Can West Birmingham Get Some Love?

[KarlaP]

I am originally from that area and attended West End High School. My parents family home is located there in the Oakland Ave area and neither of them reside in that paid for home today- okay. With that said allow me to share that I would not consider Ensley an area to reside. It's scary to me. Before I left Birmingham to relocate to Atlanta I resided in the Crestwood Highland area of Birmingham which is across from Century Plaza Mall and the area behind TJ Maxx. Nice part of town and great location to the interstate, downtown and county schools. Good luck in whatever you decide to do.

[batgirl84]

I have lived in Ensley and the West side of town practically my whole life. I am a single female, in my early 20s no kids and making pretty decent money (after a four year stint at UAB) and I did what all kids do when they are ready to fly the nest.I looked for a place to live. I knew I didn't want an apartment because owning a home is such a better choice. I searched all over the place and tried to move out of Ensley(closer to downtown and work), but I found a great house in the Fairview part of Ensley, that I love so much.
I have always hated when people put Ensley down and have never been within a 5 block radius of the place. The same things that happen in Hoover happen in Ensley, but for obvious reasons, the negative parts of Ensley are always thrown on the news and is blown out of porportion.
There are some really great houses in the Ensley/Bush Blvd area, but people are afraid to go to them because of what they have heard. I have never been shot in the face, robbed, mugged, car jacked, raped or anything else. If you look at crime statistics, most crime happens between people that have some type of relationship with each other. If you associate with people who commit crime, then crime happens. I do understand that there is random crime that happens, but honestly it doesn't really matter where you are.
I say go there yourself and decide by what you observe and not what you have heard.

[pvjd]

I agree that there are some negative aspects to Ensley, for as a social worker with clients in the area I have witnessed things first hand, such as drug dealing, prostitution, etc. Unfortunately, these things happen more often in areas that have no economic growth or decent school systems. However, I hate it when people label an entire community as being bad because of this. I have met and gotten to know some wonderful families and amazing people in Ensley, and as a pretty geeky looking white guy I have gotten nothing but respect in the community (some people think that the LA riots will happen all over again if you step foot in Ensley. VERY untrue. STOP BEING AFRAID OF POOR BLACK PEOPLE!). Stop being so judgmental of a community that you know nothing about just because they don't have a Starbucks.

[Keeper]

Please remember our opinions on a location or issue are just that, opinions. Highly subjective. Personal preferences. Quirks, even. Leave wiggle room for dialogue, others may not see things the same as you, or been there as long as you, and any one of us can be wrong. Pouncing on someone you disagree with runs contrary to the spirit of this board and its members. We are here to help each other.

[EnsleyBorn]

Let me start by saying that I was born in Ensley - lived there 20 years, my father moved there when he was 7 so he lived there 74 years, my grandfather owned a business and lived there 30 years.
Ensley was a nice neighborhood where neighbors knew each other and weren't afraid to walk to the stores, etc. That changed when I was in high-school....people in Ensley aren't all black by the way either as not all black people in Ensley are criminals.
Ensley has had crime issues for the last 20 years....yes it is bad - dont let anybody tell you differently. My parents were mugged in their alley 20 years ago...there was a body found a block away 10 years ago, my parent's cars were stolen or vandilized numerous times over the last 20 years.
Ensley is a dangerous place and does not have the same criminal record as Hoover, Vestavia, etc.
If you are concerned about Ensley and considering buying a home - go there on a Saturday night and make your decision - look at the factual data regarding crime records...then make your decision.