Not happy about moving to the area (Buffalo, Amherst: to rent, condo)

[ckhthankgod]

Originally Posted by Port North

People will eventually get used to more racially diverse neighborhoods as long as they don't include the underclass. My school district on Long Island is about 30% minority (Black, Hispanic, Asian) but yet the population of white students is still increasing and it is considered a desirable district. This doesn't seem logical by WNY standards but is true in many larger metro areas across the country (Long Island, NJ, Northern Virginia, etc.).

If a place Williamsville gets run down then it will mean the downfall of the entire WNY area. Urban/inner suburban living is becoming more popular nationally and you won't have a prayer of attracting high income educated outsiders to the area if the only desirable school districts are out in sticks of Sanborn or Marilla. People in Great Lakes cities have this habit of moving further and further out to escape people moving in from the city. While in places like NYC the poor and working class are the ones having to move further and further out in order to find affordable housing. Two different worlds that's for sure!

That school district sounds like Half Hollow Hills. That district includes the very nice and pluralistically or possibly now, predominately Black community of Wheatley Heights. You are right that many major cities have diverse school districts that are good. Actually, in the Buffalo area, I would say that Williamsville, Sweet Home, Amherst and maybe even Cleveland Hill and Cheektowaga fit the bill.

Also, I think that Buffalo has enough urban neighborhoods that can attract people from outside the area to live there. North Buffalo, many parts of South Buffalo and the Elmwood area would probably be the best examples of this. Then, you have to remember that there still are some high performing schools in the Buffalo Public School District like City Honors, Hutch Tech, the Olmsted schools and a few in South Buffalo as well. There are many Charter schools that are good within the city as well. So, the potential is there.

[Canerican]

d maybe even Cleveland Hill and Cheektowaga fit the bill.

I lived in Cleveland Hill, it is NOT very good. When I moved to Buffalo, I needed to take a summer class because not all my high school credits would transfer. I can tell you that I went to 5 different schools from grades 7-12, and Cleveland Hill was by FAR the worst. There were constant fights, Black kids hated the Whites, and vice versa. There were constant fights. Definitely BIG race problems there. But look at the demographics over the past 10 years, an almost all White school, is less than half White now; I don't care where the school is, it's going to cause problems...

I went to Christian Central Academy (private school), we were about 1/5 black, and all got along great. No feeling of racial tension. If you like/can afford private school, I would look at that. Their elementary school program is just incredible. Teaches your kids good moral values (tolerance, anti-gay marriage, pro-capitalist, generally Conservative/pro-family values).

[Port North]

Originally Posted by ckhthankgod

That school district sounds like Half Hollow Hills. That district includes the very nice and pluralistically or possibly now, predominately Black community of Wheatley Heights. You are right that many major cities have diverse school districts that are good. Actually, in the Buffalo area, I would say that Williamsville, Sweet Home, Amherst and maybe even Cleveland Hill and Cheektowaga fit the bill.

On Long Island the Port Washington, Herricks, Dix Hills (Half Hollow Hills District), Great Neck South are all diverse districts (more than 25% minority) and are considered excellent districts. Probably two dozen more are 15%-25% minority and are considered good districts.

in NOVA places like Fairfax, Burke, Centerville, Falls Church are also very good districts that also happen to be diverse (in some cases up to 50%-60% non-white.)

The major difference between Buffalo and those places is that many more minorities are middle class or higher in Long Island or Northern Virginia, while in WNY the vast majority of minorities are poor or working class. That is probably the reason why people in WNY equate the presence of minorities with the neighborhood "going down". The general economic conditions of WNY do not allow for greater upward mobility for minority groups compared to more prosperous areas of the country. If you haven't been exposed to that many successful minorities, you end up thinking that all minorities are poor or only achieve middle class status because of affirmative action. I knew many people who thought that way when I lived in WNY.

[Port North]

Also race in WNY seems to more along White/black lines. The huge number of Hispanics and Asians in many other parts of the country make the situation more complicated. Things are much more broken down among class lines rather than racial.

[Port North]

Originally Posted by Canerican

I lived in Cleveland Hill, it is NOT very good. When I moved to Buffalo, I needed to take a summer class because not all my high school credits would transfer. I can tell you that I went to 5 different schools from grades 7-12, and Cleveland Hill was by FAR the worst. There were constant fights, Black kids hated the Whites, and vice versa. There were constant fights. Definitely BIG race problems there. But look at the demographics over the past 10 years, an almost all White school, is less than half White now; I don't care where the school is, it's going to cause problems...

Cleveland Hill is a district in transition and is working class (both the whites and the blacks are working class), that is different than a diverse (White, Black Hispanic, Asian) middle/upper middle class district that is stable. Only Williamsville would fit that definition in WNY.

Cheektowaga, Ken-Ton and Sweethome are slowly transitioning to being minority districts (probably within 10 years). The Amherst district is split between the affluent whites in Synder who send their kids to Smallwood Elementary and the minorities in Eggertsville that send their kids to Windermere Blvd elementary. I bet things will stay the same there at the Elementary level but you probably will eventually see white flight from the High School since the people in Synder have the $$$ to send their kids to Nardin or Nicholls if need be.

[ahat31]

I'm not sure how to phrase this question...I would like to live in a nice, safe, quiet, friendly neighborhood...do I have to pay $300,000+ for a house to find this neighborhood? What can I expect to pay? It sounds like, although I haven't explored as of yet, that I would be happy in the outer suburbs be it the south towns or Amherst, Clarence. I was hoping to pay between $180,000 - $225,000...would that get me into the neighborhood that I desire? (your taxes still shock me...I feel like I should have a private chauffeur bringing me to work each day!)

[Port North]

Originally Posted by ahat31

I'm not sure how to phrase this question...I would like to live in a nice, safe, quiet, friendly neighborhood...do I have to pay $300,000+ for a house to find this neighborhood? What can I expect to pay? It sounds like, although I haven't explored as of yet, that I would be happy in the outer suburbs be it the south towns or Amherst, Clarence. I was hoping to pay between $180,000 - $225,000...would that get me into the neighborhood that I desire? (your taxes still shock me...I feel like I should have a private chauffeur bringing me to work each day!)

You could find something very nice in Hamburg in that price range.

What kind of environment do you want? Urban, inner suburban, outer suburban, rural?

[Canerican]

Originally Posted by ahat31

I'm not sure how to phrase this question...I would like to live in a nice, safe, quiet, friendly neighborhood...do I have to pay $300,000+ for a house to find this neighborhood? What can I expect to pay? It sounds like, although I haven't explored as of yet, that I would be happy in the outer suburbs be it the south towns or Amherst, Clarence. I was hoping to pay between $180,000 - $225,000...would that get me into the neighborhood that I desire? (your taxes still shock me...I feel like I should have a private chauffeur bringing me to work each day!)

No for $170,000 you can get into a very nice neighborhood. I personally don't like the Southtowns (and most don't, they are FAR smaller than the Northtowns). For $225,000 you can get a VERY nice home in 14068 (Williamsville North school district).

Yes, the taxes shock me too... I guess you have to get used to them, nothing you can do about that, except like what 20,000 Buffalonians since 2000, leave... Like I am SO ANXIOUS AND EXCITED TO DO.

[CAugust]

Originally Posted by ahat31

I'm not sure how to phrase this question...I would like to live in a nice, safe, quiet, friendly neighborhood...do I have to pay $300,000+ for a house to find this neighborhood? What can I expect to pay? It sounds like, although I haven't explored as of yet, that I would be happy in the outer suburbs be it the south towns or Amherst, Clarence. I was hoping to pay between $180,000 - $225,000...would that get me into the neighborhood that I desire? (your taxes still shock me...I feel like I should have a private chauffeur bringing me to work each day!)

williamsville most definately, sometimes clarence could be tough, although some clients of mine stole a beautiful home in clarence, that being said, we gave them 5k ABOVE asking as it was listed about 40k too low imho - so yes, you can get something in that range most definately....

[Port North]

Originally Posted by Canerican

Yes, the taxes shock me too... I guess you have to get used to them, nothing you can do about that, except like what 20,000 Buffalonians since 2000, leave... Like I am SO ANXIOUS AND EXCITED TO DO.

You will miss it, I guarentee it, worts and all! It's been nearly 10 years away now and it still feels like home to me.

However if you are young and educated it would be the wise thing to do, at least until you decide to settle down.