Tractors4u
Elite Member
- Joined
- Mar 10, 2002
- Messages
- 2,540
- Location
- Athens Alabama
- Tractor
- Deere 4310, Kubota L355, John Deere SST18 Spin Steer, 2006 Polaris Ranger
After reading in the Related Topics forum about Stowe Vermont, in particular Boondox's comments, it kind of relates to what is going on in my neighborhood.
I grew up in Limestone county Alabama. Our county seat is Athens, a small town with a current population of just under 20,000. Where I lived we were surrounded by cotton fields and the neighbors we had, had always been there. In the 22 years I lived with my parents I remember only 2 houses being built on the one mile stretch of road between our house and the 4 lane highway.
This area of the county is called East Limestone and in the last 5 to 10 years it has become something of a "bedroom" community to Huntsville and Madison Alabama. These two cities are about 15 and 10 miles away respectively with a population totaling 380,000. A large number of people coming to these cities are there for the high tech jobs that NASA and the Army offer. Once they find out how much property in our county cost, they decide to make a move to the country. The developers are turning the farm land into subdivions. Every builder thinks they are a master developer. They put a horseshoe street through a cotton field, give it a cutesy name like "Cottonwood Acres" and here comes the new neighbors. Other than it getting crowded around here, they want the city conviences out here in the country. They want dry cleaners, pizza shops, doctor's offices, and etc. When they developed the farmland beside my parents house, a realtor I go to church with heard me complaining about it. Her response was, "it is great, it will make there property value go up!" Personally I don't want my property value going up. That in turn means higher property tax. I guess if you are buying your subdivision house to live in until your next job transfer and you can make some money when you sell that is fine. I don't plan to sell.
My brother built his house on 8 acres of family land 2 years ago. Last week one of the adjoining cotton fields had about 20 holes dug for perk tests. He already had one subdivision in front of him. The kids on their ATVs constantly cut across his property and ride around his pond.
Next week I will be closing on 18 acres of land I am buying from my grandmother. Two sides of the property has road frontage, one side of the property is in a flood zone and the remaining side has personal property with 3 established homes on it. I feel lucky that I have the oppurtunity to get some property that will give me some privacy and enough of it to still live the country life.
I grew up in Limestone county Alabama. Our county seat is Athens, a small town with a current population of just under 20,000. Where I lived we were surrounded by cotton fields and the neighbors we had, had always been there. In the 22 years I lived with my parents I remember only 2 houses being built on the one mile stretch of road between our house and the 4 lane highway.
This area of the county is called East Limestone and in the last 5 to 10 years it has become something of a "bedroom" community to Huntsville and Madison Alabama. These two cities are about 15 and 10 miles away respectively with a population totaling 380,000. A large number of people coming to these cities are there for the high tech jobs that NASA and the Army offer. Once they find out how much property in our county cost, they decide to make a move to the country. The developers are turning the farm land into subdivions. Every builder thinks they are a master developer. They put a horseshoe street through a cotton field, give it a cutesy name like "Cottonwood Acres" and here comes the new neighbors. Other than it getting crowded around here, they want the city conviences out here in the country. They want dry cleaners, pizza shops, doctor's offices, and etc. When they developed the farmland beside my parents house, a realtor I go to church with heard me complaining about it. Her response was, "it is great, it will make there property value go up!" Personally I don't want my property value going up. That in turn means higher property tax. I guess if you are buying your subdivision house to live in until your next job transfer and you can make some money when you sell that is fine. I don't plan to sell.
My brother built his house on 8 acres of family land 2 years ago. Last week one of the adjoining cotton fields had about 20 holes dug for perk tests. He already had one subdivision in front of him. The kids on their ATVs constantly cut across his property and ride around his pond.
Next week I will be closing on 18 acres of land I am buying from my grandmother. Two sides of the property has road frontage, one side of the property is in a flood zone and the remaining side has personal property with 3 established homes on it. I feel lucky that I have the oppurtunity to get some property that will give me some privacy and enough of it to still live the country life.
