Hampton Cove vs Madison (Birmingham, Huntsville: low income, 2009, transfer to)

[deesonic]

My dad lives in Owens Crossroads (true OCR, not Hampton Cove). I live in West Huntsville maybe 5 minutes from HHS and it never takes me more than about 25 minutes to get back from his house to mine. I drive all day every day for a living in sales as well. In less than 40 minutes I can make it from New Hope to Hazel Green going through Huntsville.

Anyway, I would not argue that it's a much further (and dangerous) drive to HHS from Hampton Cove than it is from most parts of Madison to BJHS. Clearly it is. I think it's just a matter of time until Huntsville builds a new high school in Hampton Cove. As much as I hate to see my alma mater (Butler) closed, it may make sense for the city to close it and redo the district among HHS, Johnson, and Columbia. Then build a new school for the fast growing areas east of the mountain.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by deesonic

it may make sense for the city to close it and redo the district among HHS, Johnson, and Columbia. Then build a new school for the fast growing areas east of the mountain.

My understanding is the city's hands are tied by the desegregation order. Putting a high school in the Big Cove/Hampton Cove area would/may/might have an effect on the racial balance in high schools (I really don't know the details).

One theory I have heard which supports a new high school in the Big Cove area is for the city to acquire additional land south of Big Cove, specifically south including communities such as Berkley. The idea is that if people in Berkley for example were part of the student body of a "Big Cove High School" then there would be a "correct" ethnic balance.

berkley, al - Google Maps


I think kids are bussed into Hampton Cove Middle School (again, not sure). The busing of these kids may have something do to with "balancing" the ethnic make up of Hampton Cove Middle School.

Finally, back to the desegregation order, my other understanding is Huntsville has not pursued the lifting of this order even though other communities have successfully fought it and won. I heard it was expensive. Maybe Huntsville would rather continue doing things they way it has, rather than spend the money to fight the order.

[ionlife]

All this makes me glad about the HS decision we made... and we are really lucky here in Madison... school is super close and accessible. As is dance class, voice class, and theater.

Pros for me....

Trust me... if you have a kid who is uber involved in HS... well... proximity makes it a lot easier.

[tammie2]

My understanding of the desegregation order being lifted is somewhat limited, but via research in an attempt to understand what was going on, we NEVER had anything like this up north.

The paperwork to lift the order was submitted many years ago to the justice dept. with no decision in sight. My understanding is that part of the problem is the process is slow, the other part is the lack of motivation on the part of the superintendent and school board....don't know.

As for HC vs Madison, we choose HC out of process of elimination. Before we moved, I just knew I wanted to be in Madison. After my first visit, the traffic and feeling of crowdedness got to me. I was also concerned with the constant rezoning of the elementary schools.

We looked all over, hazel green, new market, meridianville, etc. I was not satisfied that the schools were "move in ready," they were improving, but I personally didn't think they were where they will be in 5-10 years when they settle into their new population...population explosions are heck on infrastructure.

Decatur was a serious contender, but in all honesty my biggest concern there was how my son would fit in being multi racial. It didn't seem like that would go too well.

Chris didn't like the commute to Redstone from Athens and felt that it was only going to get worse.

I really liked five points, but we were again concerned with schools.

That left Jones Valley and HC. We were trying to stay under $300 with a max of $350. In HC I was able to be under budget, in Jones Valley, we would have gone over budget to get what I wanted.

I also think it is a very personal decision that comes down to personal preference. What attracted or detracted us may have the opposite effect on someone else.

So here we are. So far we are very happy here. My kids left the house at 1 this afternoon and only came back to check in until 6 when I insisted it was time to come in...so they are happy too.

My question for those of, you that crave newness...where do you go in 10 years when all of the new is old? Do you move further out? Gurley, OCR? Buy a teardown and rebuild? Something I always wondered.

[ionlife]

For me it wasn't craving newness. I have always had a new build. We tend to move about every 9 years, so I figure that is not an issue. If we don't move for relo/retirement purposes, we'll just stay here till they cart us out in boxes.

[Mawoods]

Some thoughts on that commute for teenagers. It is I guess just what you are use to. Our daughter drove or was driven to HS in north Atlanta and even though it wasn't that far (less than 5 miles) it took a good 30-40 minutes because of traffic (welcome to Atlanta). It was a hassle but also a way of life there. We didn't think anything about it and those roads were dangerous.
Also, in the beautiful older neighborhoods such as Decatur, Morningside or even older Dunwoody and Buckhead, they tear down or gut and make BIG those older homes and put new in. It will happen here too - just a matter of time. And it is done because those locations are PRIME (inside the Perimeter) and worth it for convenience. We live just down the road from HC and technically a Gurley address but it just doesn't seem far out to us. Maybe because we came from Atlanta. Takes me 20 minutes to go over the mountain and past HH and on to Parkway Mall. I get to Jones Valley Target in 15. If I go straight out 72 W it takes me 30 minutes back to church in Madison (HUGHES). So time wise it is a breeze for us. My husband just wanted to be no further than 30 minutes from work and this is just right for us. Just what you are coming from and use to I guess!

[rnc76]

Originally Posted by Mawoods

Also, in the beautiful older neighborhoods such as Decatur, Morningside or even older Dunwoody and Buckhead, they tear down or gut and make BIG those older homes and put new in. It will happen here too - just a matter of time.

It's already happening in Blossomwood. They are constantly tearing down a house beyond repair or moving a house and building another or completely gutting and expanding an old ranch to the point that it is unrecognizable. They've been doing it for the 4 years that I've lived here and it really hasn't seemed to slow down, even with the economic downturn.

[clamoore]

Originally Posted by rnc76

They've been doing it for the 4 years that I've lived here and it really hasn't seemed to slow down, even with the economic downturn.

This activity just seems completely insane to me. Those couples are going to be in mondo debt for a long time. I have always wondered where the money/credit is coming from to buy a lot for $250K, move off the existing house and build another $300K home on it?

[friday13]

Originally Posted by clamoore

This activity just seems completely insane to me. Those couples are going to be in mondo debt for a long time. I have always wondered where the money/credit is coming from to buy a lot for $250K, move off the existing house and build another $300K home on it?

Weeds .........watch it sometimes

[rnc76]

Originally Posted by clamoore

This activity just seems completely insane to me. Those couples are going to be in mondo debt for a long time. I have always wondered where the money/credit is coming from to buy a lot for $250K, move off the existing house and build another $300K home on it?

I hear you. Some of the expansions and renovations pay off and I really like it when they keep with the style of the neighborhood. But the moving a house and building another seems crazy. Plus, the houses they build when they do this are so absurdly large and out of character that they don't fit into the neighborhood at all. The houses that they've built back in Blossomwood are WAY more than $300K. Typically they will move a 2000sqft ranch off the lot and build a 5000sqft McMansion with all the trim on a 1/4 acre lot. A couple examples are one at the corner of Hermitage and Lexington. Another is on Locust, close to Owens. There are many more examples, but these are two of the worst close to me.