[Aquatique]

Originally Posted by beachmouse

We’re in the Bluewater Bay big development just east of Niceville in the panhandle. ‘Town’ was platted out with buried power lines and we were part of the 1-2% of the county that didn't lose power during Hurricane Ivan, which was kind of eerie in some ways. A lot of Bluewater also remains heavily wooded. There are a few downsides of that though:

1- Area was a turpentine plantation before it was turned into housing. The short leaf pines planted for the turpentine days are not very wind tolerant and had a tendency to go down in even strong tropical storm level winds. Though at this point, the vast majority of them have been removed because of storms and storm concerns and more wind-hardy trees have often gone up in their place.

2- We are apparently the termite capital of the Southeast- something about the original developer tended to bury a lot of wood cleared out as neighborhoods were put in rather than burn it or haul it out

3- the 3 weeks a year when live oaks drop their leaves. Before we felt like we could afford a lawn service with a ‘vacuum mower’ we’d clear 100-120 bags of leaves from our lawn every spring. (We have several otherwise lovely live oaks in our yard)

Still overall we feel like it’s been a good place to have a house in these parts

I enjoyed reading about your community! I definitely understand the reasons most developers clearcut before building, but I just don't like the barren, exposed, shade-less feel of neighborhoods without any mature trees. I'll tell you what though, looking at satellite images after hurricanes, you see how much easier cleanup is in those barren neighborhoods that only have a few decorative palm trees.

[HarryWhom]

Originally Posted by Aquatique

Oooh really? The whole town?

It's about half done. Whole town by 1/24

[HarryWhom]

I was just thinking about one of my favorite neighborhoods. McAnsh Park, Vero Beach. Very mature trees, very nice park in the middle. Many unique homes.

[Aquatique]

Originally Posted by HarryWhom

I was just thinking about one of my favorite neighborhoods. McAnsh Park, Vero Beach. Very mature trees, very nice park in the middle. Many unique homes.

Thank you so much for bringing it to my attention! I will take a look. Vero Beach is one of the areas on our radar.