moving to Ft Gordon (Evans, Grovetown: coupons, crime, buy)

[joeyrun]

Evans and Harlem high didn't make AYP last year. I suggest if you are intrested in moving to Columbia county. Look into areas zone for Greenbriar in Evans and Lakeside in Martinez. A student brought a large knife to Evans earlier this week. Incidents concerning weapons & fights are becoming more common at Evans. Harlem is nothing but redneck central. Grovetown opened this year and already is having gang incidents. The principal at Grovetown got beat up trying to stop a fight the second day of school.

[Kit624]

@ Nortonguy:
How do I know the area? I live here. It's really not all that big. The entire CSRA is less than one million people. It doesn't take very long to figure out where the good parts of town are vs. the bad ones.

As far as Aiken goes, yes, it's a bit of a drive, but in most metropolitan areas, a 45 minute commute is the norm and a lot of people don't see a 45 to 60 min commute as a big deal. It's pretty average. Aiken is nice. Not saying they shouldn't live here, it was just a suggestion and my point is, a lot of people commute that far everyday, each way (it's really only about 20/30 miles depending on what part of aiken augusta, just traffic) so maybe it's something they'd be interested in if they want a different feel.

As far as the schools, how I know? I teach around here. Davidson may very well be the best school around here, but it doesn't mean it compares with other public systems in the country, such as NY or PA.

As far as military families go, I haven't met one single one who sends their kid to anything OTHER than private school or homeschool. It's not said to be mean, but it's what I've observed.

Remember this is my opinion as a military transplant, not a local, and it very well may be different than yours. There are a lot of good things about Augusta--it's very friendly, for one-- and I didn't think my suggestions had anything wrong with them.

[nortonguy]

But here is your post.

Originally Posted by Kit624

If you do live off the best zip code close to base is 30909 or move out to Columbia County. 30907 is also pretty good. STAY AWAY from downtown.

West Augusta zipcodes 30909 and 30907 are nice. Im talking about your last statement.

But Im asking because you wrote this in capital letters? STAY AWAY
You didn't name a specific part of downtown? After 2007 downtown expanded and includes Laney Walker, Harrisburg, Medical District, Paine College, Bethlehem, and the CBD. It seems you were saying stay away from all of downtown. Yet you suggested all of Columbia county. When both areas have nice and bad parts.

Originally Posted by Kit624

Yes. Olde Town is quaint for about two blocks...only. You don't want to be near all the crime and junk down there, plus, downtown is pretty boring. Look in West Augusta, Aiken, or North Augusta, also Evans or Grovetown. You can get a pretty sweet house here for 3K.

Olde Town is like four streets and each street has more than 2 nice blocks.
North Augusta, Aiken, and Grovetown have more crime than Olde Town. Evans and West Augusta crime rate is a little lower. Then you say downtown is pretty boring. If downtown is boring, what is N. Augusta, Evans, Aiken, or Grovetown considered? These people are driving to downtown for fun and entertainment especially thurs-sunday. First Friday, the clubs, bars, are all downtown. West Augusta has washington rd and Surrey center but that's about it in the burbs..


It seems you haven't exactly figured out all of the areas yet.

[Kit624]

Originally Posted by nortonguy

But here is your post.



West Augusta zipcodes 30909 and 30907 are nice. Im talking about your last statement.

But Im asking because you wrote this in capital letters? STAY AWAY
You didn't name a specific part of downtown? After 2007 downtown expanded and includes Laney Walker, Harrisburg, Medical District, Paine College, Bethlehem, and the CBD. It seems you were saying stay away from all of downtown. Yet you suggested all of Columbia county. When both areas have nice and bad parts.



Olde Town is like four streets and each street has more than 2 nice blocks.
North Augusta, Aiken, and Grovetown have more crime than Olde Town. Evans and West Augusta crime rate is a little lower. Then you say downtown is pretty boring. If downtown is boring, what is N. Augusta, Evans, Aiken, or Grovetown considered? These people are driving to downtown for fun and entertainment especially thurs-sunday. First Friday, the clubs, bars, are all downtown. West Augusta has washington rd and Surrey center but that's about it in the burbs..


It seems you haven't exactly figured out all of the areas yet.

@ Nortonguy:

It seems we have different opinions on what constitutes a 'nice' part of town. Of course some parts of downtown are nicer than others, that is true with any city and goes without saying, it's generally assumed. However, quite frankly, I don't think the 'nice' parts are all that nice. Fun to walk around, maybe, but I certainly wouldn't want to be down there at night. I have had people try to get in my car down there, while I was in it, before...in the 'nice' section in broad daylight. Personally, I'd stay away. Just because it is 'nicer' does not mean it's "family friendly" or "nice" really at all.

Is downtown boring? Yes. Frankly, I think the whole area is boring, including the burbs and all of downtown. It all depends on what you're looking for out of your 'city' experience. If you want seedy bars and clubs, thrift stores, and sketchy pawn shops that deal used firearms and old estate jewelry, yes, there are tons of those downtown. On a postive note, there are also a few cute shops and galleries and eclectic things. But that's it. We have no ballet, no opera company, and a symphony that is made up of musicians who have to fly from other cities in to play because we don't have enough local interest to create our own. We have no zoo for kids, no large museums, art galleries (yes, I am aware of the galleries on artist row and the Laney Walker, I'm talking about a formal medium to large-sized museum that brings exhibits in and out on regular basis), and few parks. Education is underfunded, the local tourist attractions are a golf course that looks great, and a swamp and a canal (both of which are pretty cool by the way), and almost no true ethnic restaurants of any kind--mostly it's chain restaurants (Yes, before you tell me where they are I know there are SOME. That's not the point). To find these things in mass, you have to drive out to Colombia or Atlanta. The public transit doesn't really run a good schedule, and you can't even catch the Amtack here. In that sense, it has few amenities of a city/metropolitan area.

That is why I say it is boring...because personally (and again this is my personal, transplant opinion, and I am a self-admitted snob), I think that it is. I know many who feel the same as I do, so I was only telling her what I and others have said. That is not to say your opinion/thoughts are not valid, but I do not agree with them and do not have to. This is an opinion-based board.

Augusta has good things as well, as I said. The weather is AMAZING -- love the heat and being able to go to the pool all the time-- and it's incredibly friendly, good pace of life, and good people. But, as most places, it is not perfect.

[nortonguy]

Originally Posted by Kit624

@ Nortonguy:

It seems we have different opinions on what constitutes a 'nice' part of town. Of course some parts of downtown are nicer than others, that is true with any city and goes without saying, it's generally assumed. However, quite frankly, I don't think the 'nice' parts are all that nice. Fun to walk around, maybe, but I certainly wouldn't want to be down there at night. I have had people try to get in my car down there, while I was in it, before...in the 'nice' section in broad daylight. Personally, I'd stay away. Just because it is 'nicer' does not mean it's "family friendly" or "nice" really at all.

Is downtown boring? Yes. Frankly, I think the whole area is boring, including the burbs and all of downtown. It all depends on what you're looking for out of your 'city' experience. If you want seedy bars and clubs, thrift stores, and sketchy pawn shops that deal used firearms and old estate jewelry, yes, there are tons of those downtown. On a postive note, there are also a few cute shops and galleries and eclectic things. But that's it. We have no ballet, no opera company, and a symphony that is made up of musicians who have to fly from other cities in to play because we don't have enough local interest to create our own. We have no zoo for kids, no large museums, art galleries (yes, I am aware of the galleries on artist row and the Laney Walker, I'm talking about a formal medium to large-sized museum that brings exhibits in and out on regular basis), and few parks. Education is underfunded, the local tourist attractions are a golf course that looks great, and a swamp and a canal (both of which are pretty cool by the way), and almost no true ethnic restaurants of any kind--mostly it's chain restaurants (Yes, before you tell me where they are I know there are SOME. That's not the point). To find these things in mass, you have to drive out to Colombia or Atlanta. The public transit doesn't really run a good schedule, and you can't even catch the Amtack here. In that sense, it has few amenities of a city/metropolitan area.

That is why I say it is boring...because personally (and again this is my personal, transplant opinion, and I am a self-admitted snob), I think that it is. I know many who feel the same as I do, so I was only telling her what I and others have said. That is not to say your opinion/thoughts are not valid, but I do not agree with them and do not have to. This is an opinion-based board.

Augusta has good things as well, as I said. The weather is AMAZING -- love the heat and being able to go to the pool all the time-- and it's incredibly friendly, good pace of life, and good people. But, as most places, it is not perfect.

If you think the whole area is boring. Why are you naming places with less things to do than downtown. What is there to do in Grovetown, N. Augusta, or Evans?

In bold face.. Is total bull you know what.. What street, month, day, and what happen for somebody to get in your car. I go downtown all the time.. In broad daylight and after 12 am.. The Central Business District crime rate is lower than North Augusta, Aiken, and Grovetown. Hephzibah, West Augusta, and Evans have lower crime than the CBD.

Lol somebody really got into your car on Broad street? Because that's where most of the nice places are downtown.. You said in a nice section of downtown..


Augusta has stores and restaurants that Columbia doesn't have yet... What are you talking about?

[odysseyqueen]

check out www.greatschools.net . for a wealth of information, including test scores and school envirornment. You can search for district, Columbia County or Richmond County. Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't you have to apply and be selected for CT Walker or Davidson? I wonder if she is only here a year she will have time for that, and if you don't get in, then you better have a good public school zoned for your area. I have my kids in Stevens Creek and I love it! I came from California and their system is out of money too. We are military too, and place a very high value on education.

[Kit624]

@ Nortonguy, it was near the Riverwalk 'park' in August. I don't remember what street but it happened. Why do you think it wouldn't? Stuff like that happens in cities all the time. The person asked me for money and a ride, and tried to get in my car. I've also run into self-admitted drug dealers asking for money in the park in broad daylight (no I'm not making it up, the dude told me he was a dealer) and ran into some sort of sketchyness at Phinizy Swamp (some guy in the car next to me, on the phone, telling someone else he wasn't sure where it was "going down" but it was definetly "going down"). It does happen here I'm just saying for these reasons, I would not live downtown. I'm not making it up and I don't think it's unusual for a metro area built around a city. I also wouldn't want to subject my children to the sketchy bars, strip clubs, and shops there. It's not exactly what you'd want your kids to be doing on the weekend.

I'm done arguing with you, it is clear we disagree and I can't make you believe it happened, though it's naive to think it doesn't go on here. As I said, there are very nice things here too, and that's fine. But it's not all peaches and cream.

@ odysseyqueen-yes, you have to apply to those schools to be accepted. That's what I said about it not really being in the 'public' system. They don't really count, as they are more selective and more like a private school though I believe they are publically funded which is why they are considered 'public'. Thanks for the link! That is a great reference.

For the woman moving here from HI, I'd check out SpotCrime - Know Your Neighborhood. You can view the crime in Augusta (and any other city) by type and frequency and get very recent information on the type and history of it. You can even type in specific addresses. Once you find an apartment or house, if you visit here to look, the leasing agents will NOT tell you what kind of crime they experience because of fair housing acts,etc which is fine. Just call the sheriff's office and give them the address of the apartment or complex that you chose they will be able to tell you. Have fun! Augusta's not all bad, and like I said, there are some really great things here, such as the amazingly awesome weather, the cost of living, and the produce (always fresh and very cheap!).

[Kit624]

Originally Posted by Evelyn1998

More to think about, thanks. We are coming from terrible Hawaii school system. Kids are only going to school 4 days a week b/c the system is broke. I hope we are offered something decent on post for convenience. We're not even supposed to be there 1 year, so that may be a problem trying to find off post rental. I'm thinking it will be easier to get in & out of a house on post, assuming we're offered something decent.

Hey Evelyn,
It should'nt be a problem if you want to live off. Most all complexes have the military clause and many offer month-to-month or short term leases.

[expatriado]

nortonguy-You know how bad the waiting list is to get into Davidson, A.R. Johnson and C.T. Walker, you also know how Columbia County schools beat the Richmond County School System hands down in AYP and CRCT scores. Plus, the RCSS is always hard up for money because of the pitiful tax base and the pork barrel board members. Be realistic, man.

[nortonguy]

Disgustasucks, we know you and kit624 are the same person. Why do you keep posting on this threa over and over. You always try to make it into a Richmond county vs Columbia county. Mcduffie, Aiken, Burke, and Edgefield are in the metro too.

I know you love Columbia county. Because its majority white and conservative. And from reading your comments on the chronicle topics. Your comments clearly show you to be prejudice against blacks.

Only Lakeside and Greenbriar made AYP in Columbia county. Harlem and Evans didn't make AYP.

In Richmond county Davidson and AR Johnson both made AYP. Westside missed AYP by 1 point.

Let's see how the lowest schools compare. Laney graduation rate is 60% in RC. Harlem graduation rate is 63% in CC.

Top 7 ACT scores in the metro
1. Davidson(Richmond) 23. 4
2. Lakeside(Columbia) 23. 1
3. South Aiken (Aiken) 22.8
4. AR Johnson(Richmond) 21.7
5. Greenbriar (Columbia) 21. 5
6. Westside (Richmond) 21. 3
7. North Augusta (Aiken) 21. 1