South Park and Coursey -- decent safe area?

[BRMan]

Originally Posted by lulu9837

Hi BRman! Thanks for the advice, I think that rules Broadmoor out too. I have a 2-year-old and it's real important to me that we be in a safe area.

I will be working at Ochsner on Summa (off Bluebonnet). I'm thinking Jefferson Shadows is reasonably close, isn't it? I agree I'd like to stay near work (would like to find daycare near work as well).

I looked at some of the other apt. and condo complexes near Ochsner -- they look pretty nice, but I think my 2 medium-sized dogs are going to be a problem. What I really want is a small rental house or duplex w/a yard, but they are hard to find (at least in my price range -- $1000/mo or less). Any other suggestions you have would be very welcome, you have been such a great resource thus far!

There seems to be lots of housing closer to LSU but I've kind of been shying away from that area -- concerned about crime, loud partying, etc. Do you think that's reasonable or is it worth looking there anyway?

L

Laurie

If you want a rental house, there are a couple of other relatively inexpensive areas worth looking into: (1) an area off Brentwood Drive (behind the BR Country Club), (2) Kimbro Drive in Magnolia Woods subdivision, (3) across Staring Lane from (2) is an area with street names like Kevel and Raintree - I think it's called High Point, (4) Highland Creek subdivision, (5) an area off Siegen with streets like Quail Ridge.

The student parts of LSU are in an area roughly bordered by W.Lee/Brightside, Bayou Fountain, the south gates of LSU, and the Miss River. Yes, loud partying would be an issue. Crime, not so much if you're south of LSU, but it is an issue in a transient area.

[BRMan]

Originally Posted by darylwi

Most everything on Jefferson is in a good area although the individual properties vary. I always thought well of Jeff Shadows but I've heard otherwise from another. You'll want to check any place at night to see who hangs around there.
Jefferson East usualy accepts most sizes of dogs. Not sure about the Warwick. Both are further up on Jefferson near Corporate. Jefferson Hwy traffic north of I-12 isn't always kind in the afternoon rushhour either. South of I-12 to Airline you shouldn't have much problem.
Maybe check Chateaux Dijon on Essen as well. Traditionally it's a good property, but you're always going to run into the occassional scum even in the best places.

Agree on everything. One small point: just like you heard of bad things at Jeff Shadows, I knew someone who got his truck stolen from the parking lot of Chateaux Dijon - even though I believe, like you do, it's a good place to live. So those things happen

[darylwi]

That's something I'll remember, but at the same time, I generally don't leave anything in my vehicle to make it worth stealing. If they ever steal my vehicle, it'll be out of neccesity because they won't be getting much.
Anything can happen anywhere at anytime. People need to keep that in mind in this day and age.
There are little things that sometimes bother me at my current establishment, but nothing bad enough to force me to leave. I certainly can't complain.

[Bellaroma]

Between Jones Creek and O'Neal Lane on George O'Neal Rd there are duplexes...very nice ones and you'll be very close to work, Wal-mart and your job. There's a Kinder Care day care on George O'Neal Lane too.

[BRMan]

Originally Posted by Bellaroma

Between Jones Creek and O'Neal Lane on George O'Neal Rd there are duplexes...very nice ones and you'll be very close to work, Wal-mart and your job. There's a Kinder Care day care on George O'Neal Lane too.

Keep in mind that from Summa, the traffic is really bad if you have to deal with Airline, I-12, Sherwood Forest, or Coursey. So for where you're working, the southeast part of the parish would be a nightmare trafficwise.

[southland]

Originally Posted by BRMan

Broadmoor is going down, as you have slummy apartments north of Florida Blvd AND near the old dollar movie theater. Jefferson Shadows is in a better area.

Let me ask you this - where in BR is the job ? That should drive what part of town you live in, because the traffic may or may not affect you, depending on where you live.

Broadmoor apartments are pretty crappy (and have been for years), however the neighborhood with single family housing is pretty good.

I know several people who purchased homes in that area recently and they couldn't be happier.

I wouldn't go north of Florida Blvd....

[BRMan]

Originally Posted by southland

Broadmoor apartments are pretty crappy (and have been for years), however the neighborhood with single family housing is pretty good.

I know several people who purchased homes in that area recently and they couldn't be happier.

I wouldn't go north of Florida Blvd....

Amazing how quickly the whole area between Florida and Greenwell Springs has changed - when I was growing up, it was middle class neighborhoods. However, they built quite a few apartments near those neighborhoods, and they went down in the late 80s/early 90s. And as they went down, so did Villa De Rey, Red Oak, Park Forest, and LaBelle Aire.

[southland]

True Dat, BRMAN.
Sherwood Forest and Broadmoor are still great neighborhoods, though....if you are buying a single family home. I dont' think that's going to change any time soon, either. They are older homes and some need a little TLC, but they are no more dangerous than any other subdivision in Baton Rouge. The street lay out discourages foot traffic and the whole area is way too big to encourage theft or minor crime. I see plenty of joggers along Goodwood and Sharp (which needs some sidewalks) every time I am there. There is also a surprising number of families with young children there. I have no idea where they are going to school, but I'd bet it's private. The biggest drawback about the area that I see is the traffic on Sherwood Forest Blvd and some of the traffic on Goodwood and Airline. Other than that, it's a fairly well kept secret in Baton Rouge...and you can get a lot of house for the money there along with large lots with pretty, mature trees. If I am not mistaken, most of this area has underground utilities, street lights, curb and gutter right of ways, and side walks. No real flood or infrastructure issues that I know of....
Some sections are older than others...but you have to be able to put up with the 1960s-1980s style ranch style house. The newer sections are about as origional- all of them look very similar.

I'd be more worried about property theft in some parts of the Garden District more than I would be Broadmoor...but still, it's not as bad as everyone thinks. There are a few bad areas in town (Gardere, Harding Blvd, some areas around the Airport, and the area around McKinnly High School are a few rough areas), but for the most part Baton Rouge is a safe place. Hell, Tigertown is probably way worse than Villa Del Ray and Monticello.

Originally Posted by BRMan

Amazing how quickly the whole area between Florida and Greenwell Springs has changed - when I was growing up, it was middle class neighborhoods. However, they built quite a few apartments near those neighborhoods, and they went down in the late 80s/early 90s. And as they went down, so did Villa De Rey, Red Oak, Park Forest, and LaBelle Aire.

It's the apartment complexes that cause the problems there. In fact, there are several that I have in mind in particular located on Florida Blvd and 2 complexs off of Old Hammond near Millerville. I'd stay south of Florida Blvd if I am buying.

Villa Del Ray is turning kind of sketchy along with the areas immidiately north of Florida Blvd. Those areas are still working class for the most part, but if there isn't some major employer moving into the area...you can bet it's going to get worse as property values get lower. There are also rental properties north of Florida Blvd that are crummy at best...not to mention the industrial area on Choctaw.

I can assure you that as the neighborhoods like Villa Del Ray go down, the Mall of Cortana will be in even worse trouble than it is now.