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Please know how grateful I am for your replys! After countless hours (last night esp.), I am not sure that Madison is the best fit for us I'm not thrilled with the lack of planning, seems residential and commercial get tangeled up A LOT. And I read many posts last night on zoning being changed to commercial against residents' wishes. Also read all the MANY posts about nightmares with Builders/Developers and HOA. I would be sick to know that we put out that kind of money and such a major issue happened!
I am also worried that our realtor maybe should have warned us of some of these happenings. She was super nice, but I think she should have mentioned some of these concerns that others have had. I don't want to rule Madison out completely, but I might look into Athens city a little more. The scores on various websites seem very good. And, I worry that my kids will get "lost" in such a massive school like Bob Jones. Does anyone who lives in Athens want to fill me in on drivetimes to shopping, activities, and the schools?!? Thanks for the info, it is a huge help!!
Athens is going to be about 15-20 minutes from Madison (depending on where you are at in Athens, I am referring to the eastern portion where Canebrake is), 25-30 to HSV, about 20 to the Arsenal (there are multiple backroads that you can take to get to 565, or you can take 65 straight down to 565). Brookhill is on the other side of 65, off Hwy 31, so you are looking at maybe 10 minutes from Canebrake (just referencing that neighborhood since you had mentioned it). Athens High is north of 72 off 31, so about 10-15 minutes, and Athens Middle is at Clinton and Forrest, which is around the downtown area and will be the longest commute to school (about 15 minutes).
Athens High is much smaller than Bob Jones for sure...we have a friend whose daughter is graduating next week from AHS, and there are under 300 in her graduating class. Bob Jones is over twice that I think (I think their graduation numbers are above 700?)
Remember, in 2012 the new Madison high school will be open for business, and all four grades will more than likely be at the high school campuses, and the middle schools will go back to 7th and 8th grades.
If you want Madison but want to stay out of contentious HOA's, I would stick with Heritage Plantation, Heritage Provence, Edgewater, Mountain Brook, Chapel Hill, Walden, Highland Lakes. Heritage Plantation has one of the strongest and most financially secure HOAs in Madison County. It has been completely turned over from the developer and was literally bankrupt when the residents got it. Lots of hard work and they are solid, great HOA, but very strict.
Please know how grateful I am for your replys! After countless hours (last night esp.), I am not sure that Madison is the best fit for us I'm not thrilled with the lack of planning, seems residential and commercial get tangeled up A LOT. And I read many posts last night on zoning being changed to commercial against residents' wishes. Also read all the MANY posts about nightmares with Builders/Developers and HOA. I would be sick to know that we put out that kind of money and such a major issue happened!
I am also worried that our realtor maybe should have warned us of some of these happenings. She was super nice, but I think she should have mentioned some of these concerns that others have had. I don't want to rule Madison out completely, but I might look into Athens city a little more. The scores on various websites seem very good. And, I worry that my kids will get "lost" in such a massive school like Bob Jones. Does anyone who lives in Athens want to fill me in on drivetimes to shopping, activities, and the schools?!? Thanks for the info, it is a huge help!!
As long as you buy in a completed subdivision, these shouldn't be issues. For example, we own our HOA at Walden. No one can ever make us do anything we don't agree as a group to do. These larger subdivisions with many lots sitting is where your risk can lie.
Zoning can be changed in any city at anytime if they get the votes, so I wouldn't let that sway you either way. I've seen it in Nashville, St. Louis, etc. That's the local government at work, in many cities
Madison is building another high school...right off of County Line Road. My daughter loves Bob Jones and is involved with the Band. If they are involved in any extra curricular activities they will just fine I think. I understand your concerns though....I had the same concerns when we moved here. Very stressful when it affects our kids, isn't it?
Not much major shopping in Athens, other than Walmart and Kmart, lol. Loads of great little shops in the downtown area. My Mom just relocated here to be near me and her condo is right off of Lindsay Lane and Hwy. 72. It takes me 9 minutes from my home to hers (I'm at County Line and Brownsferry in Walden)...and takes me less than 20 minutes from Village of Providence to her home (unless there is a wreck during rush hour, then it is a snails pace).
I love the Hampton Cove area, but another poster said it would be ~50 min for my husband's commute to Browns Ferry! If it wasn't so far, that area would be my 1st pick!
Oh, goodness yes...if he will be working at Brown's Ferry, then that would be quite the haul every morning!
I have a client who works at Brown's Ferry, they live in Canebrake and love it! They moved from Edgewater in Madison a couple of years ago.
There was a previous poster on here in regards to Walden Preserve, and I honestly still do not understand the adversity in that neighborhood. I know the operations manager for that builder, and he said that they HOA was fully turned over to the residents two years ago. I also have two friends who live in there, and both have said that they love it, no problems at all, and the HOA was doing well. They are in an uproar about the rezoning of Gillespe and Balch Road, where they are planning to put a gas station. I cannot blame them, but it was not too many years ago that the Heritage Provence residents were absolutely up in arms about the Publix being built, but now many really enjoy having it so convenient (also, that Publix is curfewed, so no late night deliveries to disturb the homeowners).
And in Madison, don't overlook some of the smaller, more established neighborhoods, like Gatehouse, Wellington, Woodfield, Woodland Hills or West Highlands. There is a great house in Gatehouse right now, and the location is great. There is also a very nice house in Taylor's Crossing, but the location is not so great there, it has been a hard sell the past few years, adjoining Hardiman Place (which is completely stagnant). Most of my buyers like the houses, but hate the neighborhood, and those houses usually sell much cheaper than in other parts of Madison. That is one of the few Madison neighborhoods that has seen a significant decline over the past 5-6 years in property values.
Sorry, Charley, didn't mean to set off your spamometer
Just trying to offer help when it was asked and certainly didn't intend to open a can of stinky spam. I hate spam as much as the next person, and quite honestly didn't know I was committing such an error. Forgive my ignorance, and thanks for setting me straight.
As a retired contractor, I know the value of referrals, so that's all I was trying to do. Mr. A. had/has no clue I even mentioned him.
I also know how difficult it is to find things out when you don't know anyone from the area. Best of luck to all y'all moving to the South. Most of the people here are great!
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More unsure now than ever!
I'm not thrilled with the lack of planning, seems residential and commercial get tangeled up A LOT. And I read many posts last night on zoning being changed to commercial against residents' wishes. Also read all the MANY posts about nightmares with Builders/Developers and HOA. I would be sick to know that we put out that kind of money and such a major issue happened!
