Hampton Cove vs Madison (Huntsville, Valley: buyer, school, to live in)

[Charles]

Originally Posted by friday13

The real hoot will be when Hsv gets a Greek Pleasures, due to mergers and takeovers

Got to better than Big Bob Gibson's Pleasures....

[tammie2]

I am sorry that you are having so many problems with your C&R, I really do wish you the best with that. I thought long and hard about that, I don't believe it is a city problem, however. Nor do I think it is fair to take it out on the city. My first thought is that if it is making you miserable, why not move? I am sure there are other homes in the same district that are free of the builder.

It was important to us to move into a neighborhood with an established HOA. We had lived under a punitive HOA in Philadelphia(it didn't effect us much at the time, but I knew people that it did), and I had an aunt in IL that was faced with a builder control issue followed by special assessments every few months and fines for things like pet urine stains on her lawn when she didn't have a dog. Those stories are all over, even areas with stricter laws.

I wish you success and happiness!!!

[ionlife]

Originally Posted by Charles

Oops, I forgot about that one. I've been there.

Where? Pleasures or Papa Gyros?

[ionlife]

Originally Posted by tammie2

I thought long and hard about that, I don't believe it is a city problem, however. Nor do I think it is fair to take it out on the city.

I wish you success and happiness!!!

The CC&R problems are not just a city problem. They are a state wide problem due to non-disclosure laws in this state enabling developers of any new area in the entire state to abuse homeowners' trust (and pocketbooks).

Moving is not an option. We love our home. We love our schools.

This issue has been addressed in the media, both in the HUNTSVILLE TIMES and the NEWS STATIONS as a statewide problem.

Thanks for the well wishes. Pretty happy over here-just disgruntled by the fact that the cities and counties in this area continue to extol the benefits of moving here without also fully informing potential homeowners moving in from out of state about the realities they face.

[earthroamer21]

TRAFFIC + DISTANCE
I have lived in very large cities in the US and Europe, so the commute from Hampton Cove doesn't seem like much. It's 20 minutes from Hampton Cove to the courthouse and law offices downtown. It's 10-12 minutes to the Children's Hospital ER and 12-15 minutes to the Huntsville Hospital ER. (Madison does not have a hospital, but I doubt it takes them more than 20-30 minutes to get to either Crestview or Huntsville Hospital.)

SCHOOLS
The public schools in west Madison and Hampton Cove are very good and very similar. Go to greatschools [dot] net for details on specific schools. All the good Huntsville/Madison private schools are clustered around Research Park or Jones Valley.

AESTHETICS
Hampton Cove wins hands down!!! Madison looks a lot like a farmer plowed up his cotton and planted houses in his fields. That said, most people who live there love it. So this one is subjective - but I love the mountains surrounding Hampton Cove.

THE NAME
Hampton Cove is a planned community and an "address" (Hampton Cove, AL) but it shares a zip code with a small community south of Huntsville called Owens Cross Roads. Very confusing!!! Plus, as someone else pointed out, a lot of people live out here that are not technically in Hampton Cove. A lot of people refer to this area generically as The Cove (Big Cove + Hampton Cove + McMullen Cove + outer edges of Brownsboro/Gurley).

CONVENIENCE
Madison definitely has more restaurants and shopping than The Cove. We drive 10 minutes over the mountain (via Cecil Ashburn Drive) from Hampton Cove into Jones Valley for great shopping.

[Dirt Grinder]

Originally Posted by earthroamer21

...Madison looks a lot like a farmer plowed up his cotton and planted houses in his fields...

I live in Madison - Edgewater, which hardly looks "like a farmer plowed up his cotton". Our lake is perfect for a relaxing, scenic stroll and some quality time with my family in our canoe.

[friday13]

Originally Posted by Dirt Grinder

I live in Madison - Edgewater, which hardly looks "like a farmer plowed up his cotton". Our lake is perfect for a relaxing, scenic stroll and some quality time with my family in our canoe.

Depending on the most prevalent land feature in your area, you should replace farmer with the appropriate occupation - fisherman at Edgewater

[HB2HSV]

Is the lake at Edgewater open to the public? I drive by there everyday and just itching to throw a bait in the water.

[guxu]

I think Edgewater is Huntsville, right?

Not all Madison areas are cotton field. There are many communities around Rainbow mountain (?) in Madison.

[LCTMadison]

Half of Edgewater is in Madison City, half in Huntsville City. Confusing, right? You see agents all the time listing properties as being in Madison that are really in Huntsville. That is definately an area you want to verify what city/school zone you are in