself flops the location is not that good. I guess maybe it has value for people who work in CRP? Or something? I don't get it.

To what other neighborhoods around Huntsville does the Village of Providence pale in comparison ?

[zenjenn]

Any neighborhood where the homes have yards, where the crime rate is lower, where it's not in spitting distance of the eyesore known as University Drive.

Again if the "village" area is sustainable and grows, I get it. What I saw on Friday didn't inspire a lot of confidence in the area. It's just a snap judgment I admit, but I don't think the area looked anything like how it is portrayed on the web site. For example, they frame a couple store fronts to convey the idea of the cute "village", and the implication is there is a whole little district that looks like this, when really it's just 1 small block (and again I could probably count the number of patrons I saw on one hand). You see cute homes, and then you get there and you see the cute homes closest to the village have a view of nothing more than the parking lot and ugly backside of the 1 block "village". For that kind of money I wouldn't want a front porch view of asphalt and SUVs.

Then again I went to Bridge Street last year and it looked vacant and unsustainable to me too, but when I was there Friday the place appeared healthy.

[HB2HSV]

My wife is a city-girl, as such she likes the idea of "master-planned community" such as the Village. It makes her feel safe. It resembles a bit like Irvine, CA. I think if it had a Starbucks and a good bagel shop might've convinced her to buy there.

Overall, I like the concept. But I'd want bigger parking drive way, garages, plus a bit more privacy of my backyard. I guess I am more of a suburbanite. As such, paying upward of $600K for small yard/ house here in Huntsville just doesn't make sense to me. Actually I wouldn't mind living with 20+ acres at all out in the country, but keep the wife happy is important so we settle for the suburbs.

[hsvkr]

give it a chance you might just enjoy it on your second time....