Moving to Burlington, where to live? (Colchester, South Burlington: extended stay, hotel, schools)

[UpstateNewYorker]

Originally Posted by sundialstreet

"The website is intriguing and seems to be exactly what we had in mind in terms of neighborhood and convenience and diversity."

Can you say more about diversity? What exactly are you looking for? Vermont is not very ethnically diverse. I know Vermonters will claim night and day that their state is diverse, but when a population is 97.3% homogenous it's a little difficult to make the diversity claim.

It's pretty much all white, as far as I can tell.

I have driven though and spent time in Vermont and already know it isn't racially diverse. I guess what I meant is the South Village community will have condos, townhouses and single-family homes, so there might be a mix of seniors, single people, married couples without children and families.
We are looking for a neighborhood that has a variety of homes that aren't all the same shape and size. One with a community center that might include a swimming pool and other amenities (playground, tennis courts, etc). Are there such communities already in existence in the Burlington area?

[68vette]

Originally Posted by UpstateNewYorker

I have driven though and spent time in Vermont and already know it isn't racially diverse. I guess what I meant is the South Village community will have condos, townhouses and single-family homes, so there might be a mix of seniors, single people, married couples without children and families.
We are looking for a neighborhood that has a variety of homes that aren't all the same shape and size. One with a community center that might include a swimming pool and other amenities (playground, tennis courts, etc). Are there such communities already in existence in the Burlington area?

I don't think you are going to find anything with your criteria. In all honesty when you described what you wanted the first place that came to mind was Florida. Many of the new communities down there are like that now. That concept hasn't really taken off here in Vermont. You can find communities with pools and a playground, but they are all cookie cutter(look the same). Some are to be more desired than others as well.

[UpstateNewYorker]

Originally Posted by 68vette

I don't think you are going to find anything with your criteria. In all honesty when you described what you wanted the first place that came to mind was Florida. Many of the new communities down there are like that now. That concept hasn't really taken off here in Vermont. You can find communities with pools and a playground, but they are all cookie cutter(look the same). Some are to be more desired than others as well.

I guess that's why the South Village concept looked ideal for us, but it doesn't appear to have broken ground just yet.
Could you tell me which neighborhoods have community pools?

[vter]

South Village should be breaking ground very shortly. Have you contacted them yet? It looks like it's going to be great when it's built-out.

[UpstateNewYorker]

I filled out the information form online, but haven't yeard from them. That was last week. Perhaps I'll give them a call. Thanks.

[sundialstreet]

If they are like anything in vermont it might be slow goings. Ha, also Florida and Virginia came to mind when I read your description of housing diversity. Actually Willimasburg VA to be specific. Great community.

[UpstateNewYorker]

Originally Posted by sundialstreet

If they are like anything in vermont it might be slow goings. Ha, also Florida and Virginia came to mind when I read your description of housing diversity. Actually Willimasburg VA to be specific. Great community.

I spoke with someone yesterday on the phone -- the newest buildings might be up next summer, so it might be worth it to come by their office. Still, it seems years away from an established neighborhood.
Still haven't figured out where the kids hang out in the summer to swim. Does anyone use the Y? Or a Fitness club? We have a neighborhood pool and live in Upstate NY, so I didn't think it unfeasable for Vermont to have one, too.

[vter]

Swimming? Lake Champlain beaches. I know Essex has a public pool.
Also, the Y, and Sports & Fitness Edge have pools.
PS. Where in NYS are you coming from?

[UpstateNewYorker]

I like the look of the park in Essex with the pool. Thanks. We might explore that area, too.
Do most of the schools have swim teams (both JV and Varsity)?

[MRVphotog]

Originally Posted by UpstateNewYorker

I like the look of the park in Essex with the pool. Thanks. We might explore that area, too.
Do most of the schools have swim teams (both JV and Varsity)?

If they do I have never seen anything in the newspaper sports sections so I'm thinking they don't. I checked the websites of a few of the larger schools and they didn't have swim teams. Hockey, Skiing and Basketball are the winter sports in the schools in Vermont.