what 'don't' you like about the area? (Johnson City, Kingsport: purchasing, sales tax)

[donsabi]

12buttons,
I did not detect a foul odors in JC or Bristol, but I don't live there either. Eastman is blamed for much of the foul odor here in Kingsport but there are many other contributors. Sometimes it is a sulfide smell, or a sweet smell, and sometimes it is bad enough to gag you. It can happen at any time of the day or night. IMO, the air quality is very poor. The news now reports that there are plans to build a huge "clean" coal plant just over the border in VA. I can only imagine how that will effect air quality in the region.
Don

[rccrain]

Originally Posted by 12buttons

Care to explain the chemical odors? IS it prevalent in J city too? I keep hearing it - I smelled something vile in Asheville - why can't they address this?
Quality of life issue - I would think an educated demographic would not tolerate this if it was also a health issue...state should fine any air polluters - we need the money, the biz needs the low cost of operation here - they need the state more than the state needs them. I say fine them bigtime.

Pollution is not a problem in the TriCities. EASTMAN is not mostly to blame for the Kingsport odor. Most of the smell is from the paper plant; its a rotting wood smell - ie not harmful. The EPA is all over EASTMAN, and they have a pretty clean environmental record.

When people reference poor air quality they usually mean allergies not pollutants. Pollen, rag weed, dang bradford pear trees are the air quality problems. When it doesn't rain for a while, it really bothers many people's respiratory function.

[SarahSal]

Originally Posted by rccrain

Pollution is not a problem in the TriCities. EASTMAN is not mostly to blame for the Kingsport odor. Most of the smell is from the paper plant; its a rotting wood smell - ie not harmful. The EPA is all over EASTMAN, and they have a pretty clean environmental record.

When people reference poor air quality they usually mean allergies not pollutants. Pollen, rag weed, dang bradford pear trees are the air quality problems. When it doesn't rain for a while, it really bothers many people's respiratory function.

Now I know why my allergies have gotten worse since moving 'off the mountain'! I have a whole line of those dang trees along my driveway! Thanks for the info..

[jabogitlu]

Well of course Asheville's going to smell funky. Walk around any decent sized downtown that has lots of people (ie restaurants) and you're going to find some weird smells.

Like rccrain said, Kingsport's Domtar paper plant (and the waste/sanitation plant) are the main producers of that Kingsport smell. I rarely smell any smells in Kingsport though. Never smelled anything weird anywhere else in the area.

[donsabi]

I looked at a website that concerns itself with pollution and allows a user to compare various areas side by side. They use five different areas of pollution scoring 0% for the best county and 100% as the worst county. I compared Sullivan county TN with Philadelphia county PA. This was the result: Toxins; Phila 80%, Sullivan 100%, Air; Phila 100%, Sullivan 90%, Water; Phila 40%, Sullivan 100%, Land; Phila 30%, Sullivan 90%, Waste; Phila 0% Sullivan 40%. To my amazement Sullivan county was a worse polluter in 4 out of 5 criteria and in the one area Phila was higher, but only by 10%.

According to a website concerned with allergies Tennessee is one of the highest ranking states for allergy problems.

Don
I am not in the real estate business.

[dreamofmonterey]

Since you are on this topic, there is an area that is like Coral Springs Florida (i.e.:the trash dump-Yuck!!!); It is when you drive to Elizabethton from JC, the side road that goes to Rte 321, stay away!! JC has no issues, and I have sensitive allergies...

[Peach_Fla]

Originally Posted by donsabi

The main thing I find wrong with Kingsport is the lack of doctors who will accept new Medicare patients. If you are a Medicare member make sure you can get a doctor before coming here.

Cigarette smoking seems to everywhere. No matter where I go in public the air is full of cigarette smoke.

Chemical odors, sometimes so bad they could gag a mule.

Lack of shopping. I find myself shopping in Johnson City because I cannot find the product I want in Kingsport. Grocery stores are Krogers, Food City, and White's all with limited stock.
Two of the worst Walmarts I have seen anywhere. No fresh fish and other seafood in the area.
view ..................
Kingsport has invested heavily in traffic cameras, otherwise known as 24/7 revenue generators rather than invest on improving traffic flow.

I agree with the other post that mentions liter. Trash cans all over the parks and trash laying on the ground next to the trash can.

Last, but certainly not least, 9.5% sales tax.

Don

...>>>>>>>>>>>> I was a visitor there and it was Wood smoke all around....not cigarette smoke......and the chemicals are because the city is built around a "kodak" factory(eastman???) ..... and why can't the county use litter-pickers for community service ...probation...etc......Just my view.......i had a wonderful visit!!!!!!!!!!!!

[dreamofmonterey]

litter pickers? -lol- there is so much land they'd have to bus in the homeless from New York City...

That post sounds like me before I lived in a rural area.....when you don't live in a city, there are certain issues you just get used to, sink or swim...lol.

[RalphKNS]

I didn't like the dishonest business practices that run RAMPANT in the Johnson City area. I also was unhappy with the cost of food; groceries are far too expensive relative to the wages and salaries of the area. Now I live in Massachusetts, and while it is slightly more expensive overall, groceries are more reasonable here.

I didn't like the climate when I moved to JC from Alabama, but now winters are milder than they used to be. I guess JC was a good halfway point winter-wise between AL and MA, too.

[rccrain]

Originally Posted by RalphKNS

I didn't like the dishonest business practices that run RAMPANT in the Johnson City area.

What specifically went on rampantly? Just curious, seems like this would be a good place to get back at them.