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It is currently underdevelopment, but may fit many of your needs. I think it is going to be great. There are tons of medical providers within a couple of miles and the St. Dominic Hospital is only about 6 miles down Lakeland (Baptist Hospital is not much further).
Wow that looks quite promising! I actually do like 'new urbanism' mixed use master-planned communities. Thanks for posting this!
Since you like new urbanism, while in Jackson (in addition to the very beautiful Waterpointe now under construction) you should check out Lost Rabbit. It's on the water and has beautiful architecture and is adjacent to the Natchez Trace (great for walking and biking). So far it's only houses and some condos,(and a marina), but currently under construction is a "general store", which I'm guessing will be a fancy, small, speciality grocery store and the beginnings of a little waterside town center in that community.
Also in Madison, Arlington is a new-urban style development with classical architecture, porches, etc now under construction. It will be houses only, but the very neat Township at Colony Park is basically next store and also down the street will be the new downtown Madison ("Madison and Main", "Village at Madison" and "Magnolia District" as named on google); the new downtown Ridgeland (West Jackson Street, soon to be under renovation and construction); the Renaissance (outdoor shopping center, very pretty); the new Prado Vista (soon to be under construction, a new-urban community with Top Golf and some hotels included); and the Town of Livingston (historic-style new-urban development in its early stages and very cute).
Also tiny downtown Flora is beginning to emerge (see beautiful "West Main" development in Flora, MS). And downtown Clinton, MS hasn't been mentioned but it's very cute and set to grow after a major financial gift to Mississippi College there in town.
I should add that since you are stopping in Brookhaven, here are a brief guide:
- Exit 40 is the main exit, Brookway Boulevard which is where Wal-Mart, Home Depot, et al are located.
- Brookway Blvd continues east into the downtown area, passing the Mississippi School for the Arts
- The downtown Main Street is on either side of the railroad tracks along S Whitworth Avenue and S Railroad Avenue and also along W Cherokee Street (crossing under the 'Brookhaven: Homeseekers Paradise" sign.... the town motto for some reason)
- The residential historic district is a couple of blocks off downtown off S Jackson St, S Church St, and the elegant Natchez Avenue.
- The upscale new neighborhoods are nearby, near Margaret St at Kraner Lane; Eola Trail NE/ Loblolly Lane NE/ Long Leaf Trail NE; and Oak Hil Dr NE.
Brookhaven's population is about 13,000.
On your way there, you'll pass McComb, which hasn't yet fixed up its downtown but actually has some beautiful residential neighborhoods itself that are fun to see right off the interstate, including Hawthorne Drive/ Pinehurst Place right across from Percy Quinn State Park; and Oakleigh Dr/ Cherokee Dr/ Brandon Dr all in same general area just west of the interstate; and in town Lakeshore Dr and Cedar Ridge Rd.
Since you like new urbanism, while in Jackson (in addition to the very beautiful Waterpointe now under construction) you should check out Lost Rabbit. It's on the water and has beautiful architecture and is adjacent to the Natchez Trace (great for walking and biking). So far it's only houses and some condos,(and a marina), but currently under construction is a "general store", which I'm guessing will be a fancy, small, speciality grocery store and the beginnings of a little waterside town center in that community.
Also in Madison, Arlington is a new-urban style development with classical architecture, porches, etc now under construction. It will be houses only, but the very neat Township at Colony Park is basically next store and also down the street will be the new downtown Madison ("Madison and Main", "Village at Madison" and "Magnolia District" as named on google); the new downtown Ridgeland (West Jackson Street, soon to be under renovation and construction); the Renaissance (outdoor shopping center, very pretty); the new Prado Vista (soon to be under construction, a new-urban community with Top Golf and some hotels included); and the Town of Livingston (historic-style new-urban development in its early stages and very cute).
Also tiny downtown Flora is beginning to emerge (see beautiful "West Main" development in Flora, MS). And downtown Clinton, MS hasn't been mentioned but it's very cute and set to grow after a major financial gift to Mississippi College there in town.
The pool at Lost Rabbit looks awesome.
With new urbanism planned communities, one thing I really value is when the developer keeps as many mature trees as possible instead of clear-cutting the whole area to the ground. There's a mixed use community in southwest Gainesville FL we're interested in called Haile Plantation. The tree canopy there creates a nice atmosphere and I appreciate having some shade on sunny days.
Seems like there are a lot of towns around Jackson that are thriving. I have some questions about Jackson area vs the coast. I'll put those in a separate post.
The upscale towns around Jackson are appealing to me. I'm wondering if the grocery options there would be considerably better than along the coast?
Another question I have in comparing the coastal towns vs Jackson suburbs - is there a significant difference in winter temperatures? I did a quick check of Dec, Jan, Feb average highs and lows in Ocean Springs and Madison and the difference in lows was fairly notable, a 10 degree warmer low on the coast. Average high temps were closer, within about 4 degrees. Assuming the lows are overnight I'm curious if this really makes for a different winter experience living near Jackson vs down on the coast.
Any other feedback about Madison/Ridgeland vs BSL/Ocean Springs? In those Jackson suburbs is it mostly young families and people who work in Jackson and in the coastal towns more tourists and retired folks? Easier to blend in as a newcomer on the coast?
How would you compare Biloxi and Gulfport vs BSL and Ocean Springs?
Any other feedback about Madison/Ridgeland vs BSL/Ocean Springs? In those Jackson suburbs is it mostly young families and people who work in Jackson and in the coastal towns more tourists and retired folks? Easier to blend in as a newcomer on the coast?
Granted, I'm not nearly as familiar with the Jackson area as I am with the coast, but I feel your intuition about ease of blending in to be correct.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Aquatique
How would you compare Biloxi and Gulfport vs BSL and Ocean Springs?
Thank you!
Biloxi and Gulfport lack the small town charm. They're much bigger. Gulfport is the commercial and industrial center of the region (it can also be a bit grungy), and Biloxi is very much oriented around the casinos/tourism. That's not to say that Gulfport and Biloxi totally lack charm though. They have nice areas.
The upscale towns around Jackson are appealing to me. I'm wondering if the grocery options there would be considerably better than along the coast?
Probably Jxn, you have Costco, Whole Foods, Fresh Market in Ridgeland and Sullivan's in Gluckstadt. The Krogers in the Jxn area very good too. I can't comment on grocery options on the coast.
Another question I have in comparing the coastal towns vs Jackson suburbs - is there a significant difference in winter temperatures? I did a quick check of Dec, Jan, Feb average highs and lows in Ocean Springs and Madison and the difference in lows was fairly notable, a 10 degree warmer low on the coast. Average high temps were closer, within about 4 degrees. Assuming the lows are overnight I'm curious if this really makes for a different winter experience living near Jackson vs down on the coast.
I've spent a fair amount of time on the coast and a lot of time in Jxn and north central MS. I can't tell a big difference. People from the coast will tell you there's a breeze off the water that lowers the temp a degree or two, but I've never been able to feel much of a difference. We do get a light icing a couple times per year in Jxn, but rarely do they get any on the coast.
Any other feedback about Madison/Ridgeland vs BSL/Ocean Springs? In those Jackson suburbs is it mostly young families and people who work in Jackson and in the coastal towns more tourists and retired folks? Easier to blend in as a newcomer on the coast?
It's a mix in Madison/Ridgeland, but in the Township and other "senior" neighborhoods there are mostly empty nesters. There are a good many tourists on the coast, but not overwhelming most of the year (they do have events like Black Spring Break, Jeeping the Coast and Scraping the Coast that will bring enough traffic to shutdown 90 for a few weekends per year). Most of of the casino goers stay in and near the casinos.
How would you compare Biloxi and Gulfport vs BSL and Ocean Springs?
BSL/OS over Biloxi/G'port by a mile, but there are nice neighborhoods in all. Tradition, just north of Biloxi, is a walkable neighborhood that may fit your needs. I have several friends who live there and love it. https://traditionms.com/
Thank you!
Hope this helps.
Last edited by viverlibre; 04-22-2023 at 08:21 PM..
OMG, enough talk about the fab Madison/Ridgeland area sitting there like a forested gem cradled by the sweep of the Natchez Trace. It’s horrible, just horrible, don’t even think about living there! Ha. It’s hopeless, might as well fess up, ‘they’ are flocking already — they being people who have an eye for beauty and quality. Houses there post on day 1, are under contract on day 3. It’s ridiculous. And I do agree that the properties are often stunning, particularly the ones in those forested subdivisions, where the groves of mature oaks and pines stand over roomy, clearly loved-on homes.
My husband and I did a tour of MS this winter and thought Ocean Springs would sweep us off our feet. It does have a beautiful Main Street lined with live oaks — the oaks at times create a spectacular vaulting archway over sections of Washington Avenue. That took my breath away. There are also numerous residential neighborhoods branching off the main drag with similarly adorned streets. Downtown is lively and full of local businesses and restaurants. It’s surprisingly busy and crowded, even during the week. Ocean Springs may not have college kids, but it makes up for it in tourists, which gives it a sort of perpetual party town feel. I think that is due to the spillover from Biloxi and the casinos.
For grocery shopping, it has a Winn-Dixie, a Rouses Market, and Five Seasons Whole Foods (which is not related to the chain Whole Foods). I don’t know what meets your standard for a great grocery, but none of these hold a candle to The Fresh Market in Ridgeland, in my humble opinion.
On the downside, Madison/Ridgeland lack the sort of center of town gravity that Ocean Springs features, plus the land sits on Yazoo clay, which causes house foundations to slip, slide, settle, and crack. We’ve put down offers on two houses, both featuring prior foundation repair. I think this can’t be avoided at some point during the lifetime of a home there.
I’ve given up on my compact town quest in MS. Outside that one mile downtown radius, Ocean Springs sprawls in a great big yawn of outlying ugly strip malls spread far and wide. Those are the areas with reasonable home prices, too. Anywhere within two miles of the business district is highway robbery. And of course the flood insurance. Ouch.
I'm really thankful for all of this helpful input!
Very curious to find out which area I actually prefer when we visit - the coast or the Jackson suburbs. In Madison, having a Whole Foods right down the road would be perfect. I've never been to a Fresh Market but seems like another good grocery option.
I also saw some other posts that sort of portray the Madison area as snobby / status obsessed. I wonder if there's a difference between the Jackson suburbs and the coastal towns in that regard.
I'm really thankful for all of this helpful input!
Very curious to find out which area I actually prefer when we visit - the coast or the Jackson suburbs. In Madison, having a Whole Foods right down the road would be perfect. I've never been to a Fresh Market but seems like another good grocery option.
I also saw some other posts that sort of portray the Madison area as snobby / status obsessed. I wonder if there's a difference between the Jackson suburbs and the coastal towns in that regard.
I haven't noticed much snobby activity in Madison, although it's likely one of the wealthy cities in the 'Sip, in many other states it'd be average. People in MS are polite, but may not go out of the their way to include new comers into social circles. It really depends on how out going you are and how much effort you put into making friends. A lot of social connections are made through church and sports.
I wouldn't worry too much about yazoo clay. Over 28 years, I've had 6 houses in Madison and Rankin Counties and no foundation issues in any. Foundation issues are usually the result of the builder going cheap when preparing the pad on spec houses.
If you custom build make sure to use a reputable contractor who understands slab foundations and you'll be fine. If you buy an established home, you and your inspector will be able to sus out any foundation issues (additionally any issues should be in the disclosure). Assuming a brick exterior (which is common) walk around and look for cracks in the brick, a few hairline cracks on an older house is fine also, you should be able see any major repairs. An older home with freshly painted brick may be a indication of the homeowner trying to hide repairs of cracks. Streets in very bad shape in a neighborhood CAN (but not always) be an indicator of a lot of yazoo clay in the area as well as driveways in poor shape.
Last edited by viverlibre; 04-23-2023 at 07:38 PM..
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