[janiskent]

I lived in Little Rock many years ago and want to semi-retire back in the Arkansas area. (I am in the Boston area now and have already put over $1000 heating oil in the tank and it's not even the end of December).

I loved Little Rock and am considering retiring (semi) to Hot Springs but am concerned about the crime as shown in crime charts.

Can anyone tell me what Hot Springs is like now? I am looking for a cottage in town and I work part time from my home. I love older architecture (particularly American craftsman) and there seem to be a lot of affordable homes in Hot Springs.

Any insight on home costs, arts, music venues etc would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[JeffAtkins]

The crime rates are much lower in Hot Springs Village and Benton. Its a 20-25 minute drive from most parts of HSV to downtown HS (15-20 miles). From Benton it is about 30 minutes to downtown HS (its further, but a 3-4 lane road). HSV does not have the types of houses you are seeking but Benton does.

"Total Crime Index"
26 - 71909 Hot Springs Village
54 - 72015 Benton
218 - 71901 Hot Springs
188 - Little Rock (Cantrell / I-430 area)
99 - Arkansas
100 - National

So the "Total Crime" in HSV (71909) is 26% of national average, Hot Springs is 218%, and LR (72227) is 188%.

Examples of the 'crime report' from this week's paper:

(1) A Campeon Court woman found a cordless phone on the road near her home.

(2) A Village woman drove away from the Fuel Stop without paying. She wasn’t feeling well. She wrote a check and it was delivered by the police. (Yes, the police took the check to the gas station for her!)

(3) A Tomino Way woman said a pickup truck was parked in the middle of her front yard. It belonged to a Cullerendo Way man who had a little too much to drink. The truck was towed.

[Ira500]

Most of Hot Springs is just fine, no worry. There is an area east of the convention center that I wouldn't live in, but within HS, historic style homes in nice areas include the Prospect-Quapaw area and the area just east of Park( increasingly artsy, and I can't remember the name of the area.) not all that far from Bathhouse Row.

[janiskent]

Thanks for the info. Any other comments are welcome.

Do you prefer Hot Springs or Little Rock for a "retirement" town?

[Sam I Am]

Retirement? Hot Springs, hands down...Hot Springs Village even more so.

[JeffAtkins]

(1) You can remove all the trees on your property that you want when you build the house. You cannot cut the trees on property you don't own without a permit (how restrictive!), and if you want to cut anything over 3" diameter *before* you build, you have to get a permit.

(2) So far the Borg have not visited. Perhaps fatima2 has been drinking Romulan ale.

(3) There is a proposal for a maintenance ordinance, it has not been adopted by the Quorum Courts yet. The proposal includes a requirement that, in improved portions of a lot, the grass be <= 10", the same as Hot Springs I think. You also will not be able to use your yard as a garbage dump. I was really really wanting to use my yard as a garbage dump, but if I can't I'll just have to find something else to do... like play golf or fish or walk on the miles of trails.

Originally Posted by fatima2

The village is a bit of an aquired tast. many many restrictions and people are upity, HS is nice but you need to pick where you want to live. there are some parts that are not good but others that are very nice.
certian races of people seem to have the problems. I do not know why this is so but is is so.
The village is the safest place but it is also the most restricted. this keeps things nice but also no freedom to build what you want. Or cut a tree with out getting aproval from the borg. if you do not keep your grass cut you can get into trouble, if all your neighbors are nice not a big deal but you can get the local block captian that is slef apointed and was born with the index finger extended.

[nine lives]

Down town Area is booming
and goin to get better with the
new casino good times roll
maxines great music
angels good food an the brauhaus great german beers on tap
go in say hello to jason
and tommy over at maxines hot springs best bar keep

[Aporkalypse]

Hot Springs is perfectly safe. There are seedy neighborhoods to be avoided but few are where retirees would locate. Everything out by the lake is nice and safe.

Hot Springs Village is nice if you are a golfer but most non-golfers find it dull and it has gorgeous mountain scenery but is remote, it's not up the road from Hot Springs.