Anyone Live On Riverside? (Cameron, Howe: apartment complexes, to rent, crime)

[RampageInAZ]

Just wondering if it is bad as everyone says it is. I currently live off of Cameron and 290E/35. Its pretty boring over here, crappy location(no HEB within 5 minutes?!). Anyways, i am considering Riverside due to price and the fact that I'd have a better chance with my dog (yes, its a pit bull). My main concerns are:

1)having my apartment robbed
2)car broken into/stolen

I hear good and bad things about the general Riverside East area, anyone on here live in or near there? What has your experience been?

[centralaustinite]

I lived right off Riverside East for seven years, now I am about 10 blocks north of Riverside just west of I-35, and I've been here for another 7 years.

I feel safe. I have never been a crime victim. It is no utopia but certainly no dodgier than I-35/Cameron. And I'd live there too. Riverside, along Lakeshore is undergoing re-development and many working class folks are being forced out, but it is not a shooting gallery!! I had my first child when we lived off Riverside and I walked everywhere and always felt safe.

The kind of crime that you are worried about are crimes of opportunity, there is no risk free area. Keep your car locked, loose change out of sight and no ipod or cell phone visible. Lock your door, draw your curtains and don't flash a big plasma TV etc. And chances are you will be fine. Get to know your neighbors. Be a little street smart. You'll be fine.

However, with the dog, if you are looking at duplexes in the area -- those can be much riskier than an apartment complexes. Try to rent a house instead.

[JoanCarroll]

We live on Parker Lane which branches off of Riverside and feel very safe there. I think Parker Lane traffic is the only downside.

[readymade]

I live off of Parker which is off of Riverside and I love it. I feel very safe here. I personally wouldn't want to live on Riverside, itself, but there are streets off of it which are quite nice.