Is Clermont a nice place? (Orlando, Winter Park: low income, crime rate, motels)

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Originally Posted by ComSense

Clermont is unique in that it actually has a little bit of hilly terrain in a few areas. Other than that, its kind of your typical suburban type town with shopping centers, sprawl, etc. I heard its changing quite a bit in terms of feel/culture and demographics tho.

Clermont has changed significantly over the past few years. By the way, we now have officially over 31,000 residents within the city limits. Not exactly a "small town" any more.

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A few other things we have for families are the new community arts and rec center with a couple of pools, a theater, and lot's of function space. They are supposed to be adding some playing fields up there as well. Also SkyZone which is an indoor trampoline place. There is also a new dog park off 12th street with plenty of shade, and an adjacent new playground.

[bmw335xi]

Originally Posted by annerk

We have enough here so most don't need to leave on a daily basis, including employment, shopping, restaurants, and recreation/entertainment. I'd suggest you might want to actually visit the area and have a clue what you are talking about before disparaging it again.

Do you disagree that if a person is looking for a large city, they will feel out of place in Clermont, yes or no? It honestly doesn't take a month vacation to tell whether or not a place is a small or big town. It shouldn't require a treasure map. I didn't knock Clermont down at all. All I said was the OP should visit before making a decision because it is a small town that is far from points of interest in Orlando. If the OP is looking for a small town, than it is perfectly fine.

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Originally Posted by bmw335xi

Do you disagree that if a person is looking for a large city, they will feel out of place in Clermont, yes or no? It honestly doesn't take a month vacation to tell whether or not a place is a small or big town. It shouldn't require a treasure map. I didn't knock Clermont down at all. All I said was the OP should visit before making a decision because it is a small town that is far from points of interest in Orlando. If the OP is looking for a small town, than it is perfectly fine.

I think it's pretty disrespectful towards the OP to assume that they don't already have some knowledge about the size of the area or that they are only interested in large cities. It is closer to many parts of Orlando than many other suburbs are.

[thunderkat59]

I might be considered an AntiFloridite -- My time in South Florida was absolute torture. But, the Mt. Dora/Eustis/Clermont areas of Lee County were very nice. I really liked that part of the state. So much so that if employment could have been gotten in a short time, we would have relocated there. I really enjoyed the Flea Market weeks in Mt Dora.
That area to me, was a very pleasant anomaly for Florida

[bmw335xi]

Originally Posted by annerk

I think it's pretty disrespectful towards the OP to assume that they don't already have some knowledge about the size of the area or that they are only interested in large cities. It is closer to many parts of Orlando than many other suburbs are.

There is nothing wrong with giving full disclosure and by just looking at a map, it makes Clermont seem a lot more closer to Orlando than it really is. That is the reason why I went there before, but it was just too far out. What is wrong with recommending a visit before signing a lease? Nothing lol. I didn't notice any unique character, it was typical small town Florida, mostly strip malls with a few walkable blocks on one street with some shops. Like I said, if you need a treasure map to find interesting parts of a small town, it will probably leave a lot to be desired. Besides the little downtown, it's mostly houses and strip malls, at least from what I saw.

For me, Mount Dora had a lot of small town charm. However, it is quite far out of the way, but if I was someone looking for a small town, I would choose Mount Dora over Clermont in a heartbeat.

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Originally Posted by bmw335xi

There is nothing wrong with giving full disclosure and by just looking at a map, it makes Clermont seem a lot more closer to Orlando than it really is. That is the reason why I went there before, but it was just too far out. What is wrong with recommending a visit before signing a lease? Nothing lol. I didn't notice any unique character, it was typical small town Florida, mostly strip malls with a few walkable blocks on one street with some shops. Like I said, if you need a treasure map to find interesting parts of a small town, it will probably leave a lot to be desired. Besides the little downtown, it's mostly houses and strip malls, at least from what I saw.

For me, Mount Dora had a lot of small town charm. However, it is quite far out of the way, but if I was someone looking for a small town, I would choose Mount Dora over Clermont in a heartbeat.

Again, you haven't been here in several years. It has changed considerably. It is also no where near as far off the beaten path as you are trying to make it. I hope the OP has the common sense to believe someone who actually lives here and has first hand knowledge over someone who took a 30 minute drive around several years ago and has no idea what they are taking about.

Of course the OP should come and take a look. I suspect they will be pleasantly surprised.

[bmw335xi]

Nowhere did I discourage them from visiting. In fact, I encouraged them to visit. I could understand you getting upset if I said, "I went there and it's no good, don't even consider it" but I'm not lol. I can't imagine the town completely changed in a couple of years. I have family in a small town in Alaska and when they say, "It's changed so much!" and then when I arrive and the only differences are a couple new restaurants, a park and a Target, to me that isn't big change, but for a small town, I guess it is.

I would just recommend that the OP check out Clermont and Mount Dora. They may as well check out Winter Park and Celebration as well.

[StreetSmarts]

Originally Posted by annerk

Clermont has changed significantly over the past few years. By the way, we now have officially over 31,000 residents within the city limits. Not exactly a "small town" any more.

Yes, its grown. Used to be a small town with hills until all built up and kind of ruined its uniquness, in my opinion. Now those "hills" are just covered with cooke cutter homes really. I hate that it happened to Clermont. My in-laws used to own acreage on Sugar Loaf Mtn but sold it to move to the mtns of NC.

As far as the change, I was speaking more specifically about the demographics.

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Originally Posted by bmw335xi

Nowhere did I discourage them from visiting. In fact, I encouraged them to visit. I could understand you getting upset if I said, "I went there and it's no good, don't even consider it" but I'm not lol. I can't imagine the town completely changed in a couple of years. I have family in a small town in Alaska and when they say, "It's changed so much!" and then when I arrive and the only differences are a couple new restaurants, a park and a Target, to me that isn't big change, but for a small town, I guess it is.

I would just recommend that the OP check out Clermont and Mount Dora. They may as well check out Winter Park and Celebration as well.

You grossly underestimate how this area has changed in the past few years. Perhaps to the idle observer it hasn't but for services, amenities, and facilities for residents, the change has been incredible.