OakLeaf Plantation: Suburbia Built to Last?

[CCMjax]

Would be nice if they did something like the townhomes (without the street facing garages) in Brooklyn adjacent to McCoy's Creek.  Mixed income so the displaced individuals currently living in the few still inhabited homes there had options too.

[Know Growth]

Much of the land area is former Gulfstream Land Development Corp, and later, the (then) Florida Game & Freshwater Fish Commission 1900 acre Brannon Chaffee Wildlife Mitigation Park. At one time,the crux of the 1900 acres was deemed to be necessary for the mitigation of Brannon/Chaffee (First Coast Beltway).The parcel became abbreviated to about half.........

In fact,Oakleaf began to take shape about a decade prior than the era referenced here,and technically,regards speculative land purchases,twenty years,and finally,spanning back to Gulfstream and the local government planning act of 1973 and Clay County future roadway concept depicting Clay Beltway.

G&F/Trust For Public Lands Mitigation acreage was wrestled from the control of the Trust For Public Lands- three or four individuals purchased acreage. Referred to as "The Farm". (Game & Fish Commission local Officer Skip Truby stormed in to my office one day,upset about events that I would not clearly appreciate for over a decade)
How interesting that the profile here depicts land owner Mr. Pittman's once favorite Turkey hunt areas. Mr. Pittman,upon Oakleaf development proceedings, thence headed to St Johns County to purchase acreage;"Silver Leaf".

Then enter Brannon/Chaffee "Sector Plan". I witnessed one (of many) public "Vision" meeting where disgruntled members finally agreed to "inevitable" development if the neighborhoods 'were like Avondale'. The role and function of the Planner &Consultant retained by Clay County with both B/C Sector Plan and later,Lake Asbury Sector Plan (Both of them... ) was interesting.

The erroneous promotion of Brannon/Chaffee as 'alternate' to Blanding Blvd.,traffic alleviation had always enjoyed four well drive traction.

For the longest time,our very own State Duval Delegation refused to ardently promote Brannon/Chaffee funding.(Even in the face of a $3,000 lobster dinner lobby effort hosterd by the Clay County Chamber of Commerce).
Eventually,the stars aligned with King,Thrasher and Horne.

Eventually,Mayor Delaney would interject key support for the permitting of Brannon/Chaffee during pivotal Fl DOT  Brannon/Chafee permit application placed before the Water Management District and US Army Corps of Engineers.The DOT application was careful to state that Brannon Chaffee ,as per Permit application,was a "Stand Alone" project,in other words,not  associated with (or feared) the Outer Beltway. The USCOE head would eventually become the COJ Public Works Director for a short time span,and the Trust For Public Lands was warmly embraced as central Delaney era enviro presence quotient.

That's how we cranked out More Of The Same.

[I-10east]

Many get caught up in the aesthetics of suburbia, but what really matters is functionality (good schools, safe area, nearby shopping etc). Schools are a main reason why many families move to the suburbs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxrezcHi1Wk

[Know Growth]

Indeed the public schools have ben a key driver behind the popularity of adjoining counties.

I have a friend who moved his family to Oakleaf, and right back out in a hurry. Just not quite the same it seems.

Well inland Oakleaf,Brannon Chaffee developments were considered a "dark horse' relative to coastal aspirations.

The great thing about the Outer beltway is that if Oakleaf proves unpopular, decline et al,there is a vehicle for Flight. No doubt Penney Farms,Lake Asbury Sector will prove improved. 

I find many are amazed at the level of future growth 'planned',and vested,yet unseen.

I was amused at the call for "Avondale" like neighborhoods. A rather myopic view of geography,demographics,placement,historical influences. Susan Fraser was the Clay Planner during the Brannon/Chaffee Sector Plan proceedings.......and a resident of Avondale.
Susan confidently ushered the BC Corridor transformative growth because "Clay wants it".

[RattlerGator]

Many get caught up in the aesthetics of suburbia, but what really matters is functionality (good schools, safe area, nearby shopping etc). Schools are a main reason why many families move to the suburbs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxrezcHi1Wk

It's an obvious truth, but some folks on here have an incredibly narrow perspective on "beauty" -- and the ability of people to figure out for themselves what they like and want.

[thelakelander]

^Just like living in the urban core, everyone has their own reason. For some it's schools, for others it may be housing costs or what they believe is a better quality of life. To each his own. We have enough space to accommodate several different types of lifestyles.

[Know Growth]

Last week someone made comment as to the 'run down' look in pockets of Argyle.....

[mtraininjax]

Last week someone made comment as to the 'run down' look in pockets of Argyle.....

Go to Mandarin, you will see the same thing in places like Ramsgate, which have been there since the 80s and earlier. Ranch style homes do not age well.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

Ranch style homes do not age well.

Cookie-cutter homes don't age well when you know you can upgrade to the latest and greatest every 10 years....

I feel that most who move out to the burbs to get away from the 'hustle & bustle' have found that it's time to move on by the time most of the major purchase items lifespans are reaching replacement age:  appliances, roof, A/C, pool lining/equipment etc..  Add to that, in that same timeframe, the 'hustle and bustle' is surrounding them, so it becomes a double-whammy and becomes time to move on and let someone else deal with the replacement issues and the 'new' crowds.

[finehoe]

I feel that most who move out to the burbs to get away from the 'hustle & bustle' have found that it's time to move on by the time most of the major purchase items lifespans are reaching replacement age:  appliances, roof, A/C, pool lining/equipment etc..  Add to that, in that same timeframe, the 'hustle and bustle' is surrounding them, so it becomes a double-whammy and becomes time to move on and let someone else deal with the replacement issues and the 'new' crowds.

I think you pretty much summed it up.

[BridgeTroll]

Ranch style homes do not age well.

Cookie-cutter homes don't age well when you know you can upgrade to the latest and greatest every 10 years....

I feel that most who move out to the burbs to get away from the 'hustle & bustle' have found that it's time to move on by the time most of the major purchase items lifespans are reaching replacement age:  appliances, roof, A/C, pool lining/equipment etc..  Add to that, in that same timeframe, the 'hustle and bustle' is surrounding them, so it becomes a double-whammy and becomes time to move on and let someone else deal with the replacement issues and the 'new' crowds.

Or... the kids grow up and move away... and now they down size or upsize or move to the city or the country and the next generation of couples with kids move in...