Wanted: a dream town

[sararose]

Hi all,
my husband and I are getting sick of the town we live in and are contemplating a move in the far off future.

I have a vision in my mind of a town/city that has lots of cottages and bungalows, decent flea markets (where one can buy cool vintage stuff and architectural salvage, rather than a mirror with a playboy symbol etched onto it and vacuum parts :( ), proximity to a big city that gets major traveling art exhibits, a couple of universities and coffee shops, at least one salad buffet restaurant, and lots of natural beauty.

Oh yeah--my dream town has decent family homes for under $200,000.
A farmer's market would be nice too. The last one we went to in our city was a joke. Would you believe no one was selling vegetables or fruit?

Have any of you seen/lived in this town? Does it exist outside of my dreams?

[zuzus_garden]

Sounded like you were describing Willow Glen, CA.

I loved it there. It was like living in a Norman Rockwell painting. The sweetest little homes on curvey tree-lined streets. Very small town feeling, and we could walk to great shops and restaurants. It was only an hour from San Francisco.

I can't imagine what those homes cost now, but they're not under $200,000. :(

Zuzu

[sararose]

San Francisco...I took an online "choose your perfect town" quiz and San Francisco came up as a first choice. Unfortunately, "how much home can you afford?" was not one of the questions!

I wondered what the little towns surrounding it were like. Do the salaries in California match the house prices? If so, it might be worth it to move there.

[Jenni Harris]

I live in Wilmington, NC, and so many people who have visited here actually end up moving here. It's on the ocean and a river, has lots of historic value and great antique shops! I live in one of the cottage/bungalow neighborhoods, and we are a true neighborhood. Houses are under $200k, roughly $150-$175k for 1800 sf. There's a coffee shop within walking distance and a park where all the neighborhood kids play. There is a strong arts community here, and we're 1.5 hours from Raleigh, NC and 3 hours from Charlotte, both of which host major art exhibitions. However, our own Cameron Art Museum plays hosts to traveling exhibits as well. It's a great place!

[zuzus_garden]

Hi sararose,

We lived out there in the early 80s. Willow Glen is not a separate little town, but is smack in the middle of CA sprawl - yet it maintained a small town feel. I loved that my kids could play safely, and it was so beautiful. I also loved that I could be in SF listening to great live music, visit the de Young art museum, or take the kids to the beach - all within an hour.

At that time salaries did match the house prices. You'd have to check it out to find out what's going on today.

Jenni's suggestion sounds interesting too!

Zuzu

[Midori]

Sounded like you were describing Willow Glen, CA.

I loved it there. It was like living in a Norman Rockwell painting. The sweetest little homes on curvey tree-lined streets. Very small town feeling, and we could walk to great shops and restaurants. It was only an hour from San Francisco.

I can't imagine what those homes cost now, but they're not under $200,000. :(

Zuzu

Zuzu! You lived in Willow Glen, CA!!!! When?! I worked there and then later lived there briefly before I was married - over 22 years ago! You are right it is a lovely neighborhood community with tree lined streets. And yes, I can't imagine what those homes cost now! We lived in Los Gatos before we moved to Oregon so my husband could go back to university. Los Gatos was divine-walking distance to the old downtown with antique shops, bookstores, coffeeshops, movie theater, restaurants, wonderful walking trails, city parks and the annual Christmas parade downtown and only half an hour to Santa Cruz beaches and 1 1/2 hours to Carmel!

The small town we live in right now in Washington reminds us a lot of Los Gatos though a lot smaller! And like California, the house prices are more than $200k in our little town already.

Warmly,

Midori

[zuzus_garden]

Midori,

Ha-ha! 1981! I lived in Saratoga before that. Los Gatos restaurants and shopping - ahhhhhhhhhh, heavenly! Carmel and Monterey Beach...don't get me started!

sararose should check out your little town!

Zuzu

[Lisa S]

My aunt and uncle lived in Los Gatos for years. They had a huge old Victorian complete with a ghost. I loved that house!

I'm looking halfheartedly for a dream town too. We live in a suburb of Portland Oregon. It was the perfect town until I had to enroll my kids in school. Are schools everywhere rife with social troubles? I'm looking for all that SaraRose wants plus good kids going to good schools.

[primrosecottage]

Looks like a lot of us are searching for that quiet utopia. Our little corner of the world was a very small farm community until the tulips were discovered...The chamber of commerce has went way too far in promoting and way too many people converge on our little community during the month of April. Our little farm roads are not equipped to handle the increase or the cars that come to a full stop at the first sight of color :rolleyes: No doubt that has caused our residential growth also, people visit in April and after looking at the tulips contact a realtor :( We are not sure where we want to settle. It's fun researching the possibilities, especially when for the first time in our lives the school district does not have to sway our decision. I'm enjoying reading about all of your dream towns!

[sararose]

Lisa S.,
could you transfer your children to another school district? We had good luck with that.

My 2 cents:
I think all schools have problems, but some are definitely worse than others. I'm no educator, but based on my own experiences in a horrible junior high and high school (and later, in a good high school), I believe that schools have their own cultures and each grade has its own subculture.

I only went to a good high school one year out of my life, but it was so relaxing to concentrate on my studies and actually learn something. I could go in the girls' restroom without walking into a fight and/or a cloud of cigarette smoke. I could walk down a library aisle without interrupting a romantic tryst. I could do a chemistry lab in peace, without fellow students trying to rip the faucets out of the sinks. Ah, the little things!

My daughter started kindegarten this year. On the advice of a friend, I transferred her out of our district (which is currently on probation--only 20% of the children are reading at the appropriate level) into an elementary school across town with a very strong PTA. My friend thinks schools with a high level of parental involvement are better, for a lot of reasons. I don't know enough about it to agree or disagree, but I will say that we've been very happy with my daughter's school so far. I volunteered there a few times and found the children (grades K through 5) to be considerate and polite. I didn't even hear a single swear word! :)

Folks, keep those towns coming! I think I sold my husband on Wilmington, North Carolina when I showed him the city website. Great history, affordable living, and an excellent university--it looks like a great place!

Willow Glen and Los Gatos sound great too. Even if I can't afford to live there, I hope to visit one day (with a U-Haul to bring back all the California flea market finds, and of course, wine).

[Lisa S]

No transferring for us. Our district wants to keep it's bucks. We've had my 11 year old in a small Charter school which has been excellent, but he "ages out" of the school next year. Our local middle school has problems of all kinds and I think it's shocking. I've got an upcoming kindergartener and another one 2 years behind her. I really don't wanna put my big boy into the middle school and I don't want to face this problem again in 7 years.

What does anyone know about Toledo Ohio and the surrounding area?

[Catsmeow]

Hmmm. Sounds like your talking about Franklin, Tennessee. Beautiful historic homes, great weather, fantastic schools, more good flea markets than you can shake a stick at, and just down the road from Nashville and it's 20 colleges and universities. The only problem is people like me keep giving away the secret. The traffic is starting to get bad and the home prices are creaping up, but still under 200k. Lots of folks are moving the Wilson County who want a more rural lifestyle, but it's still a wonderful haven.

[Soleil]

We live in the town where my DH grew up. It used to be quite rural, but our county has been the fastest growing county in Michigan for the last 10 years. It is quickly becoming a Detroit suburb. I still love it. Cute little shops. I live right downtown, and can walk to all the shops and a farmers market every Sunday in the warmer months. Schools do scare me a bit. I will be checking into a local charter school and the catholic school down the street. My son will be starting kindergarten in 2006. I hope someday to move south (Carolina's, Georgia, Tennessee) if there is anywhere left to live, LOL!! DH loves to golf and I love to garden, so it would be quite ideal. Unfortunately, it will be sometime as DH owns his own business and doesn't feel like starting from scratch anytime soon.

I'll keep dreaming for now. I think I'd make a great southern belle!

Soleil

[mckenzygirl]

Boy when ya'll find that perfect little town.... let me know!
Public schools scare me greatly!
I homeschooled my 3 children, and would do it again in a heartbeat!
Now I'll be homeschooling my grandaughter.

[sararose]

The administrator posted this website in another topic and I noticed the weblog titled "Missouri Bungalows".

http://www.hewnandhammered.com/

I guess we're not the only ones looking for affordable cottages and bungalows! If you get the chance, click on the link for the $120,000 craftsman home the author is writing about. It's gorgeous!

Anyone know anything about St. Joseph, Missouri?

[Lisa S]

I was looking at St Joseph's on the web... Looks nice! Gotta love the prices of those homes!

[sararose]

You're right, it does look nice. I think there must be a lot of historic little towns out there (I'm optimistic!). Sometimes I worry about the fate of small towns because they seem to be disappearing. :(


One of my favorite historic towns is Salem, Ohio. They've suffered some economic hardship because some factories have closed in the last ten years, but it's a beautiful town full of 100+ year-old homes on lots so big you would need a riding mower to mow them for under $150,000. Some of them probably even have old hiding places or passageways because Salem used to be part of the underground railroad. One of the original (or maybe the only one) Quaker Churches is not only still standing, but still in use.

Part of my family is from Salem, so I've spent a lot of time there. My stepmother used to teach there, and she had a high opinion of the school system. They have a beautiful new recreation center, a very affordable family country club ( with a beach, a lake, slides, paddle boats, and weeping willows), and a hospital with a great emergency room (my husband and I both experienced it first hand). Did I mention it's surrounded by Ohio farmland and close to Amish country? The peaches and corn are amazing.

It would be my dream town if it weren't for the long Ohio winters. But it could be someone else's dream home if you don't mind the cold and don't work in manufacturing!

[Lisa S]

I'll check it out next. My husband can telecommute, so it really doesn't make sence to live in an expensive city like Portland. Except for our wonderful friends and family... and the house and yard of my dreams... I gotta admit, I am tired of living in a great house that needs some work and no money to put into it! And we have really rotten schools...

Ohio, huh?

[sararose]

I hear you, Lisa!

Here's a website I've been using to compare different cities and neighborhoods:

www.bestplaces.net

If you find any great places, please share!

[Ginger]

I've been checking out N. & S. Carolina online & Greenville, SC really caught my eye. So much so, I may go there later this year to check it out. Also, Columbia, SC. I understand Columbia is hotter in the summer but one thing that interested me about Greenville was a Main St. with lots of sidewalk cafes, etc. Housing prices looked good too but I wasn't checking out the school situation,

Also, mild winters is a plus in my book.

[M'chelle]

There is a really good search page online (it takes a few minutes to fill out the survey) but it finds all kinds of towns. When I took it, it actually came up with the town we live in...

Find Your Spot (http://www.findyourspot.com)

Have fun! :)

[Lisa S]

Oh, this is great! I tried it ~ just what I was looking for! Thanks!

[v-townguy]

the town you want is Vermillion South Dakota!!!! It's only an hour from Sioux Falls but! Since it is home for University of South Dakota there are art exhibits, seminars the whole kablam!!!! There is the Coffee Shop Gallery hosting many exhibits of art and then there's Carey's which has musical talent going on every Friday! There are tons of parks too! Like Prentis Park and Cotton Park. It's right along the Missouri and Vermillion River. And finally most of the homes in the old town Vermillion are only 100K-150K. And some are even less than that! But the newer Golf Course homes are kinda pricey but still who needs em'!!

[Lisa S]

Thank you! I'll see what I can find about your town on line. It sounds lovely!

[Jilliebean]

We are across the river from you in Essex, Ontario - 15 min outside of Windsor. The town has about 6,000 residents with everything you'd want in a town (fudge shops, antique/thrift shops, boutiques, cafes, and all the other essentials). It has a Main Street layout. Lots of people commute to their jobs in the Detroit area because it actually takes less time than coming from the Detroit 'burbs. Our real estate is dirt cheap compared to yours. We are also smack dab in the middle of a penninsula so if you travel 15 min in almost any direction, you will be at Lake Erie, Lake St. Clair or the River. It probably wouldn't be your ideal location because we do still have winter but it might serve in the short term while your husband conducts his business and there are LOADS of golf courses in this county.

[Jilliebean]

That is a great link, thank you. I found my dream "spot" and these are a couple of the top ones...are any of you my dream neigbours?

Deland, Florida
Gainsville, Florida
Atlantic Beach, NC
Mount Dora, Florida (My 3 yr old would love to live in a place named after her fav cartoon character)

Hubby would never move but these might be great vacation spots for us.

[administrator]

I hope you've seen our Top 10 Cottage Communities (http://www.cottageliving.com/cottage/travel/article/0,21135,1196558,00.html) that includes a web list of 10 runners up.

[Jilliebean]

Thanks, Admin. I was just checking out the list. I wish there was one like this for Canada. Any Cannucks know if there is one?

[KatrinaB]

Funny, I started a binder a couple years ago of "cute little towns" for fun as I read about places in magazines. A good resource is the magazine "Places to Retire" because they feature a lot of different kinds of towns.

I live in sweet little Cardiff by the Sea, CA in north county San Diego right off the Pacific Coast Highway 101, so we have "cottage and city." However, a 30 year old fixer-upper home here of about 1000 SF now costs at least a million dollars and a 2 BR condo around $500,000 so that makes it difficult for people who want to move here from other places. The quaint homes are being torn down as the "Mediterranean Mansions" come in so it is changing.

Another sweet town is Eureka Springs, AR. It's more Victorian, but it's a lovely area in the Ozarks but not much of a larger area nearby. I also hear Hot Springs, AR is lovely and now has many art galleries etc. Arkansas has a very low cost of living and the people are friendly. We vacationed there for many years and loved the beauty.


Brookings, South Dakota is a lovely small university town and is "prairie pretty" and reasonable cost of living. I graduated college there so lived there. The winters are fiercely cold and bitter and tons of snow so I could never live there again personally. Summers are hot and humid and windy. There are some lovely lakes. The people are hardworking and good Midwestern work ethic and values if it is still like that, although I know the world has changed since 1980!

Also, some of the towns around Minneapolis, where I visited grandparents as a child are small town lovely if they are still that way....again, bitter winters and even more snow than SD, but nice small towns.

Ojai, CA is very artsy and just a short drive from larger Santa Barbara, but I think the house prices are high. Almost everywhere in CA now the house prices are sky high and people are cashing out the equity in their homes and retiring to other less expensive states. Also, I have heard San Luis Obispo, CA is fabulous, but again, costly. I also love Solvang, CA--cute little shops everywhere, beautiful area geographically, and very clean.

We lived in Omaha, NE for 15 years, and Blair, NE is a nice small town just outside of Omaha, as is West Point, NE. Omaha has a nice arts community as well as a wonderful Old Market downtown with shops etc. The city has been revitalized in the past few years and is very nice. Great people. Rough winters so moved to CA!!

Gives you some options anyway! Think I'll get a job as a travel agent.........:)

[gittingerjan]

I cannot believe that Mariemont, Ohio did not make the list ! It is a very short
commute to all that is great in Cincinnati and the unknown gem that is all of
Northern Kentucky. (Covington, Newport, Bellevue, Rabbithash, to name a few.)
There are 3 major universities, museums and plenty of galleries. Check out the new National Freedom Center (Underground Railroad museum).

Centered around a beautiful town square, there is plenty for families and singles to enjoy. Safe parks, easy walkfrom homes to square, and beautiful vintage
homes .

There is alot to love in Mariemont !

Prices range from 99,000 to 600,000. Lots of historic rental units just north
of the square. :o

[KatrinaB]

I'll be willing to bet no one brought it to their attention and it just got missed. I'll put it in my "cottage towns" binder and thanks!:o

[ahcity]

I and my husband is tire of traveling to see the kids. cost a lot of $$$ but less time to spend with the children. we are looking for cottage home in Bosie or other town in Idaho. any feed back is appreciate :o

[Lisa S]

Have you looked on Realtor.com? I love checking out houses from all over the country on that site. Good luck!

[moon]

I'm not sure of the price of housing, but my son and daughter in law live in a sweet little cottage community in Stone Mtn. Village, Ga. That may be too far away for you, but it's such a wonderful small community and just minutes away from Atlanta, Athens and other university towns. The powers that be are working hard at keeping the historic flavor of this town, and of course, Stone Mtn. Park is right there! Good luck!:)

[willowisp]

I have lived in Washington State almost my whole life. I moved away for several years with my ex-husband. I love Western Washington, it has so many things to do and see. Now I'll be moving to Georgia to join my husband. I think I'll have culture shock. I'm hoping to find a small town where the schools are good in either Florida or GA. We started out with Camden County schools, and I, as a teacher and parent, would not recommend the 9th grade school to any one. So when I get down there we'll be looking for something different, does anyone have any ideas?

[Jenny]

SHHHHHHHHHHHH, Gittingerjan, we're not telling a soul about Mariemont -- it's our little secret, 'k.;)

Jenny

[Rashmi]

Anyone know of any charming cottage communities in CT? I loved the article "Top 10 Cottage Communities" and would love to live in one myself but in CT if possible... :confused:

[ahcity]

I also would like to know if any one know any cottage community in ID?
:o

[Lisa S]

We just got back from a quick trip to Idaho... And while I didn't notice any cottage towns in the part of Idaho that we visited, I fell in LOVE with two Eastern Oregon villages.

The first great town was Baker City. It's medium sized. The downtown area was adorable. I was impressed with the fact that it seemed very self contained. The downtown area had hardware stores, grocery stores and boutiques instead of antique mall after antique mall. Always a sign to me that a town is thriving on it's own. The town is very Western looking. You could imagine a stage coach driving down the street. We did see a rent-by-the-hour horse and buggy. Lots of great looking, affordable turn of the century homes. While we were there, I saw posters for an outdoor movie that the city was hosting. The movie was some Clint Eastwood movie that was filmed in Baker City in the 60's.
I'd live there in a minute! http://www.historicbakercity.com/

The other town was Prairie City. This is a VERY small town, but it looked like a movie set too. We just drove through without stopping because we were on our way to someplace else in a hurry, but I'm going back!
http://www.prairiecityoregon.com/index.html

[FrstWordDr]

I found out about the article on top 10 Cottage communities while on vacation in NC and it sounded like just what I am looking for. We live in Parrish, a small rural town near Tampa, FL that has suddenly undergone a tremendous growth spurt. Normally not politically inclined, it has pushed me into joining the local civic association and has all of us running for cover! One of the results of all this growth is the village of Parrish itself will be undergoing a tremendous commercial surge any day now. We want to be able to control it as apposed to the developers controlling us. We desperately need advice on how to prepare our village so that it can become just the kind of place described in the top 10 article as apposed to a mini orlando with fast food and commercial chains all up and down it's two mile stretch.

I'm running to St. Petersburg to take pictures to present to the board of what we hope to accomplish but does anyone have any other ideas?
Thank you!

[tpbluebird]

I just read the July/August issue about the top 10 cottage communities. There seems to be a huge 'hole' on the map in the middle of the USA, although I did see a Kansas City neighborhood has also been listed on the website. My vote is for my neighborhood, the Phelps Grove Neighborhood, in Springfield, MO. We have an active neighborhood association, annual cleanup day, homes tour, and garage sale. We just had our annual block party last night, well attended in spite of heat in the 90s, with neighbors from 92 to 4 years old. We are at the south edge of Missouri State University, easy walking distance to beautiful historic Phelps Grove Park with its nearby Springfield Art Museum that's hosting a current "Watercolor USA" exhibit as well as the just opened Andy Warhol exhibit, and also a renovated free kid's kiddie pool. For outdoor sports enthusiasts we are less than 5 minutes from Bass Pro Shops and the World of Wildlife zooquarium. We are near the re-energized downtown Springfield with it's eclectic mix of retail, bars, restaurants, lofts, independent movie house, live entertainment and coffee shops. There are many great antique and flea market shops, as well as a truly great new addition to downtown: Hammons Park which is home to a St. Louis baseball Cardinals AA team. The benchmark $300k price for a home listed in the CL article would buy you TWO nice bungalows in in great condition in our neighborhood. We have a mix of professional, blue collar, & students living here and a great cost of living and quality of life. Cottages range from Craftsman bungalows to Sears kit homes, Dutch Colonial, southwestern style bungalows, and stone cottages. Along with this neighborhood in Springfield there are many others that are vibrant or on the verge of being magazine-ready! Just couldn't let a day go by without letting everyone know that my hometown has some great neighborhoods with friendly neighbors and comfortable cottage-style living.;)

[Jilliebean]

I love it when people are proud of where they live. My town has such potential. The local BIA is working hard to improve things while working with town council. If they keep going as they are, in about 10 years, our town could be competing with those in the magazines.

P.S. I took the quiz referenced in an earlier post and will be going to one of my Top 5 dream towns in the spring for a visit. We have no plans to move but thought if they suited us so well, it might be nice to vacation in the area.

[KatrinaB]

Rashmi, I was just in Stonington and Mystic, CT and they are both just lovely.

[KatrinaB]

I've been to Springfield, MO and it's lovely...your neighborhood sounds wonderful!

[craftsmanlvr]

My family will be relocating to the San Francisco bay area within the next few months, and we're looking for that perfect cottage community as well. We know we won't find anything for anywhere near $200K, but that's okay. We'll look into Willow Glen as metioned, but does anyone know of other towns of interest? We need to be within reasonable distance to a BART station for commuting to SF.

For the past 13 years, we have owned a beautiful 2 story Craftsman-style house built in 1911. It's located on a large lot surrounded by orchards in a small California town, so we are having a hard time contemplating leaving it all behind. Maybe finding just the right neighborhood will help us make the move.

[Chyna]

Can I make a suggestion? Put out feelers to the American Bungalow forum. There is an area for homes for sale and people who have seen bungalows/craftsmans that are up and need someone who has a love for them. Most would rather a lover of such homes get them than someone just trying to make a profit by turning them into rentals.


tanya:p

[craftsmanlvr]

Thanks for the tip, Tanya. I checked out the site and it looks like a good one. :)

[Chyna]

No problem. They are a nice group, kinda fanatical about bungalows and the craftsman vibe but generally a good group. Full of lots of info and wisdom too. I refer to them more often than even This Old House or Old House Journal.:)

[administrator]

Our July/August 2007 issue features our annual Top 10 cottage communities. I hope you'll check it out and maybe even help us with next year's list... We're currently seeking a new crop of communities for the 2008 Top 10 list. You probably have an idea what we look for: Cottage-scale homes of mixed-sizes and prices, walkability, access to parks, retail, restuarants, and, of course, that neighborly connection.

Tell us about your favorite communities!

David Hanson
Associate Editor, Features & Travel

[Lisa S]

Okay ~ I found these perfect little cottage beach communities a few weeks ago. It makes my mouth water (no pun intended!).

http://www.seabrookwa.com/town.asp
http://www.oliviabeach.com

[melissafred]

I've been checking out N. & S. Carolina online & Greenville, SC really caught my eye. So much so, I may go there later this year to check it out. Also, Columbia, SC. I understand Columbia is hotter in the summer but one thing that interested me about Greenville was a Main St. with lots of sidewalk cafes, etc. Housing prices looked good too but I wasn't checking out the school situation, Also, mild winters is a plus in my book.

Ginger, we lived just east of Columbia from 99-03 and loved it. I wound up getting my masters at The Univ. of SC. Columbia is the capital city as well as the home of USC and Ft. Jackson. With USC being there, you've got plenty of options for taking a class or 2, as well as some neat museums on campus and campus productions. The Koger Center for the arts is bustling, the SC State museum is great and EdVenture, a children's museum, opened just a few years ago. We went up there a year or so ago & the kids loved EdVenture. They also have Riverbanks Zoo and Botanical Gardens, which has been undergoing a massive renovation. It was great even during the renovation. Carolina Coliseum opened a few years ago so in addition to USC sports, we got traveling ice skating shows and all manner of other shows. Downtown has some great areas, such as 5 points and The Vista for shopping. There are also 2-3 malls. At the time we were there, crime wasn't bad. I never worried about having a night class downtown, although we used common sense and went to our cars in groups. The schools are hit & miss but still quite good. Last I heard, Richland 2 was still the district to be in.

I'd move back to the Columbia area in a heartbeat.
Melissa

[MiaSanford]

I would like Cottage Living to consider Sanford, FL for the 2008 Top 10 List of cottage communities.

http://buysanfordrealestate.com/templates/rhuk_solarflare/images/sanford_logo.gifSanford is a rapidly growing waterfront community with a hometown atmosphere that sets it apart from other Central Florida cities. Through our close proximity to Orlando and excellent intermodal facilities, Sanford is clearly recognized as a significant gateway to the Orlando Metropolitan Area, one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the world. Ours is definitely a community with a sense of purpose and a real identity, with leadership committed to economic growth and revitalization concurrent to the harmonious preservation of our natural and historic resources. www.ci.sanford.fl.usa (http://www.ci.sanford.fl.usa)


Sanford has a Commercial and Residential Historic District. The Residential district consists of 432 contributing structures identified on the National Registry for Historic Preservation. The homes in the district consist of a mix of bungalows, frame vernacular, arts and crafts, etc, date from the late 1880's to 1930's.

There is a not-for-profit neighborhood organization, The Sanford Historic Trust www.sanfordhistorictrust.org (http://www.sanfordhistorictrust.org), which hosts a Holiday Home Tour every year. The money earned from the home tour is put back into the community, we currently are in the 4th year of a 5 yr partnership with the City of Sanford to install historic lighting throughout the historic district.

Please don't hesitate to contact me for additional information. I am a resident, business person and active member on the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) in Sanford.

Thanks for your consideration!

[Veloise]

Our July/August 2007 issue features our annual Top 10 cottage communities. ... You probably have an idea what we look for: Cottage-scale homes of mixed-sizes and prices, walkability, access to parks, retail, restuarants, and, of course, that neighborly connection....
As the new owner of a small 1890s house in Grand Rapids (Mich), I'm really enjoying your magazine. As a city planner, I found this article to be an excellent layperson's introduction to my profession.
Many's the time I've fielded the question, "what is THAT?" in response to my job title. You tossed in all of the elements of New Urbanism, community development, and people-oriented sense of place without the spectre of >GASP!< zoning. Nice article in a great magazine. Thanks!

[whalenjr]

http://www.plumcreektx.com/
http://www.cityofkyle.com/kyle-texas.php

[tiaj347]

My vote for a "dream" cottage town is historic Cocoa Village near Cocoa Beach in Florida. Artsy, eclectic, and quaint, this little town's oldest street is lined with historic Victorian "painted ladies" and is within walking distance of the village's charming shops and gourmet restaurants.

To see more, go to:
http://www.florida-secrets.com/HistoricDist/ECdistricts/ECindhis/Cocoa.htm

[lancemaria]

That was great. I really appreciate that.

[love the mountains]

beechcreeknc.com A beautiful new development in western NC in what was once an old mining town near the Appalachian trail, drenched in history, gorgeous mountain peaks and valleys with rolling creeks, endless wildlife and a abundance of local mountain people raised on the land. Truly an unbelievable experience!

[EarnBeau]

Atlanta and the Midwest will soon be connected by I-22 set to open in a few years. On that route the former cotton mill town of Cordova, AL will become 15 or 20 minutes from a good airport, world class medical care, arts and culture, several universities and colleges, shopping, recreation, and more in Birmingham........ Cordova was incorporated about 1863 and grew like topsy when Indian Head Mills located a cotton mill there about 1900. A mill village followed...... The 1960 census had Cordova's population at about 3500. The last census put the population near 2500. The mill closed in 1962........Cordova citizens have worked with Auburn University's Small Town Design Initiative to create a plan to renew and reinvent the town. Cordova is one of a few cities in Alabama with a comprehensive community plan. ........Cottages are abundant in Cordova. Please call real estate agents in Jasper, AL for information about home prices. One will be pleasantly surprised. This is an early stage opportunity to be part of the rebirth of a small town. Cordova offers compelling value for the adventurous cottage devotee who may be downsizing or selling highly appreciated real estate elsewhere. Please look at www.cordovacipa.com (http://www.cordovacipa.com) for more information.

[MimiLee]

I have not actually seen this new development but have heard great things about it. It is called "The Waters" and is quite unique. It is divided into hamlets and has a beautiful community church. It has a wonderful marketplace and several lakes. You can log on to the website at www.watersal.com (http://www.watersal.com) and see it for yourself. The homes are really beautiful and of the cottage type. It reminds me of Seaside in Florida. I have heard that there are not too many of the homes left. They also have townhouses. Check it out!

[Cabbage Rose]

Mimilee, my husband has built homes at the Waters. They are beautiful. I would love to live there. Unfortunately they are way too pricy for me. Also you wouldn't have much yard work as there is hardly a yard. :o
Even though, it's a lovely place.

[Cabbage Rose]

http://www.thewatersal.com/ My husband and his partner build there. Fitzpatrick Contracting is their company.

[MeganM]

I'm new to this group and got interested because of the Katrina Cottage thread. I've been a loyal reader of Cottage Living but have not spent much time on the website.

I too have dreamed about the perfect cottage town. I live in a "planned community" now -- not what I'd choose but it's where I landed 9 years ago to take a job. Now with my only child in junior high, I'll be staying a few more years.

I moved here from Oak Park, Illinois -- and while it doesn't meet all of the criteria that SaraRose outlined (not under $200 much anymore, although it was when I bought there in the 90's), it was perfect to me. Wonderful old houses, a community of avid gardners, great farmers market, each block a tightly knit little world of its own, and all of this in a suburb that is 1 1/2 miles long and maybe 1/2 mile wide, 20 minutes from downtown Chicago.

Anyway, I've read this thread with interest and enthusiasm and will check out everyone's web links for the perfect town!

I was so glad to read the comments from this community about the Katrina Cottage that CL built. If CL ever does it again I swear I'll get a group of people together (I don't know, maybe me and the 3 other members of the "Texas Democrats"?) and go swing a hammer to help.

[cheapdiva]

Megan -
Welcome and there are Democrats in Texas??!! Now I have heard everything!

[MeganM]

.....there are Democrats in Texas!!! We've been a pretty quiet bunch these last 8 years...

[akkerdaas]

Will if you are talking about CA. That is high cost of living place. I lived in Santa Cruz and it is not cheap. At the time the cost of living was higher then New York City. Its pretty but not much to offer. Then again that was about 5 years ago. Did you look into VA. Winchester is a great place. Lots of antiques. I never would have the things that I have now in SC. And talk about pretty. Virginia is the place to be for me.

www.shopfabfinds.com (http://www.shopfabfinds.com) The best place for great deals!!!:)

[Lisa S]

Hey, I've been to Winchester before! I lived in Mt Jackson for a little while.

[bluemoonstudio]

Hi Sararose! What a wonderful adventure you will soon embark on. Finding the perfect town is different things for different people. From the replies, it sounds like quite a few people like some of the smaller towns in Northern Cali and others like North Carolina. You've taken the first step and identified what qualities you want in a town.

There's a cute little website called www.findyourspot.com (http://www.findyourspot.com). It has several pages of questions about lifestyle, climate, regions, size, etc... and then give you a report with at least 8 different cities matching your criteria.

I've spent about 15 years traversing the U.S. looking for the same thing! I grew up in Missouri until 10 years of age and then Santa Barbara until I went away to college. SO...I'm thoroughly confused...yikes. Would love to chat more with you about it. Have seen most of the U.S. states, Europe and Asia. Have lived in several southern states, as well as New England and now Portland.

It's very hard, often when you find the lifestyle you want, the climate may suck or there won't be enough jobs. I think there is a little bit of a trade off any way you go, it depends on what is the most important to you.

Love Portland and Oregon is a phenomenon unto it's own. A little bit of all parts of the U.S. in one state. Gorgeous in so many ways, lots to do, medium sized city with a small town feel. BUT...the traffic is getting horrendous and they are saying it will be equal to LA within 2 years. Also it is grey and rainy from late October until June. Granted it's not a constant downpour and there are days of sun here and there, but 8-9 months, yikes! I think too that the West Coast is less traditional than the Midwest or East Coast. It was rugged territory founded by fiercely independent explorers and that sense of newness and independence seems to flavor everything.

If you and your husband have a chance to travel, you might consider making this a project you both can work on and be excited about. Do the research on towns that sound good, write it up and compare the info. I definately recommend visiting places that are your favorites. It's important. Example: visited both Wilmington & Asheville, NC. but although they had some truely charming aspects, were lacking in other areas. I found New England (Burlington, Vermont) to be close to what I wanted and lived there from 1999-2005 when I came West for school.

Anyway...hope that helps...drop me a line if you feel like it...at bluemoonstudio.us@gmail.com

Eve

[Lisa S]

Welcome, Eve! I've checked out Find Your Spot a few years ago ~ it was very interesting. You made quite a change from Missouri to Santa Barbara. Santa Barbara is one of the most beautiful spots in the world. You're lucky to call it home.

I must protest: Portland's traffic can in NO WAY be compared to LA! I've lived in both places and can tell you that we aren't in the same league at all. Seattle... that's another story.

And I can moan and groan about the rain as well as any Oregonian, but the truth is (from a weather website)...

Portland's weather belies the stereotype of the rainy Pacific Northwest. Our average annual rainfall is less than that of Atlanta, Birmingham, Houston, Indianapolis or Seattle.

Which is not to say that it doesn't rain in Portland. It does, on average, 36.3" per year. But the precipitation keeps Portland impossibly green - and helps enforce a casual, comfortable dress code.

[cheapdiva]

to the newbies - a BIG welcome!
I was born in St. Louis, then moved to Birmingham, back to St. Louis then onto many cities in Wisconsin.
Have traveled all over and seriously looked at other cities to live in and let me tell you all - if you think housing in one city is expensive, you need to live in Wisconsin where the taxes are BEYOND belief. We pay nearly $1000 a month in condo fees and property taxes and we are in a 1,600 sf condo with virtually no land. This is an argument my husband and I have all the time about housing costs . . . it is just as expensive to live in Milwaukee (probably more so than some "major" markets) because taxes are VERY HIGH. We were in San Diego a couple of years ago looking and while we would pay about $150,000 more for a comparable condo - the taxes were nearly nothing compared to what we pay.

All things are relevant!!!!!!!!

[CohenCottage]

Athens GA is a fantastic place to live. It is a vibrant college town that is small but Atlanta is only an hour away. Wonderful restaurants, great downtown, cute cottages, AFFORDABLE neighborhoods, green space, and it's very progressive (blue in a sea of red). We LOVE it!

[AsheCott]

I get it! Our dream town becomes a reality. We left my native city of Atlanta, GA (I say it outgrew me) to fulfill the dream of a more intimate city where people actually believe in creating community. After five years of agonizing over leaving family and life-long friends, my husband and I moved to "the happiest place in America" -- Asheville, NC. Having spent my entire adult work life in the areas of real estate marketing and sales as well as mortgage banking, I recently wanted to expand that knowledge base and became involved with the city's initiative for smart growth. My building partner, an Asheville native, and I are creating Asheville's first official cottage community! Seven EnergyStar homes will be built around a community green space inside the city limits. We are so excited to be a part of this concept.

[Lisa S]

You have my dream job in your dream town. I'm a big Ross Chaplin fan myself. We've got an acre of land behind our house. I'm very opposed to developing it, but if I ever did, I would follow Ross' example.

[Mili A]

My husband and I have been dreaming about North Carolina lately. For some reason NC keeps popping everywhere. Right now it is not a possibility but in a few years it might happen, however unfortunately it would more likely not be Asheville but somewhere in between Raleigh and Fayetteville. I would love to talk more about this topic but right now I have more pressing matters. I hope I have managed to navigate around here enough to be able to follow this thread. I shall return when time permits.

[Hooper's Judge]

ideally, i'd buy one of the beautiful B&Bs... but I don't have a million plus and don't know where to get it! i'd be happy to move into a cottage and begin a new cha[ter of my life.

other spots that look good:
Chattanooga TN
New Bern NC
Wilmington NC
Atlanta GA

But I've got my heart set on Ashville.

[Timathy]

I have a vision in my mind of a town/city that has lots of cottages and bungalows, decent flea markets (where one can buy cool vintage stuff and architectural salvage, rather than a mirror with a playboy symbol etched onto it and vacuum parts :( ), proximity to a big city that gets major traveling art exhibits, a couple of universities and coffee shops, at least one salad buffet restaurant, and lots of natural beauty.

Oh yeah--my dream town has decent family homes for under $200,000.
A farmer's market would be nice too.

Have any of you seen/lived in this town? Does it exist outside of my dreams?

Hello all I am new to the forum but I felt like I had to chime in. My wife and I have the same dream (with subtle changes) that the original poster had. I can honestly say that my dreams plus some are coming true. I have been in the real estate industry for a couple of years and recently became part of a project unique to our area. Some of you might think I am selling (sure a part of me wants that) but mostly I am sharing in my own excitement. The project is Rock Hill Trails www.rockhilltrails.com (http://www.rockhilltrails.com/) which is located in Wood River, IL. (Edwardsville, IL schools and 25 min from downtown ST. Louis, MO.). I plan to live and work in the same community in about 2 years. Currently I am about 4 miles offsite and the building starts in about 4 weeks.

Addressing the DREAM TOWN!....

Housing: There is a plan in place for 8-20 cottage style homes 1200-1500 sq. ft. in phase 1 of 3 total phases. Other living spaces include condos, downtown loft style condos, ranch style, 2 stories, and live work units. All told the community should have about 290 homes with community commercial (ma/pop grocery, coffee shop....) and 2.5 mile of mixed use nature/sidewalk trail system in phase one. The south side of the property is a long standing Horse Farm and the West side is a park/golf course. The other two sides are farm land. The High Performance homes are designed to receive energy star and HBAGBI green ratings. A 2200 sq. ft. ranch should run $30-50 per month on an energy bill. Built correctly these could ultimately be zero net energy homes.:)

Flea Market/Antiquing: Madison County IL. and surrounding areas like Grafton, IL. offer some very cool antique shops. Here is a link that might draw the picture a little better.... http://www.greatriverroad.com/Antiques/altonAntiques.htm (http://www.greatriverroad.com/Antiques/altonAntiques.htm)

Big City: St. Louis, Mo. is big city with art, history, dance, musicals....The St. Louis Art museum is awesome http://www.slam.org/ (http://www.slam.org/) the STL Zoo (free) http://www.stlzoo.org/ (http://www.stlzoo.org/) The Science Center http://www.slsc.org/ (http://www.slsc.org/) Fox Theater http://www.fabulousfox.com/ (http://www.fabulousfox.com/) and the list could go on and on.

Universities: Rock Hill Trails is about 10 min from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. I often pass through this beautiful campus with enjoying bike rides on the 100+ mile bike trails in Madison County http://www.mcttrails.org/viewer.htm (http://www.mcttrails.org/viewer.htm)

Farmers Market: There will be a farmers market hosted at the Community Center once it is up and running (end of phase one) and there is also a weekly farmers market in downtown Edwardsville http://www.goshenmarket.org/ (http://www.goshenmarket.org/)

Price: We are still about two weeks from final pricing but you should be able to purchase a cottage for around $200-230K. I think the single family style ranch/2 story will start in the low 300's and the condos should dip below 200K.

I hope this was not too "sale" oriented but hey...I sell homes;).

I for one have already decided to make my home a community and not just the 4 walls that surround me. Wherever you end up...I hope you find the same!

[Mili A]

I have heard wonderful things about Asheville and the area is gorgeous. When we are ready to start making plans I hope I can visit so I can convince my husband. He has been mentioning South Carolina lately and someone here mentioned Greenville SC, close enough to Asheville. It is all noted down… The place in Illinois sounds fantastic but I have my heart set into a community close to the mountains somewhere in NC or SC is a maybe.

[Hooper's Judge]

This looks promising... it's a green community and the new houses are all craftman style of the 1920s http://www.oakterracepreservesc.com/life/tnd.html in North Charleston SC... the prices begin in the 190,000s. I've been looking at pix and it is nice to see wood trim around interior windows, etc on a new house... very cute. I know we all like old houses but there is something to be said for a house that is built in the old style but is also a green house/green community. The master plan includes a forestry management program to keep all 100 live oaks, etc... this impresses me as I am a member of my town's Shade Tree Commission.

[cottageindcsuburbs]

Anyone know of any quaint cottage communities in the DC area??

[Lisa S]

Gigi can give you ideas of quaint towns in Maryland. There are load of them in Virginia too ~ it just depends how far from DC you're willing to go and how much you want to spend on a house.

I like Arlington, McLean, Alexandria for places right off the beltway. Arlington is chock full of cottage style homes.

Further afield... Waterford, Fairfax and Warrenton come to mind.

[Carma]

Take a look at Gahanna Ohio. Its full of affordable cottages. Take a look at the Creekside area. We have some great festivals.