need feedback, on relocating to jax from so. fl. (Jacksonville: custom home, transfer to)

[janda"s mommy]

my husband has been offered a transfer to jax. we are currently living in south florida in weston, if anyone knows the area. we love it here, and our entire family lives here. we are very interesdted in moving but still very concerned. i am jewish and my husband is not. we are raising our two small children in both religions. we are hoping that moving to jacksonville will not be a culture shock for any of us. we are looking for someone to help and tell us the really nice areas to live and if there are any jewish reformed preschools around. we have looked into ponte vedre beach to live. i believe there is a new town going in there (not sure of the development name). are there any suggestions?

[riveree]

Hi Janda's Mom,

I think you may be referring to Nocatee. Nocatee is actually in Palm Valley.....currently using the name Ponte Vedra......eventually to switch over to the final name destination of Nocatee .

"Proceed with caution" might be the current flavor of advice for Nocatee - search our past threads, they are numerous.

The "real" Ponte Vedra (Ponte Vedra Beach and Old Ponte Vedra) could work quite well for you as a jewish family, but the largest jewish community around NE FL is over in the San Jose/Mandarin area of Jacksonville.

Here's a resource link that might be helpful:

http://jewishjacksonville.org/

[janda"s mommy]

i stumbled across this website, thru google and did find that website that i believe you did give to someone else. thank you.
are there any new construction in the san jose/mandarin area. and i am going to search thru past posts on nocate. thanks again!

[janda"s mommy]

after reading previous poats on nocatee, it is definately out of the question. anyone know of some established communities that are still fairly new?

[riveree]

Originally Posted by janda"s mommy

i stumbled across this website, thru google and did find that website that i believe you did give to someone else. thank you.
are there any new construction in the san jose/mandarin area. and i am going to search thru past posts on nocate. thanks again!

A bit of new construction in the Mandarin area, drive along Mandarin Road (I usually start at Scott Mill Road, then make a right onto Mandarin Road, drive a bit and look for the new communities - there are only a few and they tend to be in the $400k range and up.

The bulk of Mandarin was built in the 80's, more or less, with some bits of historical landmarks sprinkled throughout. I like the Scott Mill Road area and parts of Mandarin Road, but my real preference is for the north end of Mandarin, specifically Beauclerc (look for Beauclerc Road), but there will be little priced under $400k here and it is all built up (again, lots of 80's houses, but big nice ones, and a few teardown lots with custom homes being built).

San Jose has some areas that were built in the 80's, but most of it is older and dates back to 60's, 50's, 40's, 30's and even 20's. San Jose is very nice with homes in all price ranges and less traffic issues than Mandarin (it's a little more diverse than Mandarin too). San Jose is north of Mandarin - they abut each other.

Both Mandarin and San Jose are solid, well-established, convenient areas that are always desireable, but more often than not you would end up with an older home (which can be a very good thing ). There's a nice vibe in the river neighborhoods that you just don't find everywhere else.

[riveree]

Originally Posted by janda"s mommy

after reading previous poats on nocatee, it is definately out of the question. anyone know of some established communities that are still fairly new?

For new/newer, try zips:

32246 (Southside/Intracoastal West..covers both)
32224 (Southside/Intracoastal West..covers both)
32225 (Fort Caroline, and I think this covers parts of Atlantic Beach too)
32256 (Southside)


And for the older areas:

32217 (San Jose)
32207 (San Marco)
32257 (Mandarin)

[beachkiddos]

Hi there -
Ponte Vedra Beach is definitely one of the best places to live! If you have children check out Sawmill Lakes and Odom's Mill - they are both in the $600k range, and there are kids everywhere. Also, most people in these neighborhoods are originally from "somewhere else" (PA, NJ, NY, Chicago, etc). There is a synagogue, I believe, nearby on Roscoe Road that is growing. Good luck to you!!

[manc]

I live there and you are in a culture shock, not only that I read in the local ponte vedra paper and it's on the net somewhere about a jewish family who feel are being forced out because they are jewish

you will expericnce a culture shock up here is very different to the south extremely different.

ponte vedra and palm coast has become expensive, palencia has homes for mostly NC,VA,SC, etc rich families or the ones I met are from there and I'm there every day

you might have to look futher into JAX of the city , any questions please feel free to ask.

I', actually going out on 210 and around palm coast ponte vedra right now

[5FLgirls]

Any time you move, you suffer from culture shock. I moved from Palm Beach County to Ponte Vedra Beach (and have now since moved) in 2006. The houses cost more money but I also moved to PBC before the RE boom (and moved after the "collapse"). I am raising my kids exactly as you are raising your kids too. And my whole family still lives in PBC. It was nice that they were far enough away that I got a break but still close enough to see my mom once a month and on holidays (and for her to bring me decent bagels). There are many families in the same position you are there but some families and others are not as understanding (anywhere you go, there will be people who don't understand a mixed marriage in this day and age). I actually met a girl right when I moved who hooked me up with a jewish playgroup and that was a nice experience. The temple in PVB is nice but doesn't have a preschool. if you are looking for a jewish preschool, you will have to travel out of PVB or move to Mandarin. My husband didn't like Mandarin but coming from Weston, you might. PVB is a very small closeknit town. It's great for kids. Mandarin is more spread out and busy, traffic is much heavier there too. A friend lives in Mandarin and actually drives her kids to PVB for preschool!! I do have to tell you that my husband was offered a job back in PBC and we turned it town because we didn't want to move back. We liked Jax that much. In the end, we had to move and ended up in CA.

You'll have to travel up and take a good look and decide what suits your family.

[manc]

agree ponte vedra is a very tight community, it sort of reminds me of the north end oin boston or south boston when we lived there.