Gardere/Kelly Management (Baton Rouge: section 8, apartments, condos)

[loganx]

I know how people feel about Gardere. I know there are lots of very valid concerns about the area. I have them myself. But I am looking at an apartment on Ned Ave. I know what the area looks like, and it's scary. But this fourplex is owned by Kelly Management, and I was very surprised to find that while it's surrounded by trashy looking, boarded up buildings, this one has new ceramic tile, new appliances, and that the company requires a background and credit check and several references to check. They seem to actually care about their property and want to run a respectable business. I'm a single parent trying to get by, and the price is definitely right. Does anyone have anything *good* to say about the area, or have experience with this company? What about Highland Elementary school?

[MetroBTR]

NO, NO, NO, NO, NO...plese save yourself the trouble!!! I'm begging you!

[BRMan]

Originally Posted by loganx

I know how people feel about Gardere. I know there are lots of very valid concerns about the area. I have them myself. But I am looking at an apartment on Ned Ave. I know what the area looks like, and it's scary. But this fourplex is owned by Kelly Management, and I was very surprised to find that while it's surrounded by trashy looking, boarded up buildings, this one has new ceramic tile, new appliances, and that the company requires a background and credit check and several references to check. They seem to actually care about their property and want to run a respectable business. I'm a single parent trying to get by, and the price is definitely right. Does anyone have anything *good* to say about the area, or have experience with this company? What about Highland Elementary school?

Stay away - this area (Gardere) is worse than some of the other bad spots of Baton Rouge, except for maybe "Mall City".

[fbbertusa]

Stay away from this area especially if You have children! I do not know this Co. are Owner and His intenstions may be good But there is a lot of thugs out there It is going to take a bigger effort to clean that mess up.

[BetaBeta]

oh my, I'm afraid I will have to agree with the others on this. I have an acquaintance that has opened a business in the area and she talks about how her and other business owners (including property management companies) are working with the city and police to change the area for the better, but even she admits its another 5 years or so before it gets to where they would like it to be, maybe longer.

I really do understand the cost considerations, especially if you are a single parent, but BECAUSE you are a single parent your safety must always come first. Think about your child's life if something would happen to you. Perhaps if it was gated with 24 hour on site security plus cameras everywhere I might half heartedly consider it, but if its out in the open like most units in the area, definitely not.

I wish you much luck in something you can afford that is also safe. There are some other apartments on Burbank heading towards Bluebonnet, not far from the Albertson's. I don't know their name (bluebonnet something or other), reputation or cost, but they might be worth looking into. I'm sure some on this board would know if they are any safer or not.

[BRMan]

Originally Posted by BetaBeta

I wish you much luck in something you can afford that is also safe. There are some other apartments on Burbank heading towards Bluebonnet, not far from the Albertson's. I don't know their name (bluebonnet something or other), reputation or cost, but they might be worth looking into. I'm sure some on this board would know if they are any safer or not.

They're still kind of close to Gardere. Plus, I'd be concerned about flooding, since they're on the "low side" of Bayou Fountain.

[Rosinante]

Originally Posted by loganx

I know how people feel about Gardere. I know there are lots of very valid concerns about the area. I have them myself. But I am looking at an apartment on Ned Ave. I know what the area looks like, and it's scary. But this fourplex is owned by Kelly Management, and I was very surprised to find that while it's surrounded by trashy looking, boarded up buildings, this one has new ceramic tile, new appliances, and that the company requires a background and credit check and several references to check. They seem to actually care about their property and want to run a respectable business. I'm a single parent trying to get by, and the price is definitely right. Does anyone have anything *good* to say about the area, or have experience with this company? What about Highland Elementary school?

I've lived in that area for 30 years now, and have contradicted the know-it-alls who spread their malicious lies.

The area is definitely improving, although it is true that Ned is a little rough.

[BRMan]

Originally Posted by Rosinante

I've lived in that area for 30 years now, and have contradicted the know-it-alls who spread their malicious lies.

The area is definitely improving, although it is true that Ned is a little rough.

FWIW, I've lived in BR nearly the same length of time (as if length of time in Baton Rouge is the be all and the end all), and here's the situation (which we report and will let you decide ): (1) if you drive down Gardere and/or GSRI, you will see slummy apartment after slummy apartment after abandoned apartment after slummy apartment and uncut grass, (2) the area is near a smelly sewer plant (at Gardere and Nicholson), and the smell gets worse the closer you get to Nicholson, (3) the area is on the low side of Bayou Fountain, and I've seen flooding in parts - the 1989 flood was so bad, stores along Burbank near Gardere had about 5' of flooding, (4) the area has had a 20 year history of lawlessness, (5) about 10 years ago, nicer subdivisions/condos have popped up at the periphery (mainly near Bluebonnet), but the Gardere core hasn't really changed much (although a car wash damaged by Gustav was finally torn down recently), (6) the neighborhood the poster is referring to is so so - it is surrounded on three sides by not so nice areas, and I heard stories about people losing their shirts on home resale values in the 1980s in this very subdivision when the apartment glut led to Section 8.

Anyway, we all have opinions and such, but the best answer is for prospective homeowners/renters to drive through the area at day and night and see what you think.

[MetroBTR]

Originally Posted by Rosinante

I've lived in that area for 30 years now, and have contradicted the know-it-alls who spread their malicious lies.

The area is definitely improving, although it is true that Ned is a little rough.

Malicious lies?

You are right that the area is improving. It's no longer the most dangerous neighborhood in the city (that title now belongs to Brookstown). I think yall had 7 or 8 murders last year, but this year I think yall only had maybe 1 so far if any. If I remember, you said on a thread a while back that you lived in Old Hermitage (by all means correct me if I'm imagining things, because that does happen to me sometimes ). If he were considering Old Hermitage, I might be singing a different tune, but those two and fourplexes on the other side of Gardere are just too uncertain for now.