Terrified of relocating! (Baton Rouge, Zachary, Jennings: houses, transfer, safe area)

[steph4673]

I know I'm probably being a bit of a weinie but I am getting really mixed opinions about Baton Rouge. My husband just got orders so we'll be moving there in a few months. We have a four year old and will have a 2 week old when we arrive. It is very important to me to live somewhere safe and family friendly. We are also looking for an area that is culturally diverse with good schools. I've heard great things about Denham Springs but am unsure of the accuracy. I truly don't know a thing about the city but my husband and I are willing to commute if we can find something outside the major portion of the city. Please tell me of any good areas to look into and places that we should steer clear from. I've been told Florida Blvd, Plank Rd, and Gardere are unsafe but I'm not clear on their exact locations. Any information you might have will be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much in advance!!

[BRMan]

Originally Posted by steph4673

I know I'm probably being a bit of a weinie but I am getting really mixed opinions about Baton Rouge. My husband just got orders so we'll be moving there in a few months. We have a four year old and will have a 2 week old when we arrive. It is very important to me to live somewhere safe and family friendly. We are also looking for an area that is culturally diverse with good schools. I've heard great things about Denham Springs but am unsure of the accuracy. I truly don't know a thing about the city but my husband and I are willing to commute if we can find something outside the major portion of the city. Please tell me of any good areas to look into and places that we should steer clear from. I've been told Florida Blvd, Plank Rd, and Gardere are unsafe but I'm not clear on their exact locations. Any information you might have will be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much in advance!!

My advice - since you have a 4 year old, I'd look into Ascension Parish (Prairieville), Livingston Parish (Denham Springs, Watson, Walker), or the town of Zachary in East Baton Rouge. You don't want to fool with the East Baton Rouge Parish schools, as they're just coming out from a busing order which bled the school system of most of its whites.

Only thing about Livingston and Ascension Parishes is that they're rapidly growing (even more so, thanks to a migration of middle income Orlenians since Katrina), so traffic is HORRIBLE. And the transporation infrastructure is not likely to be improved fast enough, if at all.

Zachary, on the other hand, is in the northern fringes of East Baton Rouge Parish and recently got its own "breakaway" school system, so you have lots of subdivisions going up there.

Feel free to PM me if you have more specific questions

[Nan C]

I'll second the motion on Ascension Parish, Prairieville area. Great schools - especially Dutchtown, and lots of beautiful subdivisions sprouting everywhere. But our parish officials are choking us with the traffic on inadequate roads and other failures in the infrastructure.

[tychebert]

I agree with NANC, my aunt and uncle live there and prarieville is a beatiful area with lots of space, the problem lies with the way the develepers are developing the land, the houses are very very nicely built, but the new lots are small. your best bet would be to buy a used home, they are usually built on larger lots so your kids would have a large safe area to grow. Dutchtown is a great school as well my cousin goes there and he loves it. well i hope this helps.

[azachary]

So the town of Zachary is a nice Place? I would like to visit it since I have the same last name. How about Jennings is it a nice town?

Originally Posted by BRMan

My advice - since you have a 4 year old, I'd look into Ascension Parish (Prairieville), Livingston Parish (Denham Springs, Watson, Walker), or the town of Zachary in East Baton Rouge. You don't want to fool with the East Baton Rouge Parish schools, as they're just coming out from a busing order which bled the school system of most of its whites.

Only thing about Livingston and Ascension Parishes is that they're rapidly growing (even more so, thanks to a migration of middle income Orlenians since Katrina), so traffic is HORRIBLE. And the transporation infrastructure is not likely to be improved fast enough, if at all.

Zachary, on the other hand, is in the northern fringes of East Baton Rouge Parish and recently got its own "breakaway" school system, so you have lots of subdivisions going up there.

Feel free to PM me if you have more specific questions

[Kimbercuddles]

My husband was transferred to Baton Rouge after living in San Antonio, TX, for about ten years. It was the biggest culture shock we have ever experienced. If you are uncomfortable being a minority, Denham Springs is mostly Caucasion and the people here are extremely nice...much nicer than anyone has been to us in Baton Rouge. The work ethic in this area is the lowest I have ever seen. I know there are exceptions, but it is so much worse than San Antonio and that was even a little worse than Minnesota. The schools in Denham Springs are some of the best in the state, so I've heard. Which state are you moving from?

[fitone1]

I'm a 4o something, single mom of African decent. I have lived in Louisiana most of my life. Graduated from LSU and lived in BR since 1987. Baton Rouge is culturally diverse and allows exposure to lots of different kinds of people. You've got 2 very nice universities that have significant support. Business merchants, salespeople and the like seem to be much more respectful and considerate to whomever they deal with. And, there are black folks who own businesses and are professional as well as whites. Other than the traffic on the South side of town, it's an ok place. Especially if you are a college sports enthusiast. Also, there are activities for kids and families. The Baton Rouge Recreation Department has so much to offer. However, in Central, Zachary, Watson, Walker, the old racist mentality is strong and rears its big ugly head, as is the tone seeping from these postings. It amazes me that "we" see things so, differently. My moving to Bossier for a better paying job and schools has not been met with great sacrifice. Especially, the unfriendliness/hostility I get from the majority, here. So, I guess our experiences in a community or area will be "good" or "not" based on something as shallow and baseless as the color of our skin. As we continue to avoid one another and assume things without really getting to know someone on face value, this countries decline is inevitable. Kimbercuddles, are you suggesting that a white person could not be safe or comfortable in an area where blacks are the majority or close to it? Where does that mentality come from? How many times have seen or heard black folks coming at you all with hostility? I believe that that mentality and other sick ideologies that people hold is one of the reasons there is so much intolerance and division in this country.

[JStroda]

Let me know what you are looking for and I can help

[alon504]

You will really enjoy Baton Rouge. My sister lives outside of Baton Rouge in Livingston Parish and they have a great life. There is no need, at all, to be terrified of Baton Rouge. Metro Baton Rouge is home to over 800.000 people...it can't be that awful or that many people wouldn't chose to call it home. When you get settled in, go to an LSU football game next season...you'll have a blast!

[BRMan]

Originally Posted by azachary

So the town of Zachary is a nice Place? I would like to visit it since I have the same last name. How about Jennings is it a nice town?

It has its bad areas, but there are lots of middle to upper middle subdivisions going up. Only disadvantage is that being on the north end of the parish, there's not a ton of retail. Unless you're a fan of Wal-Mart.

Don't know much about Jennings, as it's about 100 miles to the west.