keyser,wv and smell (money)

[LilyLaLa]

Thanks Harborlady! That's the very link that led me to these forums some time back; it IS packed with useful information--especially as to crime, median age, nearby hospitals, etc. that helped me narrow down a list of towns and a general area. But I wish there were some human 'reviews' or impressions included in these analyses, along with the lists of dry numbers and statistics. It's hard to tell if a town is trendy, professional, hippy, redneck, artsy, deteriorating, scary, or 'practically perfect in every way'...

Thanks for the EPA tip too! I hadn't thought of it, but it's a great help.

[citybilly]

-"It's hard to tell if a town is trendy, professional, hippy, redneck, artsy, deteriorating, scary, or 'practically perfect in every way'..."

I see all of that in one block, in Fairmont. Except for trendy, we're not too big on the trendy, aside from a few ankle tats. Some drugs around the college and uptown. The uniqueness of Wv is something I'm still getting used to. There are plenty of front porch neighborhoods around, that look like decent places to raise a family. And a freight train still runs along the river.No passenger service that I know of. Househunting: Need to look out for nearby toxic metal processing, mines, etc. and......I'm still learning. Any suggestions?
Exhaustive, and exhausting, research, is my method. I did a search of the archives from the local paper, and noticed that several months ago, 2 people died when a heavy old lady fell down a flight of stairs and took her handicapped companion with her. Obviously, if I look at a house on Murray St. I will look for stains at the foot of the stairs. Knowledge is power. Ignorance is bliss, too, I s'pose.

[harborlady]

Originally Posted by LilyLaLa

Thanks Harborlady! That's the very link that led me to these forums some time back; it IS packed with useful information--especially as to crime, median age, nearby hospitals, etc. that helped me narrow down a list of towns and a general area. But I wish there were some human 'reviews' or impressions included in these analyses, along with the lists of dry numbers and statistics. It's hard to tell if a town is trendy, professional, hippy, redneck, artsy, deteriorating, scary, or 'practically perfect in every way'...

Thanks for the EPA tip too! I hadn't thought of it, but it's a great help.

well, I'll tell you what. Be clear in your mind what you're looking for/need & ballpark price ranges, and just ask that in this kind of thread. I'm sure you'll get people in the know that can tell you what locations most closely match what you need. The way the question is currently framed, people are in a position to either sell you what you don't need, or walk by thinking they can't help you. Know what I mean?

citybilly-

[David Kennedy]

As I read your 2 posts I thought about Realtor's...how they know everything good about a property and nothing about the negaitive things...its called 'puffing the goods.

Sad thing about Fairmont City is the undermining of coal that happened 100 years ago.

Most of the city is on a large bed of Antideluvian sand. The older homes have basement footings that do not comply with todays building standards. The better, older neighborhoods on Fairmont's West Side are notorious for mine subsidence.
I inspected a great old stone home at 9th and Benoni several years ago and the house had almost tilted 12" from one end to the other. Owner did not want too spend the money to level it and it's probably in the same situation.

The East side of Fairmont seems to be more stable as is Bellview. But their older homes are not as stately as those around the Fairmont Senior High School.

As I was driving through Fairmont two days ago, I saw a core drilling machine...core holes are drilled and concrete grout is posted into the soil to give stability...someone was having a problem somewhere..

I'm sure a map of the Fairmont Core Drilling and mining subsidence problem exists, but I've never seen one in a real estate office...the city code inspectors could help you...maybe.
Good luck in your search citybilly...keep your eyes open...

[LilyLaLa]

Originally Posted by David Kennedy

Sad thing about Fairmont City is the undermining of coal that happened 100 years ago.
...The better, older neighborhoods on Fairmont's West Side are notorious for mine subsidence.

THAT's good to know!

In months of watching realtors' listings, I've seen some lovely old houses just sit on the market, coming down and down in price, and just knew there had to be something to explain it. Falling into a hole WOULD explain it!

Would the public libraries be able to help with this sort of information? We're planning a visit sometime this summer to house-hunt in person, and you're right---I DON'T want to take everything a realtor says at face value.

No disrespect to any realtors HERE of course...

Lil

[David Kennedy]

If you are coming to Marion County...look up the Dean of Realtors first...Richard Pizatella.

Will never mislead and answers honestly...a WW-2 hero, a gentle man in every sense of the word.

He is the very best of this profession...began in the 50's and used the bus or taxi for appointments... when he bought his first chevy from Anthony Pirtolo the salesman had to teach him how to drive it.

Simply one of the most wonderful men in the world...has made all the money and still lives unpretenciously...does it because it is a service to the people...and he writes ALL of his own ads...don't let this experience go by.

He will tell you the truth about a property...all the truth.

[eaduke]

I used to work in Keyser all the time and never noticed the smell from Luke. I also lived in Rawlings on 220 just North of Keyser in MD and never had a problem.Really the only time I ever noticed the smell was driving over to Westernport or working in Piedmont or near Luke.

[LilyLaLa]

Is it only an occasional problem, then? Or is it perhaps improving?

I live in a very remote area now, all clean air and spring water, BUT a few times a year the neighbouring farmers spray manure (and in many cases the contents of their own septic tanks ) on the surrounding fields. Some days are BAAAAD 'round here....but it's only a few days a year.

I can live with an occasional problem, or one that's getting better.

Of course, you never know ... you can go pick the perfect house, and THEN a problem (like a sewage plant or paper mill or bad neighbour) moves next door after the fact.

[vec101]

Lilly,
You asked about the landfills - seems like Waste Management is buying up and becoming the landfill ruler of the world.
A list of their landfills near/in our area can be found at WMDisposal - Industrial Waste Management. Hazardous and Non-Hazardous Waste Management
Look at Landfills and Transfer Stations.
For the US, see WMDisposal - Industrial Waste Management. Hazardous and Non-Hazardous Waste Management

I think someone else already gave you the epa link, didn't they?

[wvurx94]

Originally Posted by dandhluv

The bad smell in keyser, wv burn my nose, throut and chest. If i had know about this smell, I never would have bought a home out here. I wounder if there are any health risks

So you must have never ventured to Sandusky,OH..There is a smell going through this town, about 10 minutes from Cedar Point Amusement Park, and that smell does actually burn your nose, throat, and chest tissue...It has too be some kind of caustic material..It has too be detrimental to the health of the people who live there..Would love to know what the plant is and what it is they are manufacturing..uugghh. it's like 1,000 times worse than Westernport's waste plant even on the hottest summer day..