How will fuel prices affect development in Chatham County

[randy]

I think alot of people that would be moving here for work, that would of normally considering driving to live out this way will think twice and live closer to work ie Raleigh/Durham because of fuel prices.  I see homes in that area being bought before living out in Chatham county who were once willing to make the drive to live in a Bed/ breakfast or rural area n Chatham co, except for folks looking for a nice retirement area to live.  The big buck paying jobs just aren't here.

[VAHeel]

If I can get a home in Chapel Hill for 250k, and get a comparable home here for 175k, even with the cost of gas the chatham home is more affordable.

[ncbeachbumb]

Out West there are vast stretches of vacant land that sells for pennies on the dollar.  There is no industry, no work, just land in the middle of nowhere.  Many of your elite and Hollywood folks go there to buy thousands of acres of land for privacy.

From what I hear John saying is that he thinks the new economy will force everyone BUT the elite to live in our congested cities, one on top of the other, where they have a greater chance of being a victim of crime as well.  I'm sure he thinks the economy will finally accomplish what he and his compadres have tried to accomplish since moving here...shut the barn doors so they can enjoy the use of all this open land, for FREE.

I for one don't see the sky falling, but think the U.S., World, North Carolina, and even the Triangle economies will rebound and it will be business as usual, with perhaps a few changes.  I think you will likely see more research and development "pods" spring up out in the rural areas to take advantage of economic and social resources of providing "quality of life".  These pods will host complimentary businesses that provide product and resources to each other in return for lower cost of producing via lower transportation.  And what transportation does take place will be in a much more efficient manner.  I wouldn't be at all surprised to see that air ship cargo company on the coast see an increased interest over the next few years.

I think Chatham Counties real-estate outlook and economy has a very promising future, thanks to growth and development, and Mr. SAS.

[pittsboro_toys]

"It is time for all to adjust to the future and it will not be easy for our commuter worker population. "

There was an article today in McClatchy News saying pretty much the same thing, that gas prices will be murder on small town America:
http://www.kansascity.com/105/story/683605-p2.html

[VAHeel]

I think this is a mountain out of a mole hill.  I did the math on my husbands commute the other day, 40ish miles in a Dodge 1500 at $5/gallon, and it costs us about 2500, yearly.  Which means it's costing about 1500 a year more than it does at $2/gallon.  Is it an adjustment?  yes.  Are we giving up other things?  yes, but not enough to break us and not enough to drastically change the way we live our lives or where we want to live.

[randy]

If I can get a home in Chapel Hill for 250k, and get a comparable home here for 175k, even with the cost of gas the chatham home is more affordable.

Maybe.  I know when we first moved here we lived on Moore Mtn Rd, the family that lived there prevciously moved to Durham because was tired of the drive and wanted to live closer to there work (both husband and wife).

[randy]

I think this is a mountain out of a mole hill.  I did the math on my husbands commute the other day, 40ish miles in a Dodge 1500 at $5/gallon, and it costs us about 2500, yearly.  Which means it's costing about 1500 a year more than it does at $2/gallon.  Is it an adjustment?  yes.  Are we giving up other things?  yes, but not enough to break us and not enough to drastically change the way we live our lives or where we want to live.

add in increased traffic and delays plus increase gas prices, you may be right, but alot of people I think would want the convenience of living as close to work as possible now and into the future.

[VAHeel]

and that's a convenience and preference choice and it's the same factors we've always faced; it's not influenced by the cost of gas.

[randy]

and that's a convenience and preference choice and it's the same factors we've always faced; it's not influenced by the cost of gas.

I think gas will have alot to do with it.  Your just adding fuel cost for work, what about recreational, ect you didn't count with a family.

[VAHeel]

I can easily minimize those.  That's definitely one of the things we're changing to help adjust, but I don't consider it to be a major hardship.

[VAHeel]

I take serious issue with the 500/month gas number, but he's the expert.

[pittsboro_toys]

Yeah, 500 a month is pretty scary. I hope there aren't many people paying that.

[VAHeel]

500 a month is absurd.  There's no reason to be spending that much on gas, unless you're commuting to a different state.  When I was commuting 100 miles round trip every day, I don't think I used that much.

at $5/gallon, which we're not at yet, that's 100 gallons.  Given a 15 gallon tank, which is generous, that's almost 7 fillups a month.  If you're filling up that much, you needed to change your driving habits a couple of years ago, in my opinion.  I certainly don't see how it could be representative.

[Claude Bowles]

Many of your elite and Hollywood folks go there to buy thousands of acres of land for privacy.

Ooooh! Don't toy with us Bumster, who are all these Hollywood stars buying up Chatham County? Is it time for me to develop my Maps to the Hollywood Stars business? I went out this afternoon and made a down payment on a retired Chapel Hill Transit bus to get my business off the ground. Please, please don't disappoint me. I know everything you post here can be taken as gospel.

[Stargazer]

Today, I've heard several financial stories saying that gas will be $7/gallon before long.
Needless to say, I hope they're wrong!

However, even with $4/gal gas and much more for diesel, that means higher food prices.
Match that with higher home heating oil prices...the already petroleum stressed commuter
will easily be overwhelmed.

It's easy to see how many families will not be able to cope.  Again, I hope I'm wrong.

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