BR neighborhoods w/ reasonable drive to the airport area (Baton Rouge: crime, big home)

[BethO]

Hey all, I'd love to get some good advice on family friendly neigborhoods in Baton Rouge area. My husband will be working near the airport area and a 20-25 minute commute is desired. Home prices will need to be around 400K. Looking for ammenities like pool, tennis, golf, playground. I am aware of Zachary, Copper Mill looks great but wonder if there is an actual town to do things in?
Thanks,
BethO

[BRMan]

Originally Posted by BethO

Hey all, I'd love to get some good advice on family friendly neigborhoods in Baton Rouge area. My husband will be working near the airport area and a 20-25 minute commute is desired. Home prices will need to be around 400K. Looking for ammenities like pool, tennis, golf, playground. I am aware of Zachary, Copper Mill looks great but wonder if there is an actual town to do things in?
Thanks,
BethO

Got kids ? That will play a part in where you'd want to live. Zachary has had some recent growth, but the retail there is not of the volume that there is in BR.

[BethO]

I have a two year old so I am mainly concerned with pre-schools and elemantary, private it okay. I am a stay at home mom looking for nice grocery stores, Target, Home Depot, cute coffee shops and outdoor dining. High end retail and fine dining are not part of raising a toddler at this point!

[BRMan]

Originally Posted by BethO

I have a two year old so I am mainly concerned with pre-schools and elemantary, private it okay. I am a stay at home mom looking for nice grocery stores, Target, Home Depot, cute coffee shops and outdoor dining. High end retail and fine dining are not part of raising a toddler at this point!

You have several choices, with schools being an eventual issue:

(1) Living in Zachary, which has good public schools. They have a couple of restaurants, Wal-Mart, and a Home Depot;
(2) Living in south BR, where you would want to go the private school route, although there are magnet schools (BR schools have been poorly run for years and they're fighting state takeover of some of its schools)
(3) Living in Central - same as Zachary, but I don't know what kind of retail they have other than a Wal-Mart. There are Lowes/Home Depot in nearby north BR
(4) Living in Ascension or Livingston Parish - good schools, awful commute (esp from the airport), and generally having to come to BR for retail.

Oh, and house affordability will also matter, too, but these are some starter thoughts......

[BethO]

Yes, I have read many issues as far as traffic so that was a concern with going south (which seems like you can really get a big home for the money) but I'd rather have my husband home with me vs. sitting in a big house by myself because he is stuck on the highway. So will Zachary or Central feel podunk or just suburban?

[BRMan]

Originally Posted by BethO

Yes, I have read many issues as far as traffic so that was a concern with going south (which seems like you can really get a big home for the money) but I'd rather have my husband home with me vs. sitting in a big house by myself because he is stuck on the highway. So will Zachary or Central feel podunk or just suburban?

Zachary and Central are fairly podunk, to be honest, although Zachary has more suburban subdivisions. Their having separate school systems is an attraction to middle income Baton Rougeans who want to get out from under the East Baton Rouge Parish school system.

[redbean]

Zachary and Central are very small areas, depending on what you are used to they will likely feel "podunk" as you put it... no offense to anyone living there; they are nice areas. But given that you want shopping, coffee shops, etc. I would recommend y'all look around the Garden district, Zeeland place, Southdowns/LSU areas. Your husband can hop on the interstate at Acadian or Perkins and be at work within 25 minutes, unless there's a major wreck (which happens a bit more often than you would think). And you can be close to everything. You will love that area of town, it's the best IMO. There aren't really any nice neighborhoods close to the airport other than Zachary or Central. I think the commute from those areas would be about equal to the drive from LSU or the garden district.

[BRMan]

Originally Posted by redbean

Zachary and Central are very small areas, depending on what you are used to they will likely feel "podunk" as you put it... no offense to anyone living there; they are nice areas. But given that you want shopping, coffee shops, etc. I would recommend y'all look around the Garden district, Zeeland place, Southdowns/LSU areas. Your husband can hop on the interstate at Acadian or Perkins and be at work within 25 minutes, unless there's a major wreck (which happens a bit more often than you would think). And you can be close to everything. You will love that area of town, it's the best IMO. There aren't really any nice neighborhoods close to the airport other than Zachary or Central. I think the commute from those areas would be about equal to the drive from LSU or the garden district.

(Disclaimer: check for yourself, but I have some opinions of these areas which may displease some longtime residents )

Depending on whether you like newer or older (IMO) overpriced houses, the neighborhoods mentioned may not be your cup of tea. The Garden District is bounded on two sides by slums, and crime is an issue because of the proximity of these neighborhoods. Similar issue with Zeeland Place. Southdowns is safer, but you have older houses on through streets that have no sidewalks. Not the best deal for children. HOWEVER, if you like "Garden District living", by all means take a look at these areas.

[BethO]

Oh please do not take offense to "podunk "anyone...I am a small town girl and by the way I am moving from Idaho! Just trying to narrow down the house hunting search as our trips to BR pre- relo will be limited. BTW - what is IMO redbeen?

[BRMan]

Originally Posted by BethO

Oh please do not take offense to "podunk "anyone...I am a small town girl and by the way I am moving from Idaho! Just trying to narrow down the house hunting search as our trips to BR pre- relo will be limited. BTW - what is IMO redbeen?

In My Opinion.