Development is Killing The Outer Banks! (Vent)

[KevinM]

I love the OBX. It has always been so beautiful; so unlike Ocean City MD or some sections of the Jersey Shore (LBI is very nice; we spent a few days there in July).

We returned several weeks ago from our latest trip to Duck, NC (we go every year). I swear there is not a square foot of property on those barrier islands that isn't being developed. Now the chain stores and eateries are popping up everywhere. It is very sad....

I know that is the price of progress, but it breaks my heart to see all of these million dollar homes going up on property that is slowly being washed away. (I guess I am as guilty as everyone else....we rent one of those 8 bedroom mansions every year).

Just wanted to vent!

 

[TheBellhop]

I have to echo this thought. Their are tons of chains going in everywhere; and there's now a Wings store for ever town in the OBX. It just disappoints me so much...this is such a beautiful place, and now people are ruining it.

 

[Maggi May]

I'm right there venting with ya. Just got back from a day trip to St. George Island on the Florida Panhandle and can't believe all of the upscale developments being built between there and Tallahassee. Last year's hurricanes knocked out alot of small businesses and homes, too.

 

[juligrl]

I know that is the price of progress, but it breaks my heart to see all of these million dollar homes going up on property that is slowly being washed away. (I guess I am as guilty as everyone else....we rent one of those 8 bedroom mansions every year).

Just wanted to vent!

Don't worry! A good Katrina like huricane will take care of all that progress no problem!

 

[klmall]

This is the price we pay for a rising middle class and expanding disposable income. We used to love going to Duck also, in particular renting in Sanderling but it all seems so artificial now. We've started visiting national parks and mountain lakes instead.

 

[minkydog]

My family goes way back in the OBX(like to 1758) and I have to concur--the rising tide of commercialism is pretty sickening. What once was just a collection of fishing villages is now a small tacky metropolis. I spent most of my childhood summers playing in Kitty Hawk. There was a time when I could stand on the upper beach road and see all the way clear to the ocean. No traffic, either. Because there were hardly any year-round residents, only those hardy folks who could eke out a living on the water. Now when I go back instead of hearing that delightful, almost-cockney lilt, all I hear is New Joisey twang. The OBX is over-run with people who moved there from the Northeast and set about changing things. Of course, some things are good--they have a hospital now. And a Mexican restaurant. And they updated the Wright Memorial Bridge(anybody remember when it was a 2-lane wooden horror?) All those things have brought in more economic growth and more demands on the environment. Now OBX is losing what made it special--it's not much different from Panama City Beach.

Ahhh, but as you say, one good hurricane will change everything

 

[Rhonda]

We rent in Corolla every year -- I think it's still beautiful there! But, we spend all our time looking at the ocean!

 

[mom2taylorandemily]

Don't worry! A good Katrina like huricane will take care of all that progress no problem!

Don't count on it. That would be only temporary fix. Every time a hurricane comes thru some of the houses on Beach Rd. come down. No sooner do the claims adjusters and town officials come thru and look at the property, the owner have sold the land and another hotel is going up. We have pictures of the damage from 3 years ago (can't remember name of hurricane, after Isabelle), those houses have been torn down and now the new Hilton at the stop light is there right past Walmart. Trust me, a hurricane doing damage only spurs on the big commercial spenders to bring in big business.

 

[georgina]

It is sad. But the attitude of many people is that you can't protect land from development because that infringes on the landowner's rights to do what they want with their property. It's all about individual rights, not the collective rights of the community (or what's good for the earth).

 

[HugsForEeyore]

This is very sad to read. I used to go to the Outer Banks with my family but haven't been there in about seven years now. Guess I am one of those "Joisey Twang" people. . We used to rent in Rodanthe/Waves/Salvo area, which was very uncommercial at that time. There were alot of smaller houses there, too, that we could afford! Beautiful and pretty there.

But you see this development everywhere in all states that border the ocean - anything near the ocean is becoming exclusive multi-million houses for the wealthy only, with all the ammenities/stores/chains that accompany development. The rich are willing to pay for it, so bye bye open beaches.