What's Decatur like? (Huntsville, Priceville, Louisville: new house, schools, subdivision) - Huntsville-Madison-Decatur area - Alabama (AL) - Page 2 - City-Data Forum

33458 · 01-23-2009, 01:51 PM

Decatur is already a town or city, depending on the definition...not an unincorporated area or 'floating' community.

Now the area might benefit from such a move, but I'm not sure Huntsville taxes would bring about much in the way of actual improvements down there. Decatur may want to hold on to the identity it already has and build on the name. Not everyone wants to march in the parade.

33458 · 01-23-2009, 04:05 PM

Noooooo!

OK, I typed out this spiel last night but deleted it, figured I was wasting my time...but now, dear, I'm going to express myself.

Do not take offense as none is intended.

You speak of Atlanta as a goal for Huntsville to achieve, yet it sounds as though you've never been there.
I lived in Georgia quite some time ago, right around the period where they started the insane construction of the overpasses and airport upgrades...
it was a NIGHTMARE to drive and many parts of Ratlanta still are.

I suggest that you take a trip and travel over yonder, hang out...visit the cool micro-communities (part of what makes the city tick), have a burger in Little Five Points, go see a show downtown...all great things to do.

But then, promise me you'll get on the interstate at somewhere nearing 4:30 pm on a weekday - though weekends are rough, too - but do not have any immediate plans...because you will be stuck on the freeway for a minimum of 45 minutes without moving more than 30 feet.

If you want to live in the city proper, you have the option of true metro - mass transit. The bus or the train will get you so far...but if you wish to enjoy the SPRAWL, that means you're in the burbs and the train does NOT go there.
You must then sit idle, fumes rising as your soul rots away. Every day or your life.

Now, let's suggest you come up to Huntsville after your excursion to Greater Metro, and compare. See what a major overhaul it would be to bring us anywhere near to that and consider the damage done.

We have a natural resource, beloved by most residents, that would be lost behind those skyscrapers. The easy view of those hills, which may be the o.n.l.y. thing that will save minds as they battle the eventual traffic, will be something you have to LEAVE the city to see.

The countryside is a bonus, not a negative to be cemented over.

There are farms within the city limits...heck - I have friends in the Providence area that have a farm right behind them in the neat brick cookie-cutter suburb they call home. And they much prefer the view they have now over that of an apartment complex/condo/strip mall, which is what will happen to that glorious field if SPRAWL goes ape****.

I live on the side of a very large hill, almost at the bottom but high enough to make my engine race. Wonderful spot. I have nothing but deer and trees and more trees behind me and behind that a State Park. The last thing I want for this neighborhood, not just myself, is another planned community, traffic lights, BOOM BOOM BOOM and a Dollar General in between me and that.

I don't hear Huntsville speak of green-spaces, but that has to be included as part of the planning or we have lost everything...and I'm moving.

I agree, organization is a step forward. Progress is good. Commerce is GREAT. But what you may not understand is that there are already buildings unoccupied or oblivious, a downtown that is slow during the week and dead on Sunday, shops that close at 6pm and no real demand as of yet that they remain open later.

Atlanta is 24/7. Huntsville is not. To get there, you first need the customer at a steady pace to warrant the effort, not the other way around - not in THIS town.

So come up and see for yourself, then you'll understand the scoffs.

Katsmeeyow · 02-09-2009, 08:30 PM

Hmmm, what a disappointment this thread has turned out to be - in the last few posts anyhow. Seems to me the original thread idea was "What's Decatur Like".

So, What is Decatur like? I am sincerely about to relocate here - not relocating to Atlanta et al, and want to know about this area! any help is appreciated!

Southlander · 02-10-2009, 09:31 AM

See my post on page 1. I'll be happy to answer any other questions. Welcome!

Katsmeeyow · 03-22-2009, 01:03 PM

Thanks, Southlander. Your information was great! I dm'd you then, but just now noticed I did not thank you in this thread! Thanks!

sedriskell · 03-22-2009, 08:38 PM

Decatur will simply never be a suburb. For a city to be a suburb of another city, that other city has to be the main reason the suburban city came to be or sprang to life. That isn't the case with Huntsville and Decatur, or Huntsville and Athens. As I'm sure you've read in some of my posts, Decatur will be more like Fort Worth, Saint Paul or Tacoma.

SouthernBoy205 · 03-22-2009, 09:41 PM

Athens may be more of suburb to Huntsville than Decatur.

Bamaboy208 · 05-12-2010, 05:29 PM

i really hope it gets built soon

Mouldy Old Schmo · 07-15-2013, 03:21 PM

At one time, Decatur had railroad shops owned by the Louisville and Nashville Railroad, but they were closed in the 1930s. They were near the railroad yard.

ReggaeBusRider · 07-16-2013, 05:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katsmeeyow

Hmmm, what a disappointment this thread has turned out to be - in the last few posts anyhow. Seems to me the original thread idea was "What's Decatur Like".

So, What is Decatur like? I am sincerely about to relocate here - not relocating to Atlanta et al, and want to know about this area! any help is appreciated!

I lived in decatur for 10 years and I like Huntsville better. However, I played golf at Burningtree (Indian Hills subdivision) yesterday and it is a great area. If you move to Decatur, you need to check out Indian Hills. It is on the border of Decatur and Priceville and I never knew such a nice area existed. Worth a look IMHO...