Comment from shelbert6
Time March 26, 2009 at 9:01 am

So, when all of these families decide to move here, sacrificing a life that they had, where will they live?? How will they make a living?? We have had rather large families move here before for exactly the purpose of increasing our student population, and the only housing available was the old school house. People who have vacation homes here that are empty all but the 2 weeks that they are here, are not interested in renting permanently their get-aways. I don’t blame them! We have one bed and breakfast that rents rooms at a rate you would expect for a B&B.
We have 7 students that will be enrolled next year. That means that we are 3 students short of meeting the 10 minimum. Would you sacrifice your current life if you have, say, one or two children to begin a new life here with the very real possibility that the enrollment would be 8 or 9 students? The Regional School Board, rumor has it, is making their decision to close our school on or about April 1st. Who would want to make that sort of life change with that deadline?? I have 3 children in school next year, I don’t want to homeschool. I don’t, however, want families here that haven’t thought this through well enough that discover by winter that this is not what they want. Tenakee has gone through a change in demographics. You can not change that demographic base with an advertisement on Craigslist. In order to change the base, you have to change the infrastructure. There must be housing available in numbers that equal your desire for growth. There must be jobs available to accommodate that growth as well. We desperately need to start building this community, because if we want more children in school we are going to have to stop opposing growth and change.

Comment from akdebs
Time March 26, 2009 at 8:34 pm

shelbert6 – I know for a fact there are homes for sale in Tenakee. Someone needs to love the community first, then choose the lifestyle. You do make some good points. I think if the demand were there, more homes would be built. If there were more lots available, those homes could be built. Perhaps instead of selling off a single parcel outside of town, the city should consider selling some homesite lots within walking distance. You do have a general contractor in town much of the year now, and there are many talented carpenters.

Comment from shelbert6
Time March 28, 2009 at 5:02 pm

OK, that is great!! Those homes and lots for sale need to advertise with for sale signs locally, because the general contractor that you speak of has no idea that there are places available. We just had this conversation earlier, and he just thought the only thing we could do right now was to remodel the old school house. But the jobs are still a concern. No one wants to raise a family here while peace-mealing income together to make ends meet. But, as you say, they love the community first then they choose the lifestyle. And if more homes are built to accommodate that growth, that in and of itself would produce some jobs! I feel a little more positive about the possibility! Thank you!

Comment from akdebs
Time March 29, 2009 at 11:17 am

Shelbert6 – It’s no secret who I am… if you have the people who own these lots call me, I will be happy to get the word out! Who would I call with the city these days? I would love to help Tenakee. When they tried to sell that land, even though I didn’t have the listing, I did put all the information on a link on my website. I would be happy to help the city market these lots, either as a listing, or even just a point of contact.

Comment from shelbert6
Time March 29, 2009 at 1:21 pm

I don’t know who owns what lots and what lots are for sale. I think most people here don’t know that info. If you ask a local what is for sale out here, most would shrug their shoulders and say they don’t know. But, your contact for the City of Tenakee should be Don Pegues, he is the ex-officio mayor. 736 2207 is the city office number. This would be great! People here really need to know this info because they are telling folks inquiring about living here that there is nothing for sale!