Tell me what is Buford exactly...beautiful homes on landfills or up-n-coming area w/ crackhouses and meth labs?

[futrMrsJ]

Originally Posted by backfist

There may be a little something to the "redneck" reputation of Buford, but that's changing slowly but surely. Hick-ish and redneck-ish people and things change in practically every outlying suburb in high growth metro areas.

............We were also told by friends that Suwanee is probably the furthest north that we should consider since it becomes kinda hit-and-miss after Sugar Hill and into Buford.

I'm Afro-Amer....my family and I are looking into both areas; Suwanee & Buford. Anyone know of any diverse subdivisions they're absolutely proud of/ impressed by? But only up to $230k thank you.... If I get any takers on this let me know what school district you're in and what you think of the elementary if you have any experience with it.


Bill- if you're still checking these, yes, I was talking about into downtown atlanta....so we should try 285?

So far the job will be located in downtown ATL, but we're hoping for another offer on monday for a position in Duluth. How's the drive from Suwanee and Buford in to Duluth? Just as bad?

[Billdemartini]

Originally Posted by futrMrsJ

I'm Afro-Amer....my family and I are looking into both areas; Suwanee & Buford. Anyone know of any diverse subdivisions they're absolutely proud of/ impressed by? But only up to $230k thank you.... If I get any takers on this let me know what school district you're in and what you think of the elementary if you have any experience with it.


Bill- if you're still checking these, yes, I was talking about into downtown atlanta....so we should try 285?

So far the job will be located in downtown ATL, but we're hoping for another offer on monday for a position in Duluth. How's the drive from Suwanee and Buford in to Duluth? Just as bad?

Duluth would be MUCH better IMO. We live in Buford and our oldest just started at Freeman's Mill Elementary and we love it so far.

[futrMrsJ]

Originally Posted by Billdemartini

Duluth would be MUCH better IMO. We live in Buford and our oldest just started at Freeman's Mill Elementary and we love it so far.

You mean Duluth would be much better w/ regard to driving to work? I was thinking so too.

[raygabs]

I currently live in Suwanee , near the town center. If you have a family with kids ...this is a great place to live. I like it better than Buford...but Buford is still changing. The mall of Georgia area is very nice but congested. There are lots of things to do here for the kids. Every place is going to have drugs..there is no "perfect" place as I am quickly finding out. The schools here are fabulous..Level Creek elementary is awesome,so is Riverside. There will be new elementary schools and middle schools here soon. I love it here. The only drawback to Georgia though is if you have allergies or asthma in your family this is NOT the place to be. Air quality stinks... I don't understand exactly why. But if that's not a concern then it really is a wonderful place to live.

[flynurse33]

Did the same... moved to Amli Apts (yes, across the street from the Mall) because we were moving back to Gwinnett Co. from NW Ga.and my kids both attended Harmony. Yes, very good schools, but in 2002, they were looking at adding another 11 trailors to the already existing ones, and the horrible traffic.. etc.. we left. I grew up in Gwinnett Co. from 4 years old until I was about 29. I had enough of living with 4000 of my closest neighbors. But all in all, Buford is great. Amli has alot of great ammenities, but not for the amount they charge. The schools ARE good in that area. I loved being close to everything, but not fighting traffic to get across the street!

Do NOT for one instance think that ANY neighborhood in ANY part of town could not be cooking meth. They have moved into more upper-end areas in the hopes that no one would think to look there. I used to work for the Athens-Clarke Co. Jail and the stories I've heard about where it's being dealt and where it's being made would make the hair on your arms stand up. "Affluent" neighborhoods are not impervious to violence, drug dealings, thefts, etc.

Just keep yourself aware of things at all times!

[jshepwnc]

Ok.
I have accepted a job offer in Atlanta - we are relocating from NC (where it is a good thing to be a redneck..hehehe)

I will be working near the perimeter mall, and am very familiar with the horrors of Atlanta traffic.

We have done a bit of research, and like what we see in the Buford city schools. They seem to have a good mix of academics & athletics.
One of the biggest reasons we are considering this school system over the surrounding ones (N. Gwinnett, Mill Creek, Collins Mill, etc..) is the size.

Buford HS has a graduating class of 150 last year, and the entire Buford city school system has 2000 students.

Compare that to Mill Creek HS, or N. Gwinnett HS, which has 4000 students in the HS alone - that's nuts!!

We much prefer a smaller school even if academics are not "the best in Ga".
We have one 6th grader and one 8th grader.

We will be down this weekend, and are looking at three homes in the downtown buford area - 1 mile from the middle school - 1.5 miles from the HS.
(btw ...if you believe the website propaganda - downtown Buford looks like a quaint, artsy area with a lot of good restaurants)

Which specific areas should we avoid in downtown??..keeping in mind that "rednecks" and a little diversity doesn't bother us, but crime ridden housing projects, and crack alley neighborhoods do.

Any advice would be appreciated

[merrydianne]

I'm reading all this negative stuff about Buford and Athens GA, crack, gangs, the homeless, high taxes and racism. I'm in the Heart of the Midland, Cedar Rapids Iowa, perfect place to raise your kids, good job oppurtunities and guess what? We have a huge issue with meth, crime is on the rise and gangs are moving here from Chicogo. It is here, but I still feel safe and would recommend anyone wanting to raise their family in an area with good public schools, community involvement, this is the place. The problem is behind the door, if you are looking for it, it's there. It is abit stepford wife, diversity is not widely accepted here, don't get me wrong, people are very friendly, they might be staring because they have never seen your skin color before. I would like to move south to be closer to family, but am weighing the advantages of family verses ignorance and cockaroaches