Relocating to Baton Rouge and scared.....

[tewest86]

I'm not saying I don't agree with you on what you're saying. It was just the rims part. The neighborhood your're describing is usually one with alot a renters. Most, NOT ALL, but most renters don't take care of their yard and rental property because they know it isn't theirs. Don't let me get started on renters who are receiving reduced or free rent. But I see what you're saying. I also look and see how many broken down cars are in the front yard that are just sitting there.

[MetroBTR]

Originally Posted by tewest86

I'm not saying I don't agree with you on what you're saying. It was just the rims part. The neighborhood your're describing is usually one with alot a renters. Most, NOT ALL, but most renters don't take care of their yard and rental property because they know it isn't theirs. Don't let me get started on renters who are receiving reduced or free rent. But I see what you're saying. I also look and see how many broken down cars are in the front yard that are just sitting there.

In any case pretty soon the weeds and broken cars hopefully won't be as big of a problem. The city-parish is doing this new thing where they give the owner a few warnings that they need to deal with the problem, or the city-parish will go in and do it for them, then pass the cost on to them on their property taxes if I am not mistaken.

[BRMan]

Originally Posted by MetroBTR

In any case pretty soon the weeds and broken cars hopefully won't be as big of a problem. The city-parish is doing this new thing where they give the owner a few warnings that they need to deal with the problem, or the city-parish will go in and do it for them, then pass the cost on to them on their property taxes if I am not mistaken.

About time they did this.

And, in fact, many places in America are far stricter with blight than Louisiana is. We're just recently getting into the game.

[tewest86]

Originally Posted by MetroBTR

In any case pretty soon the weeds and broken cars hopefully won't be as big of a problem. The city-parish is doing this new thing where they give the owner a few warnings that they need to deal with the problem, or the city-parish will go in and do it for them, then pass the cost on to them on their property taxes if I am not mistaken.

Where I'm from, Jackson, MS, they do this but it doesn't work. Alot of the rental proprety owners live out of state and the city can't locate them. And when they do and send them the bill, there's nothing to make the owner pay. I'm not saying give them jail time, but if they start reporting unpaid bills to collection agencies and they see it affecting their credit, I bet that'll get the owners more concerned.

[MetroBTR]

Originally Posted by tewest86

Where I'm from, Jackson, MS, they do this but it doesn't work. Alot of the rental proprety owners live out of state and the city can't locate them. And when they do and send them the bill, there's nothing to make the owner pay. I'm not saying give them jail time, but if they start reporting unpaid bills to collection agencies and they see it affecting their credit, I bet that'll get the owners more concerned.

While that is a valid concern, I have noticed improvement in parts of old south baton rouge since this new program began. I don't go to North Baton Rouge enough to notice a difference.

[blackandgeauxld]

the news makes it sooooo much worse than what it actually is. the crime you speak of is mainly in isolated areas. these areas are composed of criminals and thugs killing each other over respect issues and drug stuff. they don't usually come into middle class neighborhoods and start shooting the place up. at 1200 per mo. you are looking at shenandoah, kennilworth, lake sherwood, woodland ridge, hickory ridge

[southland]

The crime here is mostly isolated to specific areas.

Nothing to be scared of really.

Originally Posted by texasmom76

Thanks everyone, we found a great rental home in a safe neighborhood and very affordable. I appreciate all your help!

Welcome to Baton Rouge.

Hope everything works out well, and if you have any farther questions or want to let us know of your experiences....please share them with us here.

[southland]

Originally Posted by BRMan

About time they did this.

And, in fact, many places in America are far stricter with blight than Louisiana is. We're just recently getting into the game.

I would have to agree.

We need to step it up a bit. I for one and glad the city/parish is more aggressive with blighted properties, but they have a long way to go.

[southland]

Originally Posted by tewest86

How the hell can you deside if a neighborhood is bad from looking to see if the vehicles have the big "bling" rims? That was very racist comment. I went the a 90% white high school with most of them with rich parents and they had this "bling" that you mentioned. Were they thugs? I know doctors, lawyers, and buisness men with the same "bling"! Are they thugs? I'm an Engineer and one of my vehicles has rims, I guess I'm a thug also.

I couldn't see the original post, but I admit to associating people who drive cars with absurd rims and goofy accessories worth well over $5,000 with having poor taste and skewed priorities.

No durable good that you own will lose value faster than a car. Investing in 22" rims is just as dumb as buying a lifted truck to drive on the pavement all day, despite the perceived aesthetic benefits.

Poor taste is really not specific to any particular race or age group.

[NorthStar602]

Welcome to Baton Rouge.

I've been living here a little over a year now, after having moved from the New York City area. I, too, moved here blindly. The first time I saw BR was the minute I got off the interstate. I had to do all my house hunting and such online as well, so I understand how much of a pain that is.

You'll find that there are a lot of nice areas here in BR. Highland Road and the houses on its side streets are very, very nice. Some are worth over a million dollars. There are subdivisions off Nicholson on Bluebonnet that are also new and very nice. If you go more north there are neighborhoods in the Sherwood Forest area that are also nice. However, as someone explained to me over the phone when I was house hunting a year and a half ago, you need to be mindful that the BLOCK you're on is a good one. In some areas in the city, the demographic and level of scum who live there changes from block to block, or side of the road. For instance, Highland Road - very nice area south of campus/Lee Drive, but pretty rough north of campus and south of Astor, going towards the bridge. Sherwood Forest - Nice on one side, but if you cross I-12 it gets not so nice. Most of the downtown area is nice, but once you get on Government going north, Florida Blvd, or I-110 north, you're headed towards the pits. North Foster, Plank, Choctaw, Greenwell Springs, Florida, and that entire area is one to avoid all mostly all costs. Going to the airport is fine, because 110 lets you off practically right there, but don't decide to take the scenic route getting to Zachary, Baker, or any of those towns north of "city" area.

Fortunately, most of the nasty neighborhoods are very much avoidable. You pretty much have to be going there specifically in order to pass through them. Even for those who live on campus and in the northgate area can avoid taking Louise Street to get to the interstate by going the opposite way through campus and getting on at Acadian.

In the time that I've been here, I've never felt threatened or uncomfortable, and I am a 20-something year old female who lives alone 99% of the time because my spouse is in the military and deployed pretty much always. Due to my inquisitive mind and being in the law enforcement profession, I've ventured to most of the neighborhoods that we all call "bad." And yes, they're not nice by any means of the word, but as of yet, I've never had an issue, even at night. I ought not to push my luck, lol. I'm fairly certain that most of the crime here is isolated to gang and drug related issues, and not committed at random. For the most part, aside from the stick-ups at gas stations and fast food joints, they duke it out with each other and want no part in bothering the people that they have no business with.

If you want some peace of mind, alarm your home, set up cameras around the perimeter of your home, install motion-sensor flood lights outside your home, get a dog with a good bark (I've got a 20 lbs dog with a deep bark that makes him sound like an 80 lbs dog), and if you must, buy a gun.

Enjoy your new home