Plans Changed...Lithonia is it! (Atlanta, Stone Mountain: loans, foreclosures, employment)

[Tab1975]

Hello All

Now previously, I have posted in the forum about being torn between Gwinette and Clayton County. Well, there is no need for torment now, because, I will be living in LIthonia.

My sister came back from GA today after about 13 days. She was down there visiting my other sister in Cobb County. I knew that my sister was up to some things because of her length of staying there and she was. She is in the market of buying a home that I will live in and can purchase from her in a few years. She has been looking in the Lithonia area. Which I heard is a nice place. I saw a story that Nightline did on it and I thought that it was informative and I heard a few of my friends talk about it.

Now what I need from you guys is to know a little more:

Schools
Work
Transportation (public...I will need it until I can get a car)

I should say this...there are alot of posters on this board that are wuick to bring out the negative in a place. But I need to know about crime, but note I live in NYC...there is crime here to and I have no fear because GOD IS MY PROTECTOR! But I am not close minded too. Let us not dwell on the negative.

Any info you can give me will be great.

Thanks

Tammara

[Merin]

Where will you be working? The traffic from Lithonia to the city is bad. Your sister should be able to get a great deal because there are a TON of foreclosures in Lithonia. Its in Dekalb County, Google the counties website to find out about crime. Public transportation is going to be difficult because its so far from the city. The public transportation system down here isn’t good at all. I don’t think the schools there are very good either.

[ATLienGirl]

Originally Posted by Merin

Where will you be working? The traffic from Lithonia to the city is bad. Your sister should be able to get a great deal because there are a TON of foreclosures in Lithonia. Its in Dekalb County, Google the counties website to find out about crime. Public transportation is going to be difficult because its so far from the city. The public transportation system down here isn’t good at all. I don’t think the schools there are very good either.

I may be wrong, but, I think that part of Lithonia is also in Gwinnett County. Is this true? I heard that a while back, Lithonia, Gwinnett County. Either way, my sister just moved off Panola Road. She car pools downtown, and in the car pool lane it takes them about 35-40 minutes. So I can't even imagine what the commute time would be like if you aren't car pooling and you have to drive downtown. Public transportation is not that great out there, in order to really get around, you are going to HAVE to have a car.

Just like everywhere, there are good parts and bad parts. What part of Lithonia were you looking at? Just like there are some parts of Clayton County I wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole, there are some parts of Lithonia that are similar.

[dejuan2]

Marta has been extended to Lithonia, here is the link. Atlanta News | MARTA Links Sales Tax With Stonecrest BRT - A bus rapid transit line to Stonecrest that could develop into a rail line is one of four projects included in a proposed contract amendment that MARTA will present to the DeKalb Board of Com
Otherwise, public transportation is very limited in Lithonia. As far as schools are concerned the public schools in the area have some challenges however a friend of mine has enrolled her child at New Birth Missionary Baptist Faith Academy and I have heard great things about the school and the tuition is very reasonable, and they require a set number of hours each term for parents to volunteer.
As far as foreclosures are concerned, there are foreclosures all over metro atlanta, and all over the country but it seems that the media likes to associate minorites with foreclosures, when the reality is variable interest loans are the main culprit. So I would disregard the previous posters comments.
Lithonia has wealthy areas and also has poorer areas so depending on where you are will determine the level of crime.
As far as employment, that will also depend on the type of work that you do.

[DoveDiva]

Congratulations on making a choice.

I'm not overly familiar with the schools, but I remember hearing good things about Bouie and Marbut Elem. from a teacher friend who works out in DeKalb now.

Work...well, I don't know what you do so I can't tell you anything about that

Transportation: I'm sure you know--this isn't NYC LOL. But Marta does run out there, and there's a Marta train station not far--the Indian Creek station in Stone Mountain. A friend of mine lives out in Lithonia and works @ the airport and doesn't drive and he still gets around and still manages to go to the clubs, etc. so I guess it can be done. Just know that eventually you have to get a car

I wish you the best of luck!

[ATLienGirl]

Oh yeah, Brown's Mill Elementary is also very good...I had a few students transfer to that school.

I think that most people are more favorable of the Southern part of Lithonia (Brown's Mill, Salem, Hwy 155, etc.) than the northern part (Panola, Hillandale, Fairington). But, just like with your Clayton County dilemma, it is up to you; nothing posted on here is the "gospel" per say.

[DoveDiva]

Oh

And make sure this house isn't overly close to New Birth Church...or Sunday's traffic will darn near kill you