No longer 5 Best Places to Retire
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2/15/2011
As young retirees from a major city in New Jersey infested with crime and lousy city services we did extensive research prior to purchasing our home in Florida. Our main criteria were low crime, efficient city services, no HOA fees, no State taxes, that quality of life issues were enforced and of course hiking, beaches, parks, etc. A family friend mentioned Palm Coast and how great it was. We did more research on the area prior to heading down. It was rated 5 of the best places to retire by Fortune Magazine, the crime rate at that time (2009) was violent crime 3 & property crime 2, so we decided to stop by on our way to other locations on our list. Well we loved the location, right off I-95, close to the beaches on A1A, in the middle of St. Augustine and Daytona Beach, close to the airports, some modest homes at great prices – foreclosures/short sales. We like what we saw, the city services very efficient, parks, bike trails, beaches, retirement at its finest so we decided to purchase.
Sadly after a year we are talking about moving further down south. We love our neighbors however, things are going down hill. The City Council is instances on becoming a major city focusing on bringing an increase in the population, spending over 10 million to build a new City Hall against the wishes of the majority of the citizens, bringing in big businesses to a retiree community, over developing, destroying the peace and tranquility that we were seeking. In the last two years we have noticed an increased in the crime rate now 5/5 up from 3/2, traffic heavier than usual, in the last two years it’s been hit with a cold spell down in the low 20 and there is definitely something wrong with the water. No matter what they publish on the city website about how wonderful the water is I would definitely not drink it. The water stains everything white and recently they added some additional chemicals. We were considering buying a water softener and purifying treatment system however considering we might move we will hold off.
Misty | Palm Coast, FL