Carmel looks almost too new and nice (Monon: low crime, house)

[Berteau]

I've been around Carmels downtown and theater and city center area and everything looks so nice and brand new it seems almost sterile. Its nice, but is missing the charm of older cities and downtowns that I saw in some of the Chicago suburbs. Anyone agree?

[Toxic Toast]

Downtown Carmel is an urban environment sanitized for suburban consumption. I am not saying that is a good or bad thing, just that it is what it is.

[MillennialMaverick]

I don't think something can be "too nice". Enjoy it!

[sheerbliss]

This reminds me of a line in a novel--I've long forgotten the title or what it was about. But a woman saw a house and said, somewhat critically, that "it looks new." I knew exactly what she meant.

[Serious Conversation]

Carmel really doesn't have a small town charm and definitely not a vintage, older charm. Anything that is older has basically been stripped away and replaced. That's what Home Place is so afraid of - Carmel money coming in and changing the place.

[IndyDancer]

I agree with the first two posts in this thread.

Perhaps in a couple decades or more when the newness has worn off, it will feel more charming (assuming all this new construction exists and isn't razed all over again).

In the mean-time, there is definitely an artificial feel about it that sometimes seems a little eerie.

[ServoMiff]

Originally Posted by Serious Conversation

Carmel really doesn't have a small town charm and definitely not a vintage, older charm. Anything that is older has basically been stripped away and replaced. That's what Home Place is so afraid of - Carmel money coming in and changing the place.

There's nothing about Homeplace that's worthy of preserving though...just people not wanting higher tax dollars for "change". I can agree with them on that point, for sure.

[Berteau]

Originally Posted by IndyDancer

I agree with the first two posts in this thread.

Perhaps in a couple decades or more when the newness has worn off, it will feel more charming (assuming all this new construction exists and isn't razed all over again).

In the mean-time, there is definitely an artificial feel about it that sometimes seems a little eerie.

Yes. Erie is a good word. I was out in the city center performing arts area on Saturday for a show. The buildings and brick roads were beautiful, almost fake looking it all looked so perfect. But it felt empty and I didn't see a lot of people out. Something just felt off to me. Was I on the Truman show?? Lol.

[A.Typical.Girl]

I do know what you mean, but, as a 3-mo resident, I like it. I've spent my entire life in only the biggest cities of the world, living in dark, old, oppressive Victorians & old, brick bldgs, usually in the best part of a dicey 'hood, cuz that's what I could afford.

I like the manicured lawns... never lived where there were any. I like the wide open spaces, occasionally coming across horses, the large, landscaped fields. I like the new bldgs & the feeling of upscale, clean & low crime. I can actually feel the stress gone from the air... never what I was used to in the inner-city, where you can feel the turmoil on certain streets, in certain bldgs, in certain parts of the city. I feel none of that here.

The only place so far that gives me an eerie feeling is the Monon Trail, which I've yet to utilize. Again, as an inner-city girl, I'm used to all the crazy people being right out in front of me & city walking amongst the millions. Every time I go to walk, there's no one around, which makes me feel very uncomfortable, so I don't walk. Eventually, I'll get over it.

But, I'm enjoying it here & like all the shiny, new things.

[W & C]

I like what's become of Carmel.

Even if it lacks authenticity and charm, it's sort of unique and different than majority of other nondescript suburbs in this country.

Fake it may be, but a pleasing fake nonetheless