A few days in Cumberland Md. (Hagerstown: real estate, hotel, house)

[vman650]

My wife and I spent Wednesday and Thursday in Cumberland Md. It was a few miles from the Rocky Gap casino and we prefer staying off site rather than in the casino. As to the casino, we were not impressed. We signed on as new members, used our cards and proceeded to play some of the tightest slot machines we have ever played. Our solution was to stop playing and we ultimately drove to Charles Town where we spent the bulk of out gambling money. They did have a show with comedians for a very reasonable price which we enjoyed.
My wife and I liked Cumberland very much and would recommend it for anyone seeking somewhere to travel to for a couple of days. We stayed at the Fairfield inn and the place was awesome. For what they give you, the price is great and it is only about 7 miles from the casino. There are a ton of hiking trails all over the place and the town itself is interesting and worth a look see. The crabby pig had some good food at very reasonable prices and was within walking distance of the hotel.
Cumberland Md. is the land that time forgot. Lots of abandoned store fronts and very few young people in sight. We browsed the window of a real estate office and you could still buy a house for $50,000 dollars.
There simply aren't any jobs in the area. We talked to some young people and according to them it has been that way all of their lives. People were extremely friendly and most places we saw were clean and well kept. This place has a ton of potential and just needs a few of those billionaires sitting in the White House to open some manufacturing plants and the place would take off like a rocket. Want to judge Trump and his plans to make America great again, keep an eye out on this place. If it does not prosper, then the Republicans have sold everyone a bill of goods. That isn't to say that the Democrats have done anything for this area either.
It was just a nice place to visit and was an open window on what is happening in many of our little cities all over America. Try visiting, you will like it and they do need the money.

[htownterp]

Cumberland has a TON of potential. You just can't manufacture the natural beauty that exists surrounding Cumberland. I can't think of a prettier stretch of road that I have ever been on than I-68 from Hagerstown to Cumberland. It's stunning.

It all boils down to jobs. And in a historically business unfriendly state, with two tax and job friendly states so close by, it hurts. I think I just saw Amazon is creating over 1,000 jobs in Winchester, and the article said that WV and VA were the two states in the running. That would have been a godsend for the folks in the Cumberland area. But for some reason, it seems MD wasn't considered. Maybe there were no land parcels that would have been suitable? Either way, that place will take off one day if the right factors happen. It's a charming town.

[westsideboy]

Originally Posted by htownterp

Cumberland has a TON of potential. You just can't manufacture the natural beauty that exists surrounding Cumberland. I can't think of a prettier stretch of road that I have ever been on than I-68 from Hagerstown to Cumberland. It's stunning.

It all boils down to jobs. And in a historically business unfriendly state, with two tax and job friendly states so close by, it hurts. I think I just saw Amazon is creating over 1,000 jobs in Winchester, and the article said that WV and VA were the two states in the running. That would have been a godsend for the folks in the Cumberland area. But for some reason, it seems MD wasn't considered. Maybe there were no land parcels that would have been suitable? Either way, that place will take off one day if the right factors happen. It's a charming town.

This is where PlanMD and the stream tier development plans absolutely kill us. I won't name names, but we have had at least 2 major companies consider Cumberland as a place to build some modest sized manufacturing/distribution centers.

In both cases we were rejected because of a "lack of modern housing to meet the needs of the management level employees" that would be relocating. We have virtually no modern housing as we have been in population decline for 60+ years. As soon as there was a whiff of market based interest, the state swept in and regulated it death and shut it down.

Such a decision may not matter much in a county that has already experienced 10-20 years of residential housing growth........in our county it locked the door on modern housing construction before it had a ever had a chance to be opened.

I am glad you guys both like Cumberland proper, I obviously do too. Not everyone is looking to rehab a 19th century Victorian, and not everyone is comfortable with that style of urban living. Our lack of what you take for granted, the ubiquitous set price point sub-division located in a little tucked away place creates a big hole in our local housing options, and it actively hurts our community.

[skeddy]

I find Cumberland depressing. Too many dilapidated building, sparse employment and opportunity, maybe if you're retired it would be ok, but Maryland is expensive no matter where you live

[ki0eh]

Originally Posted by westsideboy

This is where PlanMD and the stream tier development plans absolutely kill us. I won't name names, but we have had at least 2 major companies consider Cumberland as a place to build some modest sized manufacturing/distribution centers.

In both cases we were rejected because of a "lack of modern housing to meet the needs of the management level employees" that would be relocating. We have virtually no modern housing as we have been in population decline for 60+ years. As soon as there was a whiff of market based interest, the state swept in and regulated it death and shut it down.

Such a decision may not matter much in a county that has already experienced 10-20 years of residential housing growth........in our county it locked the door on modern housing construction before it had a ever had a chance to be opened.

I am glad you guys both like Cumberland proper, I obviously do too. Not everyone is looking to rehab a 19th century Victorian, and not everyone is comfortable with that style of urban living. Our lack of what you take for granted, the ubiquitous set price point sub-division located in a little tucked away place creates a big hole in our local housing options, and it actively hurts our community.

It's difficult to break both virtuous and vicious cycles in development, that's for sure.

I worked once on behalf of Washington County developers who built housing in both Franklin (PA) and Berkeley (WV) counties from their Hagerstown base, because that's where they could do it.

In Cumberland area, perhaps northern Mineral County (WV) could be an option for a more "modern" style residential development beyond the reach of the state planners who only see Howard County conditions. There could be some initial demand from whatever ABL calls itself this week. There are some subdivisions in this area, but attractiveness of those for relocatees could be a little wanting, and maybe the folks showing off the area didn't drive them over there anyway. The PA side is so distant from even schools anymore so it would be tougher there to support developments than it is around Greencastle and Waynesboro.

Retail is tougher, since the east side development fizzled. Management-level employee families don't want to drive 60 miles one way for even a Target, and Target isn't going to go into Ridgeley when all the road junctions are in MD.

[bus man]

I really do see Cumberland as a diamond in the rough. They've been hard hit by the loss of industrial employment, but they've surrounded by natural beauty to die for, and they're blessed by having a population that strikes me as being friendly and welcoming. (I love the experience of pulling out of a parking lot onto a street in Cumberland, and the person approaching slows down and waves me in. Such courtesy!)


I've had occasion to visit Cumberland a number of times, both for business (yes, there is still business to be conducted there) and for fun, and I've always enjoyed myself there. And I echo the OP's feelings about the Fairfield Inn; what a great hotel! I really do hope that the city can pull itself up and build upon what it already has, and make themselves even better.

[westsideboy]

Originally Posted by ki0eh

It's difficult to break both virtuous and vicious cycles in development, that's for sure.

I worked once on behalf of Washington County developers who built housing in both Franklin (PA) and Berkeley (WV) counties from their Hagerstown base, because that's where they could do it.

In Cumberland area, perhaps northern Mineral County (WV) could be an option for a more "modern" style residential development beyond the reach of the state planners who only see Howard County conditions. There could be some initial demand from whatever ABL calls itself this week. There are some subdivisions in this area, but attractiveness of those for relocatees could be a little wanting, and maybe the folks showing off the area didn't drive them over there anyway. The PA side is so distant from even schools anymore so it would be tougher there to support developments than it is around Greencastle and Waynesboro.

Retail is tougher, since the east side development fizzled. Management-level employee families don't want to drive 60 miles one way for even a Target, and Target isn't going to go into Ridgeley when all the road junctions are in MD.

Great point about Mineral County. Residential development is already being pushed there. So far as we are a tri-state region, we can benefit from this, but WV infrastructure (thinking roads and schools) are not at the same quality as what MD has (I will throw the state a bone here, the money they send out here does pay dividends in these two areas, even with the gas tax issues.)

The retail is coming.......slowly. LaVale has seen a large increase in commercial development over the last 5 years, mostly coming from investors to our west. We haven't scored a Target style retailer yet, but the situation on the commercial front is getting incrementally better.

[ki0eh]

Originally Posted by westsideboy

Great point about Mineral County. Residential development is already being pushed there. So far as we are a tri-state region, we can benefit from this, but WV infrastructure (thinking roads and schools) are not at the same quality as what MD has (I will throw the state a bone here, the money they send out here does pay dividends in these two areas, even with the gas tax issues.)

One of my sisters-in-law is a Fort Hill grad who is happier her kids are in Frankfort. I'd see what this site says about that but Maryland doesn't have the point ranking that WV and PA have on here, what's up with that?

[westsideboy]

Originally Posted by ki0eh

One of my sisters-in-law is a Fort Hill grad who is happier her kids are in Frankfort. I'd see what this site says about that but Maryland doesn't have the point ranking that WV and PA have on here, what's up with that?

Fort Hill has a great football team.................but I wouldn't send my kid there. I am not sure if Frankfort is that much better, or not, but I suspect they have less social problems than Fort Hill experiences as that school does serve the poorest and most dysfunctional parts of Cumberland. Allegany High and Mt. Ridge are better, IMO.

As always with public schools, I am not a completely unbiased source as a Catholic School grad who really believes in the educational atmosphere and mission of my Alma mater.