97 replies to this topic

[frag24]

Hi-

Just got a place in Oakleaf Plantation (moving from Long Island NY). The community is located in Clay County. This place is like NY suburbs, it's really nice. I saw some postings about malls that are about to be constructed, sounds perfect! With all those brand names that I've heard I think it's better to have a "century 21 department store" here in JAX- they have really good prices.
Just need some help as to what should I be expecting in this area. Anything info would really help....... Thank You

[Viper]

Welcome to the area.

Expect hot and humid summers and mild to cool winters.  Plenty of rain and sun (don't ask you get plenty of both, you just do).   Expect lots of new neighbors in the next few years as that part of town is growing at an incredible rate.  Expect rush hour traffic on Blanding Blvd to be hectic.  Expect to drive a lot as Jacksonville is ver spread out.   But above all, expect to enjoy your area.  It's not the bustle of NY but it offers plenty and is in close proximity of the things it doesn't.

[Urban_Legend]

Welcome to Jacksonville!  Oakleaf is WAAAAY out in the suburbs; in fact it's not even in Duval county (which is Jax).  You'll enjoy all of Jacksonville's parks and nature reserves, especially those out in the 'burbs where Oakleaf is.  I can't really think of anything else about Oakleaf...

P.S.  Make sure you check out downtown Jacksonville, and enjoy all it has to offer!  

[merlin]

Rush hour traffic will be a killer - I recently moved from a community right next to Oakleaf.  Depending on where you work in town, there are alternative ways to get in and out there.  THe area back there is going through a huge, and I mean huge, grwoth spurt with many things still to come.  Enjoy and welcome.

[jax]

I am from Long Island as well, and my sister, husband and her family are looking into Oakleaf as well as Eagle harbor? Eagles nest - or something like that.

They like the idea of clay co. schools and the cookie cutter neighborhood ( what can I say, he grew up in levitown).  

Jacksonville's a pretty nice place overall.  Hope you enjoy it.  Hopefully you won't have to commute to downtown.  yuk.   (ahh the joy of living in riverside).

oh i almost forgot to mention. depending where on LI you are from, and if you are selling your overprices house there, enjoy having a mortgage cut in at lease half or possibly none at all.

Edited by jax, 04 July 2005 - 08:18 AM.

[frag24]

Thanks!

I was watching the FirstCoast News and they were showing areas that experienced flooding, Wow, that was terrible. Waist deep water. I think its in Westside and some parts of Mandarin. Do you guys have a clue if Oakleaf Plantation had this experience??? What are the Pros and Cons in this area (aside from heavy traffic during rush hours- by the way is the rush hour there like Manhattan peak hours?) - its like seeing ants working, Lol.....  Do you know any hospitals that are close to Oakleaf??

[frag24]

Jax- I'm located in HICKSville close Levittown, yes houses here are really way way way UP. Are you familiar with Forest Brooke?

[Captain Obvious]

Oakleaf is ... well ... very far away from anything I would actually call "Jacksonville." As people have already mentioned, it's the proverbial suburban sprawl, sterile subdivision, 45+ minute commute lifestyle. I fear you might find your new home in Clay county somewhat oppressive and boring - depending on how old you are. It will be a big downgrade from the NYC metro, that's for sure.

I don't want to seem too negative about Clay county, but it is what it is. It's the definition of suburban sprawl, and all that comes with it. Just drive down Blanding Blvd during the afternoon. You'll see what I mean.

Of course, it has all the positives of sprawl too. Brand new construction everywhere. More house for your money. Neighborhood covenants that require everyone to keep their yard neat and clean. Better public schools (though the gap is really narrowing on that one).

In regards to your hospital question - no, there aren't any major ones nearby at all. St. Vincent's downtown or Baptist South might be the closest)

[afh]

Captain Obvious, on Jul 4 2005, 04:37 PM, said:

Oakleaf is ... well ... very far away from anything I would actually call "Jacksonville." As people have already mentioned, it's the proverbial suburban sprawl, sterile subdivision, 45+ minute commute lifestyle. I fear you might find your new home in Clay county somewhat oppressive and boring - depending on how old you are. It will be a big downgrade from the NYC metro, that's for sure.

I don't want to seem too negative about Clay county, but it is what it is. It's the definition of suburban sprawl, and all that comes with it. Just drive down Blanding Blvd during the afternoon. You'll see what I mean.

Of course, it has all the positives of sprawl too. Brand new construction everywhere. More house for your money. Neighborhood covenants that require everyone to keep their yard neat and clean. Better public schools (though the gap is really narrowing on that one).

In regards to your hospital question - no, there aren't any major ones nearby at all. St. Vincent's downtown or Baptist South might be the closest)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

How far is OP Medical from Oakleaf?  Wouldn't that be closer than St Vincent's?

Edited by afh, 04 July 2005 - 03:38 PM.

[Viper]

Orange Park hospital is the closest.   Baptist South (opposite side of river) is new and may be quicker to get to than the downtown hospitals depending on rush hour.

PS: No flooding in Oak Leaf.

[Captain Obvious]

I had never really considered OP hospital a "major" hospital (heard many disparaging things over the years). But I just looked online, and it does have 230 beds, which is on the small side, but still a full hospital. So that definitely would be the closest.

Here is a map of the Duval County hospitals from the TU. OP hospital would be located between the words "Orange Park" and "Blanding Boulevard."

[frag24]

Thanks for the info.

How's the employment down there? do I have to go downtown to get a job?

[Viper]

Depends on the type of job you are lookig for.  Unemployment is incredibly low in your area as jobs are being added as fast as people are moving in, which is one of the fastest growing counties in the nation.

[Urban_Legend]

Well, from what I've read, the Cecil Commerce Center is the closest employment "hub" to the Oakleaf area.  But I don't know just how many jobs are out there, and I think it's all manufacturing and the like....

Besides that, the other office areas are in Downtown and Southside (which is east of the river).  But there's tons of commercial service jobs and "Class B" office space all over the city...

[jax]

frag24, on Jul 4 2005, 03:54 PM, said:

Jax- I'm located in HICKSville close Levittown, yes houses here are really way way way UP. Are you familiar with Forest Brooke?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

no sorry i am not familiar with that area. i used to go to the ikea in hicksville, thats about it!

[frag24]

Does anyone have an idea as to how much (salary rate) they give for a RN-registered nurse?  Thank You.

[frag24]

what was the worst hurricane that Jacksonville had experienced?

[Viper]

What hurricane?  It hasn't been directly hit for a century or two I believe.

Hurricane Dora (cat 2) hit St Augustine in teh 50's but that's it.

Statistically, Jacksonville is the least likely place to be hit on the East coast from Delaware and below.

[frag24]

Thanks a lot viper!
Did jacksonville experienced any calamity caused by nature? like here in LI, NY.. blizzards, below 0 temp...... Hope you can give more info... Thanks again.

[bobliocatt]

The Great Fire of 1901, which was the largest urban fire in Southern history.  But that was caused by the human factor.