Oakleaf Plantation (Jacksonville, Orange Park: buy, theatre, high school)

[travelingfood]

Originally Posted by jrmutley

How did you come across that? I "Google" Oakleaf Town Center all of the time just looking for news on it. Truthfully, it's kind of a lame website. But, the listing of merchants with opening dates has some good info. Thanks!

Yeh it's a quick website whipped up by the builder. It's not like the Simon's mall websites. At least it shows the anticipated store opening months.

Only thing that surprised me is Linen's n Things' 2009 opening date. They're having much financial problems that I thought they'll pull out of that area. But still, 2009 is long way to go, an empty space dead in the center of the place.

[karajeboo]

We've lived in the Oakleaf area now for 8 months. We opted for the Eagle Landing community which is the same developers as Eagle Harbor. We love Eagle Landing, and overall we like the convenience of the Oakleaf area - the Town Center is building up quickly, and once the economy picks back up, I'm sure we'll see even more building. Most people don't even consider this as Orange Park as we're so far removed from Blanding and the "real" Orange Park. For us, Fleming Island and Eagle Harbor was too far of a commute for my husband.

As for the schools, my DD just finished 1st grade at The Oakleaf School and I hated every minute of it! They were rated "A" last year, but fell drastically this year (which is normal in the 2nd to 3rd year of a school's existence). There is a new elementary opening this fall, and then another one next year, which is where DD will go starting in 3rd grade. The high school is slated to open 2010. I'm sure that once the elementary kids get out of the middle school, and the schools have had some time to gel, that they will pick back up. After all, there is a lot invested in the Oakleaf area, and they will make sure the schools are a selling point. After all, I believe when all is said and done they are anticipating 12,000 homes in this community? The schools will come around.

As for Eagle Harbor? We looked out there but felt that we would be a "number" out there. Just our opinion. We actually liked Fleming Island Plantation better. But again, it would have been over an hour commute for my husband. Luckily, we fell in love with Eagle Landing, which is the golf course community of Oakleaf. And the course is quickly gaining popularity in the area as it's very well designed and well maintained!

[kpasa]

Renting a year is better, that way you see everything, then your viewpoints on all issues can be your answers. I would prefer living in Julington Cr. but we rented in Green Cove Spgs, then our kids got comfortable with the Clay Co. Schools, they are good. We bought in Lake Asbury (Asbury Downs) it is affordable and safe. The house had a nice pool, and that was one of my criteria. Once my kids are grown and out of school, I am moving to Jax Beach or St. Aug. Beach.

[joninclay]

Originally Posted by kpasa

Renting a year is better, that way you see everything, then your viewpoints on all issues can be your answers. I would prefer living in Julington Cr. but we rented in Green Cove Spgs, then our kids got comfortable with the Clay Co. Schools, they are good. We bought in Lake Asbury (Asbury Downs) it is affordable and safe. The house had a nice pool, and that was one of my criteria. Once my kids are grown and out of school, I am moving to Jax Beach or St. Aug. Beach.

I lived out by Asbury Downs, in Glenhaven. I moved there in March 2002, when it was a new neighborhood. I sold in June 2006, when the quality had started to decline (and right at the top of the real estate roller coaster, right before the bubble burst). You're right: the schools are good.

[titaniummd]

Originally Posted by karajeboo

As for Eagle Harbor? We looked out there but felt that we would be a "number" out there. Just our opinion. We actually liked Fleming Island Plantation better. But again, it would have been over an hour commute for my husband. Luckily, we fell in love with Eagle Landing, which is the golf course community of Oakleaf. And the course is quickly gaining popularity in the area as it's very well designed and well maintained!

I drove by there today and the neighborhoods look great. There are so many empty lots throughout. I was looking at a house there last year and there still aren't any houses to the left or right of it - there are about 4 houses across the street. My main concern would be wondering what type of house would be built next to me and how it would look.

Since I may be moving in about 3 years, I would be selling my house and competing against a builder of a new construction home. I opted for the other side of Orange Park.

[joseph.myers]

The CDD fees in Flemning Island and Eagle Harbor are high as well!!

[cia.tammy]

My family and I lived in Jax, FL for 10 yrs; ..have been away for a while and are on our way back. We are "scouting" Oakleaf Plantation for our home site. Since we have been gone, we expect a lot of growth, change and development. I just read an article that Clay County "broke ground" for Oakleaf High on May 27, 2008; which is slated to open in 2010. My question is: What high school would Oakleaf students attend NOW, until Oakleaf High is opened in 2010?


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Originally Posted by coreanem

I had been living between Eagle Harbor/Fleming Island and what is now OakLeaf Plantation since I first moved to Florida. Often I wished I had bought in EH/FI, but had I, I would have been wanting to move over to OakLeaf now. All things considered I think OakLeaf will have a lot more to offer in the end. Better schools and more of them, more shopping/dinning, etc. It seems that's where the focus is...for example...the funds for the latest county school were diverted to OakLeaf for the new high school. Originally it was intended that EH/FI would get a new, much needed school, but instead it went to OakLeaf and that's even after the other three other schools that are already open, opening 2008, and opening 2009. Then, a hospital site was proposed for EH/FI...in fact...the land was set aside inside FIP. That too is now not happening. There are yet a few hurdles to get over with the government but the hospital that should get the go ahead has clear intentions of locating the new Clay County hospital by OLP...Branan Field Road. If I were someone deciding between the two areas I'd really think about what I believe is the main difference which really is just a personal preference...direct access to Doctor's Inlet and the St Johns River (EH/FI) or being up against the forest (EL/OLP). Of course the entire FDOT project figures in as well, but frankly, I can't accurately foretell just how that is going to play into this long term, for the better or worse. I do know that road expansion plans will make traversing between the two areas much easier, and faster. And what you can't get at one or the other...just go on over to the other side. Orange Park (Blanding/Wells) in the middle is just going to get further depressed and crime ridden. It's happening now. That, and, seems hardly any restaurants can stay open over there anymore. IMO development in/around OLP is just going to kill that completely...no one with any sense or money is going to want to go into Orange Park proper if they can help it. In any case, my choice in Clay County would be EL/OLP. That is, IF you want to be in Clay. After many years of comparing one area to another (all around Jax), and with ALL considerations, I ended up in St Johns County and this is probably where I'll stay. I prefer the demographics here, the schools, the traffic or lack of, the shopping...what is coming (lots and lots of everything). Better planning all the way around. I think St Johns County has an upper hand mostly because it was largely undeveloped compared to Clay....and it straddles I-95. Clay originally had poor, uncontrolled planning (70's-80's) and things really got away from them. Blanding and such, which can never be changed...is what it is. With all the tremendous growth and development in SJ, they have a chance to do it right and seem to be getting it right, from the beginning. There's also a much higher tax base, which is all important.

[jrmutley]

Oakleaf high school students now attend Orange Park High School. Fortunately, mine are 9 & 7. So, that wasn't a concern. By the time they are that age the "new" high school will just be "sorta new".

As for the new high school, something that I have read is that they are planning some sort of "aviation" program. Any ideas out there what they could be planning as part of a high school aviation program? I think this...assuming that they do it...is very cool.

[livelovelaugh05]

Does anyone one know if one has to be a resident of Oak Leaf to send your kids to the schools in Oak leak community?

[riveree]

Originally Posted by livelovelaugh05

Does anyone one know if one has to be a resident of Oak Leaf to send your kids to the schools in Oak leak community?

For any of the public school districts, you would need to live within the boundary lines for that particular school. There are some exceptions, but that's how it usually works.

You might want to contact the Clay county school board and ask them how far out the boundary goes for the school you're interested in.