When you see something every day, it’s all too easy to miss subtle changes.
I just returned after a couple weeks’ absence, and noticed several substantial differences just in the short time I was away. On the turnpike, an old bank building at Jefferson Avenue — it was Heritage Federal a decade or more ago — has now been cleaned up and transformed into a new bank.
It looks a lot better.
Further east, the new apartments along Emory Valley Road near SAIC have absolutely sprung out of the ground, seemingly on their own, since I left. This is also great news for Oak Ridge, since we don’t have much in the way of upscale starter residences for young professionals, or a place for people to live while they build.
These new projects are definitely an encouraging sign. I’m also looking forward to visiting the new Sonic on Illinois, since it means I don’t have to drive to the other side of town to get a positively decadent chocolate malt — an infrequent indulgence, but a treasured one nonetheless.
I disagree with you on the Emory Valley buildings, because I think its a horrible place to put something that’ll rent for $1000+/mnth. That, and I’m a bit concerned that, with the exception of the Highland View work, all of the planned homes in this town are for the upwardly mobile.
Theres a bit of concern about being priced out of this burg…
I totally agree with you, AT. Who can honestly afford $1000.00 a month when you are just getting started. I had a hard time finding a decent home to live in once I became a divorced parent! Oak Ridge doesn’t seem to care to build/provide housing for the “middle class” people.