Life in Clarkston Georgia (Atlanta, Peachtree City: apartment complexes, for rent, crime)

[ladyfree]

Hello everyone,

I'm considering a move to the Atlanta area and wanted to know if Clarkston was a safe place? Is it affordable? I am familiar with Atlanta (stayed in Peachtree City a few months). I also have family in and around ATL.

Also I would consider downtown. Are there affordable places in a 5 mile radius? No scary neighborhoods please!! I love Atlantic Station but know I would have to sell my right arm to live there. Maybe in a few years.

Thanks for any help you can offer.

[atlantamoi]

I would say the majority of Clarkston might be scary. It's home to plenty of apartment complexes with refugees. I'm not slagging refugess because most of them are hard working and happy to be here. It's just that area can look a little run down. I live in Scottdale, which is right next to Clarkston. I happen to be in a safe subdivision, but I don't have to go far to actually feel a little scared.

You mentioned Atlantic Station and P'tree City. Clarkston is nothing like that. But, I'm sure the prices in Clarkston are affordable and there definitely could be a spot here or there that is not dangerous at all. One great thing about this area is that you have quick access to 285, live a few miles from downtown Decatur and only 10 from downtown Atlanta.

(PM me if you want more info about my specific neighborhood... there are some townhomes here... maybe some for rent).

[George Chong]

Originally Posted by ladyfree

Hello everyone,

I'm considering a move to the Atlanta area and wanted to know if Clarkston was a safe place? Is it affordable? I am familiar with Atlanta (stayed in Peachtree City a few months). I also have family in and around ATL.

Also I would consider downtown. Are there affordable places in a 5 mile radius? No scary neighborhoods please!! I love Atlantic Station but know I would have to sell my right arm to live there. Maybe in a few years.

Thanks for any help you can offer.

You might want to read the thread entitled "Ghetto Suburbs" (latest posts) on Clarkston.

[ladyfree]

Thanks so much George. I really would like to stay close to downtown. I'm working on it. On the Topix site, there were quite a few links to crime (including murder) in Clarkston. It seems like a nice town with a few people messing things up for everyone. One murder was just outside of Clarkston and another was in a Clarkston apartment complex.

I will pm you later this evening for more details about the area.

Thanks again!

Sherry

[galang]

We lived in Clarkston for a year. During that year, we had our car stolen out of our driveway, there were burglaries every month on our street, several armed robberies and carjackings took place within a block of our house. Lots of drug deals and gang activity on our street. The final straw was waking up in the middle of the night to see a murdered body on the sidewalk across the street from our house.

There is a lot of crime there right now, and I fear it's only going to get worse with the economy being in such terrible shape. Don't be lured in by low cost of living. There's a reason it's cheap to live there.

[Passionate1]

Crime is everywhere and Clarkston is no different. What this small urban city has to offer its residents is a small town feel without the big pocket drainage. The cultural diversity is wonderful. You have over 57 nationalities living in a little over than a one mile radius. While there are older housing stock for single family homes, you also have land and quick accessibility to Atlanta (15 minutes); you are 4 hours away from South Carolina and 6 hours away from Florida. It is not a flashy town but it does have charm. You may find your heart desires within a 5 mile radius. It is a great investment opportunity. To discuss the previous comment, yes a number of immigrants and refugees have moved to Clarkston over the last 20 years and like other national migrants they come to Clarkston because of the location, affordablity and sense of community. If you have lived in any large metropolitan area, you will find that you don't know your neighbors. In Clarkston you do! Come see for yourself and learn why people move to Clarkston, stay or wish they had. :-)

[LovinDecatur]

Originally Posted by Passionate1

you are 4 hours away from South Carolina and 6 hours away from Florida.

More like 2 hours from SC and 3.5 hrs from FL

[ladyfree]

Thanks to everyone for the information. I've decided to move to Charlotte, NC after college graduation next May. Take care all of you.

[LovinDecatur]

Originally Posted by ladyfree

Thanks to everyone for the information. I've decided to move to Charlotte, NC after college graduation next May. Take care all of you.

Charlotte is a lovely town...best of luck to you there!

[REAtLanta]

Originally Posted by LovinDecatur

More like 2 hours from SC and 3.5 hrs from FL

I don't know exactly how fast you drive, but 3.5 hours to FL only gets you inside the border, not anywhere specific. We made monthly trips to Jacksonville (I 75), and 95 mph the whole way got us from point A (atlanta) to Point B in just about 4h 40m.

Going down the opposite leg of Atlanta to FL (Pensacola) and I think my best time was just under 4 hrs.