Asheville NC, the good, the bad, and the ugly (Durham: relocating, real estate)

[fastfilm]

Whoa, whoa, whoa. I'm a potential relocator who takes great exception to developers who grade away beautiful hills to make identical, 6' away from one another McMansion boxes on tiers. It would be hard to plan more deliberate uglification, and cancelation of desireable attributes of any area than this "modern" trend of development. The moneymen may like it, but no one else.

[tribe48]

Wrong, wrong, wrong. if you think the 1-2 acre lots on RM and Cliffs have homes or your stereotypical 'mchomes'; you clearly have not been to either development. Rather you choose to make assumptions rather than explore the area; analyze the LONG term plans for both communities (including the green spaces, planting programs and contributions to neighboring areas) and actually talk to people who live there. Guess it's easier to lump it all together and stereotype.

[Michael T]

Gypsychic-- Feel obligated to respond to your query about what disappointed me about Asheville on our admittedly(4 days) too short of a visit. I must confess that when I put in my "2 cents", I had only read the first 2 or 3 pages of this thread. This evening I read it all and I admire your attitude and enthusiasm for this town. I wouldn't be that surprised if our impressions were wrong.
Here's the dealio,I'm retiring in the next 12 to 18 months and so for the past 2 1/2 to 3 years weve been scouting out potential locations. Unfortunately we only ( due to time and financial constraints) spend 3 to 4 days at each. Last Sept. was Seattle and Bellingham Wa.. Absolutley loved both. Weather was mid to hi 70's the people were great. I know I'm not the first to say this but Sea. was like a cleaned up S.F.. But then there's the weather... . Eugene Or. 2005, great neighborhoods in the S.E. and S.W. hills,
very friendly people, a definite possibility but again, the weather.
In 2004 we checked out Charleston, S.C., St. Augustine and Orlando Fl., each x'ed off the list for one reason or another. It's nothing personal, each town we've visited has some appeal (with the exception of Orlando,what a crowded, angry, town) and I'm sure were missing alot but that's how it has to be. Still on our agenda are Austin, Ft. Collins Co., and Nashville.
Last May we did 10 days in N.C.," if it's Tuesday it must be Hickory". We maybe were expecting too much from Asheville, maybe it never had a chance to live up to our expectations. I know my wife would like to give it another try. We just had some interactions with people there that weren't comfortable, a couple of youngish hippie-type waitresses and what I believe to be the owner of a "head shop", condescending, unfriendly attitudes. I know, call me a juvenile hyper-sensitive weenie. No don't! It's not true and you'll make me cry. They treated me like I was an old "square". Ok I'm 54 with short hair. But I used to be hip! Busted for possesion of marijuana in '69 at a Youngbloods concert when I was 16! I was at Altamont! Drove a beat up VW van! I still know the words to every Monkee's song!
Gypsychic, I know I'm all over the place here, and I didn't really give you any particular reasons for not being enthralled with Asheville and I apologize.
We stayed on Woodfin(?) street, drove to Hot Springs(not much there), Blk. Mountain(ok), Blue Ridge Parkway (AWESOME). Mostly hung out on the main drag in downtown Asheville all in all a pleasant visit but not what we expected. Where did you move from? If you don't mind me asking.

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by Michael T

Gypsychic-- Feel obligated to respond to your query about what disappointed me about Asheville on our admittedly(4 days) too short of a visit. I must confess that when I put in my "2 cents", I had only read the first 2 or 3 pages of this thread. This evening I read it all and I admire your attitude and enthusiasm for this town. I wouldn't be that surprised if our impressions were wrong.
Here's the dealio,I'm retiring in the next 12 to 18 months and so for the past 2 1/2 to 3 years weve been scouting out potential locations. Unfortunately we only ( due to time and financial constraints) spend 3 to 4 days at each. Last Sept. was Seattle and Bellingham Wa.. Absolutley loved both. Weather was mid to hi 70's the people were great. I know I'm not the first to say this but Sea. was like a cleaned up S.F.. But then there's the weather... . Eugene Or. 2005, great neighborhoods in the S.E. and S.W. hills,
very friendly people, a definite possibility but again, the weather.
In 2004 we checked out Charleston, S.C., St. Augustine and Orlando Fl., each x'ed off the list for one reason or another. It's nothing personal, each town we've visited has some appeal (with the exception of Orlando,what a crowded, angry, town) and I'm sure were missing alot but that's how it has to be. Still on our agenda are Austin, Ft. Collins Co., and Nashville.
Last May we did 10 days in N.C.," if it's Tuesday it must be Hickory". We maybe were expecting too much from Asheville, maybe it never had a chance to live up to our expectations. I know my wife would like to give it another try. We just had some interactions with people there that weren't comfortable, a couple of youngish hippie-type waitresses and what I believe to be the owner of a "head shop", condescending, unfriendly attitudes. I know, call me a juvenile hyper-sensitive weenie. No don't! It's not true and you'll make me cry. They treated me like I was an old "square". Ok I'm 54 with short hair. But I used to be hip! Busted for possesion of marijuana in '69 at a Youngbloods concert when I was 16! I was at Altamont! Drove a beat up VW van! I still know the words to every Monkee's song!
Gypsychic, I know I'm all over the place here, and I didn't really give you any particular reasons for not being enthralled with Asheville and I apologize.
We stayed on Woodfin(?) street, drove to Hot Springs(not much there), Blk. Mountain(ok), Blue Ridge Parkway (AWESOME). Mostly hung out on the main drag in downtown Asheville all in all a pleasant visit but not what we expected. Where did you move from? If you don't mind me asking.

Michael T. - thanks for sharing - check your inbox, I sent you a PM!

[treehouse51]

Wow, time flies. I got busy and didn't check these responses. I still am new to this and don't understand fully how it works like what the reputation number means or the little green thing.

Anyway, back to Asheville - it continues to amaze me how much goes on here. In the warmer months it's outrageous! So hard to decide which thing to attend. But year-round it's a busy place. We attended 2 events Thrusday night, one right after the other. Too much... Just have to prioritize.

[treehouse51]

OK, I posted that too fast... In yesterday's local paper here in Asheville there was a story about a local group of concerned citizens who actually vandalized 2 offices of companies that supposedly contribute to local eco-destruction. One of those promotes what their name is, Private Mountain Communities. The other is a real estate firm that does "development." They don't all get into development, I might add. I would love to post photos I took of one of their newest destruction projects. It's on Leicester Highway about 20-25 minutes north of downtown. It was a beautiful hill, covered in lush vegetation, ancient trees - just gorgeous. Now the hill stands naked and raped, crawling with bulldozers. And you should see the web site of the development - it looks like heaven. Certainly not like what it is right now. In the newspaper story the persident of the company said they "take great care to work with responsible builders and developeers, many of whom reserve considerable green space, and use green building techniques and environmentally friendly approaches in their communities." Well, this isn't one of them!

I don't support the approach of the vandals, however. I agonize over how we can as a community take power over local developement - at least to some extent.

I know of a number of parcels of land for sale that are huge and inviting developers to come do the same. We can't stop people from selling their land. That's just as much a problem as anything. But how it's developed is what we can do - maybe.

I wonder about how realistic it would be to form a community development group that would include botanists, environmental designers and engineers, green architects, conservation groups, etc. and be supported by community investors to include every kind of investment from $20 to $20,000,000.

There's an excellent environmental design company in town who could oversee the process and make site plans that would be low impact and include conservation easements. Then there are also wonderful green builders here who can do everything from the most humble, but beautiful, durable, efficient and affordable home to the most extravagant, yet green home. Perhaps the expensive could even subsidize the more humble, which could even be multifamily.

Anyway, you get the picture. Does anyone think something like this could work, because I'm ready to start doing something. Do you know of anything like a community development company any place else?

Thanks!
Tree

[SaveMtns]

Groups such as The Nature Consevancy that buy up endangered natural lands and protect them from development could be one answer. I don't have personal experience with them, but was a volunteer for the Great Outdoors Conservancy which left our area (don't know if they still exist elsewhere), and the idea seems to be sound. I'm sure it takes a lot of volunteers raising money to purchase the lands, but the end result seems like a really good idea--land preserved in its natural state for future generations.

[Asheville Native]

Originally Posted by tribe48

Development is positive;

You must be on city council, and get the greedy glint in their eye with thoughts of the increased tax revenues to squander on their socialist agendas.

The destruction of the beauty of the mountains as they clear cut for their McMansion is not a plus.
The landslides, the silting of our creeks, the increased flooding caused by denuded mountain sides is not a plus.

Responsible development is a benefit, but the "mine is bigger than yours" development of the super rich moving in here is destroying our part of the world.

[mgspooky]

GREAT INFORMATION EVERYONE, THANKS!

Thinking of relocating in a couple of years moving from New Jersey.

Waiting for my 15 year old to graduate high school and I am gone out
of Jerzey.

Heading out to Asheville for a week during 4th of July week and then to the
Durham area the following week to check whats out there.

Sold our business here (didnt realize Jersey was a silent partner in my business as well with all the taxes they extorted from us, lol) and not really in need of employment unless the real estate market continues to collapse here in Jersey and Florida where we own some property.

Looking in the Flat Rock and Hendersonville areas as well.

Thanks for the information!

[winter]

Asheville Native, I truly feel for you and all the natives. I'm thinking of moving since NJ is soooo expensive. Again it's too bad that things in your neck of the woods are changing. It's the same here. Yes, NJ has beautiful areas but you need to be very well off to live there. Our town is lovely but has now become too busy with an increase in population. We only have one farm left.