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So...what is it that you are looking for Jedi? Just curious...what is it that appeals to you in a small town?
I do not have any urge to live in a small town setting, nor a city setting. I like suburbs. I have already done the small town thing. I do like to visit the little downtowns, but it seems whenever the signs say "historic downtown", it ends up meaning run down and falling apart. The Apex downtown needs a lot of work. The paint is peeling off the buildings and they have a lot of rot. The downtowns that I like are ones where everything has been maintained well and many well maintained craftsman style homes surround the downtown area, with a common. Think Norman Rockwell.
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Originally Posted by ausmerika
Oh, by the way. Only 2 sites show Hillsborough spelled only as Hillsboro--neither of which are (town or county) official sites. I do think, but would have to research, that that is a very old-timey spelling.
Yes, I spelled it incorrectly. Where I used to live, we would spell towns like that either way. Borough or boro. They were interchangeable.
Ok, we know what you don't like about downtown Apex. What is it that you don't like about downtown Hillsborough?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Return of the Jedi
I do not have any urge to live in a small town setting, nor a city setting. I like suburbs. I have already done the small town thing. I do like to visit the little downtowns, but it seems whenever the signs say "historic downtown", it ends up meaning run down and falling apart. The Apex downtown needs a lot of work. The paint is peeling off the buildings and they have a lot of rot. The downtowns that I like are ones where everything has been maintained well and many well maintained craftsman style homes surround the downtown area, with a common. Think Norman Rockwell.
Yes, I spelled it incorrectly. Where I used to live, we would spell towns like that either way. Borough or boro. They were interchangeable.
Ok, we know what you don't like about downtown Apex. What is it that you don't like about downtown Hillsborough?
I would not say that I don't like them. I would say I am a little disappointed in them, as I am in most areas that claim "historic downtown" status. I wish these areas were kept up better. I wish the buildings were restored. Maybe some people look at buildings that are falling apart and think "wow, that's nice looking and quaint". I look at them and wonder when they will be condemned. These little sections of time in history should be preserved. They should be kept up. In the grand scheme of things, it is not that much money to do it, yet we just let them fall apart. I have seen to many nice little downtowns that have completely fallen apart and are only a ghost of what they once were. It is sad.
...So...you're saying that historic Hillsborough is run down and looks like it's falling apart.
ok!
In the past you've said that you prefer planned communities so I wouldn't actually expect you to like Hillsborough. The suburbs, it's not.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Return of the Jedi
I would not say that I don't like them. I would say I am a little disappointed in them, as I am in most areas that claim "historic downtown" status. I wish these areas were kept up better. I wish the buildings were restored. Maybe some people look at buildings that are falling apart and think "wow, that's nice looking and quaint". I look at them and wonder when they will be condemned. These little sections of time in history should be preserved. They should be kept up. In the grand scheme of things, it is not that much money to do it, yet we just let them fall apart. I have seen to many nice little downtowns that have completely fallen apart and are only a ghost of what they once were. It is sad.
...So...you're saying that historic Hillsborough is run down and looks like it's falling apart.
Look at The Colonial Inn. That is what I am talking about. The building is a complete mess. It should have been kept up. That is what we should be preserving. I don't know why we don't.
FYI - The wife is hitting me upside the head about saying Carrboro was not bad. She is reminding me of how horrified we were when we went to Tyler's Tap Room there.
We will take another ride out that way this fall and give it another try. Like I said, maybe I am missing something. I will try to find it.
I agree with you about the Colonial Inn...that is a travesty! But it isn't the town's doing, as they don't own it, but rather of the Inn's current owner, Francis Henry, who bought it 2002, and has allowed it to deteriorate. The town actually tried to use the "demolition by neglect" clause, and Henry countersued. There was a loop hole which he used, by claiming he is living there (using 2 rooms), but frequenting the downtown area I have only seen a light on once. He must be a hermit. He is the one to blame, and it's like any other property owner--you can only do so much legally.
So, if the Colonial Inn is the only thing you are basing the "neglected" and falling down reason, I guess you haven't been there recently. It has become a very vibrant, albeit small, downtown. Lots of sidewalk tables to eat, well known blues place (Blue Bayou), flowering trees...ok, now colorful but not flowering Anyway, all the restaurants always seem packed, and there are little gift stores, etc along the way as well. Plus it retains the small town feel with places like Dual Supply and the Carolina Fish and Game Shop...how homey.
As you said though...you just don't like Mayberry-ville. That's ok...Cary is a good suburb.
I agree with you about the Colonial Inn...that is a travesty! But it isn't the town's doing, as they don't own it, but rather of the Inn's current owner, Francis Henry, who bought it 2002, and has allowed it to deteriorate. The town actually tried to use the "demolition by neglect" clause, and Henry countersued. There was a loop hole which he used, by claiming he is living there (using 2 rooms), but frequenting the downtown area I have only seen a light on once. He must be a hermit. He is the one to blame, and it's like any other property owner--you can only do so much legally.
So, if the Colonial Inn is the only thing you are basing the "neglected" and falling down reason, I guess you haven't been there recently. It has become a very vibrant, albeit small, downtown. Lots of sidewalk tables to eat, well known blues place (Blue Bayou), flowering trees...ok, now colorful but not flowering Anyway, all the restaurants always seem packed, and there are little gift stores, etc along the way as well. Plus it retains the small town feel with places like Dual Supply and the Carolina Fish and Game Shop...how homey.
As you said though...you just don't like Mayberry-ville. That's ok...Cary is a good suburb.
Thanks for the info. We will add it to our go visit list for this fall. There is an ice cream joint that sits on a hill, overlooking some nice natural scenery. I forget the name, but I think that is in Hillsborough. We will hit both while we are there.
I do not have any urge to live in a small town setting, nor a city setting. I like suburbs. I have already done the small town thing. I do like to visit the little downtowns, but it seems whenever the signs say "historic downtown", it ends up meaning run down and falling apart. The Apex downtown needs a lot of work. The paint is peeling off the buildings and they have a lot of rot. The downtowns that I like are ones where everything has been maintained well and many well maintained craftsman style homes surround the downtown area, with a common. Think Norman Rockwell.
Yes, I spelled it incorrectly. Where I used to live, we would spell towns like that either way. Borough or boro. They were interchangeable.
Bob/SP2SCV/In&Out/3 to NC/ Carolina Lover/ Return of the Jedi....are you KIDDING ME?!?! The Apex downtown is lightyears ahead of the Cary downtown in terms of cleanliness/curb appeal. Downtown Cary is a de-centrailized and unorganized mess and probably one of the least desirable places to drive outside of Raleigh. Downtown Apex is much more charming and definitely less vacant/crumbling.
Also; Norman Rockwell was from small-town New England and that is what he was refering to in all of his work... you know, the place you escaped from to the garden of eden that is Cary? You claim you are all about "suburbs" yet prefer downtowns to be norman rockwell- small towns. Doesn't usually work that way.
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Anyway, all the restaurants always seem packed, and there are little gift stores, etc along the way as well. Plus it retains the small town feel with places like Dual Supply and the Carolina Fish and Game Shop...how homey. 
