Bad first impression of Orlando/Kissimmee

[big mean bear]

There are a lot of trailers and carnies in that part of Florida. That is my only impression.

[Seabeacon]

Kissimmee is thugville. We lived there for 5 years and moved three times while we were there. We just didn't feel comfortable with the neighborhoods with regard to crime. The third time we moved to way east Orlando. Oh, sooooo much better. I would never recommend Kissimmee to anyone I know or like.

[healeydave]

I have been visiting Orlando since 1987 and have seen area's flourish and those same areas deteriorate over the years.

An example is Buena Ventura Lakes. This started to flourish when people started to invest in homes to use for the short term rental vacation market. Then when new developments started (closer to Disney), the STR market evaporated and now I hear its not a very nice area to live at all. Sorry, don't mean to offend anyone :-)

Slowly over the years the STR market has moved through different communities off US192, all the way along and similar things have happened. It has now pretty much settled on US27. Back in the early nineties, I used to frequent the Kissimmee area (from st.cloud up to the middle where the super walmart is) because that's where many of the tourists were staying. Now I can't remember the last time I got even close to that area.

The tourists leaving the area is a definate factor to deteriorisation. Businesses close or move to the more prolific area's and less money is spent on the area as a whole. The last time I did drive that far down the 192, I noticed closed and over-grown/unused plots (Water Mania for example). Even places that were still open looked tatty as if they hadn't had a lick of paint for years.

More evidence is the 192 beutification project. All the Palm Tress, Landscaping, Purple Lamp Posts & Traffic Signals etc. All this was done at the opposite end (near the 27) going towards and stopping around Celebration.

Whilst I consider Orlando a second home, technically I am still a vacationer, so I am not criticising the STR trade, in fact I am saying the opposite. It is good for your area but if it moves away, its effect can be devastating.

A few years ago, there were a few housing developments on the 27 that chose to go the "Residential" only route as some people (residents) didn't like the idea of living next door to a home without permanent neighbors. A number of these developments Housing Associations are now trying to reverse these decisions. People have realised that vacation home owners have to keep their properties immaculate to make a good impression for guests. Whilst there is a world wide down turn at the moment, forclosures on STR investors are minimal and less likely. With so many foreclosures and homes lying empty now, the grass is dying, pools are going green and these "residential" only communities are suffering more because the majority of sales are still coming from investors who are not interested if the community is not zoned for STR.

Whilst living next door to a permanent familiar face might be a nice idea for a sense of community, ever seen the film "The Stepford Wives", everyone walking around with a big grin on their face with a perfect attitude to life and everything in life is rosy :-) If thats what your after, there was a community developed to try and create just that, its called "Celebration" :-) but be careful what you wish for though, you and that permenant familiar neighbour might just not get on or could end up being Homer Simpson.

[GloryB]

Good post healeydave! I think you covered what 'happened' real well. I came here only as a tourist for years. A few months ago I ended up moving to Orlando. The beautiful 'magical' feel of Kissimmee was gone. It's like much of the area took a financial nosedive and no one tried to cover it up. Now I live closer to downtown and totally avoid Kissimmee unless I'm doing a theme park visit.