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S. Smith Moderator
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Oak Ridge's first townhomes are now under construction (on Highway 68 near the Village Store/Exxon). These are big, expensive, really nice townhouses -- like the Brownstones at Lake Jeanette (3,500+ square feet each, garages, elevators in each, and all amenities and starting at $700,000 each). Do you think Oak Ridge is a good market for them? Do you think they'll be successful? |
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Jim Flynt Member
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Edited by Poster. Last edited on Aug 5th, 2007 02:33 am by Jim Flynt |
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Jim Flynt Member
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Edited by Poster. Last edited on Aug 5th, 2007 02:33 am by Jim Flynt |
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S. Smith Moderator
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Actually, Jim, I was happy to get the response I did from you. While my initial topic was about the townhouses, and I'm also glad to hear people's responses about what they think about the value of real estate, the architectural appropriateness, etc., I'm also glad you touched on a different aspect. I think all the town councils actually have discussed affordable housing and have even made provisions for it to happen. But part of the problem is the value of land in this area as well as what the market will bear. If a lot costs $50,000 or more (sometimes significantly more), a developer isn't going to build a $150,000 house on it. And as long as people continue to buy $500,000 houses, developers don't have any incentive to do otherwise. |
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Jim Flynt Member
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Edited by Poster. Last edited on Aug 5th, 2007 02:33 am by Jim Flynt |
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summerfieldrd Banned
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S. Smith wrote: Oak Ridge's first townhomes are now under construction (on Highway 68 near the Village Store/Exxon). These are big, expensive, really nice townhouses -- like the Brownstones at Lake Jeanette (3,500+ square feet each, garages, elevators in each, and all amenities and starting at $700,000 each). In a time of energy conservation... I am annoyed to see yet more energy hogs whipped up without a concern one toward energy conservation. As energy prices rise, will the Northwest one day find themselves among a plethora of energy hogs, and thus see a decline in property values? There are methods of construction that utilize "green" practices that I don't see anyone implementing in this area. It's like, "Hey Bobby, gimme 'em blueprints over thare... yeah, says we need a 2x4 right hare!" I think the local building practices are quite antiquated. Then, there is the whole aspect Jim is holding up to the light. Couldn't agree more. |
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DOGGETTJA Member 
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Whoa! Wait a minute Jim I do take exception to some of your posting on affordable housing. First let me say that in the 3 towns in the Northwest there are a total of maybe 20 people in the "government". These 20 people can not possibly be responsible for driving all the changes needed in this area. There are probably 10 times as many people in construction who are interested in keeping the development as it exists now, so if we as a community want to have affordable housing then we as a community have to drive it. It is unfair and just not possible to expect the elected officials to do this with no drive from the community. They after all supposedly represent the community. Having said that Summerfield has on numerous occasions over the years discussed different ways to provide affordable housing and in fact actually moved to buy some property to provide off site septic for the core of Summerfield, which would have allowed for the smaller lots and smaller hopefully more affordable housing. There was a large out cry by the neighbors, no support by anyone else other than those on the council and the idea was dropped. Summerfield has also discussed changing the ordinances and offering incentatives of greater density to developers to allow for some affordable housing but here again there has been virtually no support from the community. Also because of the lack of community septic and water to some extent lots can only be so small. I can only speak for Summerfield but I have been very concerned about this issue but I certainly feel I am in the minority with the comment I most often heard "but what about property values?" |
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rasin Guest
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RPD (Rural Preservation District) and RM (Rural Multi-family) are both attempts to lower the cost of land so that the developers would consider something a bit more affordable. The main obstacles that even creative zoning has a tough time getting over are the price of land and that Stokesdale, Summerfield and Oak Ridge do not have sewers. Without sewers every house needs room for two septic fields which pretty much requires at least 30,000 square feet (roughly ¾ of an acre). South of 150 you have to have 40,000 feet due to that area being in the Greensboro watershed. Unfortunately another obstacle is that many people have a knee jerk reaction to any discussion of “affordable housing” and even more ignorant people play upon these misconceptions. The first RPD zoning had to go to court to get it approved and in the end the developer did something else with the property probably due to all the grief/cost he got over it. Nothing that could be built in our communities could even come close to low-incoming housing, but I agree with some creative thinking and a developer that thinks out of the box we should be able to do something to make our communities a bit more attainable. |
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drjames Member
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I agree...I would like to come back to live in Oak Ridge....but who can afford those prices? This all started years ago while I still lived in Oak Ridge...the developers building expensive home around the lake, at the old mill site. This seems to be the trend everywhere....homes costing twice or more what they should...rents doubling etc...all this does is run up land prices..and taxes.... massive changes and growth are not always good for a community as seen in Naples and Marco Island, Fl. wow.....what is next ? all the best to all of you in oak ridge jim |
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Jim Flynt Member
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drjames wrote: This all started years ago while I still lived in Oak Ridge...the developers building expensive home around the lake, at the old mill site. Dr Jim: I resemble that remark. Nice to hear from you again. I well remember our nice chats and visits when you lived in Oak Ridge and our mutual friend and fishing/drinking buddy, one Leo Phelps. Just to jog your memory, Jess Johnson and I were the developers who bought the Old Mill and Old Mill pond and property from your Dad and developed the lots around the Old Mill pond. Some 30 years ago. I sure would like to find and buy a nice large tract in OR now for the prices we had to pay way back then (which we thought 'high' at the time). Oak Ridge was certainly a far different place back in those good old days. Who could ever have imagined the changes that have happened since then? Last edited on Jun 14th, 2007 03:21 pm by Jim Flynt |
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drjames Member
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Hi there Jim...yes I do remember....Leo died the same week my father did.. I did not mean anything negative in what I said..merely this was a time frame that I recalled..Progress is certain....price increases are certain..that much I know for sure. No, I cannot image the changes that have taken place.....Maybe I will pay a visit to see for myself...... good to hear from you jim if you run across any teriffic deals..please let me know james.bailes@yahoo.com or 809 309 6460 all the best jim |
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S. Smith Moderator
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Sounds like you two are waxing poetic for the old days so I guess I'll join you. drjames, I don't remember you, but I remember your father very well. I remember going to his house as a kid for OR Methodist Church picnics and such. I also remember my family going down to the mill to get barrels of water when we were planting tobacco. Oak Ridge has changed dramatically. But back to the topic at hand, there are several houses in this price range in Oak Ridge (as there are in Summerfield and probably Stokesdale too), but townhouses are a little different. |
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drjames Member
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Oh..those were the good old days....I think I will have to come for a visit. Thank you for the reply all the best jim |
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ff12 Member 
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I have noticed that Mr. Cooke has his land/home up for sale. Is he going to live in one of the townhomes or is he skipping town because he has built on all of his land. |
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rasin Guest
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At the time he applied for the site plan/rezoning he indicated that he planned on living in one of them. Whether that has changed can't say. |
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