Not happy about moving to the area (Buffalo, Rochester: apartment complex, renter)

[TLC1495]

So I'm soupose to move to the area. I have never been so stressed out in my life!

So the good things I've seen in the Buffalo area: The people. Very nice atleast the people I've met so far. You certaintly love the city that's for sure.

Now what I don't like: Live on this street, but don't go two streets over because it's a "bad" area? Two streets?? Really? You consider an area good as long as you stay within certain streets?

The homes for rent. Yes we are moving there renting until I figure out what area I want to buy in. Uppper and Lowers?? Why does everyone take one house and turn it into two small apartments, and then charge crazy prices for them? Dirty and run down also. Every apartment I looked at was over priced, run down, dirty, and you would have to pay me to live there because I would have to do so much work to even feel comfortable to live in it!

The two full houses I found for rent I was shocked that they even were showing them in the condition they were in. First, last, security?? Why don't they take previous renters money and fix the place up? For the price of an upper I can rent a very nice almost new house in the south, which is where I live now.

No central a/c??? The excuse is it's only hot a couple months out of the year so they don't bother? That's like saying the south only stays cold a couple months out of the year, so why bother with central heat. You will never find that nonsense here.

Upper and Lowers??? Who gets to enjoy the back yard? The driveway? The front porch?
What's wrong with keeping a full house a full house??

So we looked in several areas. My fiance who's from there wants to move to Kenmore because that's where his family lives. So while just visiting over the years I have to admit, I loved it, but I only stayed within their street which is right near Kenmore West High and Tonawanda right across Sheridan. Cute neighborhoods, people really take care of their yards and homes. But while there acutally looking I found out that the streets I've been on are the only good ones. I don't feel comfortable raising my kids in an area where I have to say "Don't go down this street, or this one, or that one". Just crazy!!

So now I hear that Kenmore West test scores have dropped and there are gangs now in the school! But most will say that's not true (The ones that live in the area), but a friend moved out of the area because of the gangs that have moved in. Why don't people just tell the truth about the area and the schools?

I'm moving my kids from an area where within an almost 30 mile area everywhere is safe and there is no, don't go here or there, and gangs do not exist in our school systems. If they did we would have a hold on it so quick their heads would spin!

Drive down the highway through the city and all I saw were old run down warehouses that should of been blown up years ago. Their still sitting there empty. Why??? The city looks nasty from the highway. With all of the high taxes that your paying has anyone ever questioned where that money was going? Tear them down and build new apartment buildings, hotels, muesums, etc. If you like warehouses, then build new ones that don't look like they will fall at any minuete.

The Niagara river: What the $%*#????
You have one of the 7 wonders of the world and the only one that takes advantage of it is Mississippi Mudds. Bring revenue into the area by building attractions along the river. Your just letting Canada take all of the tourist money. What.. you don't want tourists? Too bad, don't live near Niagara Falls!! The extra money will do the city good. Or not, seeing how obviously you have a corrupt government there that is taking your hard earned money and putting it into their pockets!! Why don't the citizens fight back? You need to get those people out of office!! Maybe you shoud break away from the Democratic way and try something new, because those old ways, aren't working. Your city is wasting away and everyone keeps electing the same people into office.

And yes, I looked at several areas while there because I wasen't happy with what I was seeing in Kenmore. Drove 200 mile just while in Buffalo so believe me when I say I deffiently looked in more areas then just Kenmore. Saw aparments on Grand Island that were almost 1500mo??? Really??? For the same thing here I would pay around 750 to 800mo. Except for one difference down south it would be new or close to it with central a/c and heat! Grand Island expensive? Why? What's so good about it?

Then over by UB North townhomes were 1200mo. Come on people you are being ripped off!!

Ok, so I will get these comments:
Then don't move here...too bad I'm moving there anyway
We don't want you here....too bad, I'm unfortuantly on my way
You were just in a bad area...yes I forgot I went one block too far
Kenmore West isn't a bad school.....oh come on, someone just tell the truth! I looked up test scores online, not impressive. Can't prove the gang issue but when I hear someone was shot a couple blocks from the school because of drugs, hmmmmmmm suspecious!!

So I say this: TAKE BACK YOUR CITY!! FIRE THE POLITICIANS AND HIRE YOUNG NEW ONES THAT WANT A CHANGE IN THE CITY AND WILL FOLLOW THROUGH!!!!!
RUN THE GANGS OUT OF THE AREA!!
MAKE IT TO WHERE YOU NO LONGER HAVE TO STAY AWAY FROM CERTAIN STREETS!!!

I have an idea. Take the people that are on welfare and make them serve atleast 10 hours of work a week to building the city up. No community service, no welfare check!!

It's sad that someone that doesn't even live there yet is more concerned about the area then people that have lived there their whole life and have no plans on leaving.

[drjackal31]

Ok, so. You cannot write a rant like this on a website for a city which it's people love and not expect a backlash. I have to ask, you say you live somewhere now where your children will be safe within 30 miles. Have you ever lived in a city? All cities have bad areas, and many cities have bad blocks near good blocks. They have projects in manhatten near good streets. You are moving to a city, all cities have gangs. I agree that the people need to fight back, but you will often not find people willing to fight gangs in their neighborhood. On the east and west side it is scarier to snitch on a gang than to not snitch, I don't agree that people should be afraid but they would rather live with a gang than get killed by one for snitching.

Buffalo was once a thriving city with a need for much housing, many/most uppers and lowers were built as uppers and lowers. I don't know where you are looking for housing but I had a very nice apartment including heat for 575 in north buffalo right near kenmore. All I did was do a little painting and it was home. But I will say, everything in new york is more expensive than the south, so get used to that. At one time I worked at a drycleaners and someone from the south came up and needed some stuff done, he was horrified by how much more expensive it was up here.

I don't know what you consider hot that you need an air conditioner, but I have never needed one here.

Lastly, we do want to do something with our waterfront, and we are working on it. Problem is where is any of the money to build the stuff going to come from? It sucks there was a lot of mistakes but that is the way it is. The 190 needs to go for them to really help the water front and I suggest we mothball some of those warehouses you hate so much. They would make fantastic lofts if buffalo ever got their act together.

We love our city. I suggest you look into living in one of the country towns far from it.

I also think that many people that live in the suburbs, which are probably the ones telling you don't go to that street, are a little over scared. I have never personally felt unsafe anywhere in kenmore. As anyone would tell you though, in todays world, you cannot let your kids just out anywhere.

[TLC1495]

Yeah, knew someone would come at me. But that's ok. go ahead and get mad at me. Maybe someone will get mad enough about the reputation and do something about it.

Lived in a city?
When it takes me an hour to go 10 miles, yeah I'd consider us having enough people to be a city.

575 month? Well a family of 4 will need a 3 bedroom apt. So if you know of one for 575 a month that just needs painting, let me know. You wont find it.

Live with gangs instead of solve the problem? Gangs can't retaliate against a whole city if you people would just stand up to them. How about my suggestion of making welfare people do community service or no welfare. Most gang members are on welfare or their mother is. If they cant get the welfare there for free, they will go else wheres.

Turn warehouses into apartments??? Wonderful idea!!!! I actually love restored buildings and homes.

Working on the waterfront?? I haven't seen it.

Where is the money going to come from?? How about my suggestion of overturning your politicians who are taking your tax money and filling their pockets! Get rid of the unions who also keep your city from modern times. Look up how many teachers in New york alone are still being paid but are not working because the union is protecting them. Guess who pays for that? You!

Let the younger generation take the city back and build a better city for the future. It's sad when I'm sitting there listening to the kids say how they can't wait to get out when they graduate. Tells you there's a problem? Hmm.

Would agree you can't let your kids go anywhere, but a couple of streets over is crazy. Not safe in school is crazy!!!

Quit making excuses and getting mad at me. Get mad at your city, government, and old timers that are holding you guys back!!

By the way, hot to me is after getting dressed and blow drying my hair and I'm starting to sweat. Give me some damn air!

Anyways, thanks for your comment. Now put that energy to work in your city, motivate others, and give the younger generation a voice and they will quit leaving.

[Canerican]

Ok, so I will get these comments:
Then don't move here...too bad I'm moving there anyway
We don't want you here....too bad, I'm unfortuantly on my way
You were just in a bad area...yes I forgot I went one block too far
Kenmore West isn't a bad school.....oh come on, someone just tell the truth! I looked up test scores online, not impressive. Can't prove the gang issue but when I hear someone was shot a couple blocks from the school because of drugs, hmmmmmmm suspecious!!

You've obviously read this board for a while. People don't take well to any criticism of Buffalo, except for a few fine members here, get ready for the bullets to start flying your way.

We actually do need more people like you who are willing to say it like it is, and admit we need improvement, unfortunately, you will quickly realize that your voice is not wanted, and probably be gone within 5 years, like me.

You will probably find something for you here, I sure hope so, because I honestly don't think it's as bad as you are making it out to be. Best of luck in Buffalo.

[Rochester-WNY]

Originally Posted by Canerican

You've obviously read this board for a while. People don't take well to any criticism of Buffalo, except for a few fine members here, get ready for the bullets to start flying your way.

Yeah I would take cover... Maybe even buy a vest. I'm a good shot. lol.

[jblake78728]

A/C??? Its 59 degrees right now. It has hardly been over 80 so far this summer. If you moved here you really wouldn't miss not having central a/c.

The uppers/lowers situation was frustrating to me too. When we were first moving here it seemed like that was all we could find as well. There are houses for rent but sometimes they can be hard to find (other times they seem plentiful). All I could say is be very thorough in your search. One of the advantages for a renter in this housing crisis is that it seems that realtors are more willing to take on rental properties. We found a realtor that helped us & eventually found a nice 3 br house w/2 car garage in the Hamburg area for under $1000.

I'm not going to touch your complaints about gang activity other than to say that gangs (and bad neighborhoods) exist in pretty much every city in the US. I don't think it is any bigger of a problem here than in any other city. The neighborhoods may be even more segregated here (and in the northeastern US in general) than in the rest of the country, which minimizes your chance of accidentally running into gang trouble (provided you stay out of known gang areas).

[Canerican]

Well, for it's size (about the 50th largest city in the county), Buffalo has a high violent crime rate (24th in the country). As for gangs... They're everywhere. I lived in a town of 40,000 and there were places I wouldn't go (the problem was Sri Lankan gangs there).* If you're in a town of over 25,000, there will probably be gang activity of some kind. Lock your door, get a gun, whatever you feel keeps you safe. If you don't think you can be safe in Buffalo (and I wouldn't), move to a suburb, or a slightly rural area if you can take a 40 minute commute. Go out by Gasport, Newstead, Darien Center, any of those areas won't have gangs.

Safest and Most Dangerous U.S. Cities, 2007 — Infoplease.com

I agree about A/C, I have it here, and just left it off. I just have left the windows open, and used a fan a few times. Up until about 85, I don't feel uncomfortable anyway. One thing I will say is that mid-June through August has great weather. I hate winter here (with a passion), but a high of 85 and a low of 65 is ideal for me.

* I remember one place in particular, there was a an apartment complex, and in the middle there was a very large court, we used to cut through there to get to the mall from my high school, and the school administration told us to stop cutting through there because students were getting bottles and rocks thrown at them by the immigrant residents. At night it got even worse. You could pass in front of the place, but there would always be thugs at the entrances to keep anyone from passing (they weren't security guards). So it happens everywhere.

[NativeNYCer]

Originally Posted by jblake78728

A/C??? Its 59 degrees right now. It has hardly been over 80 so far this summer. If you moved here you really wouldn't miss not having central a/c.

Exactly! I just left SC last week, where the high's were in the upper 90's and low 100's and i came back to high's in the upper 60's and low 70's. It's July!! Believe me, there's no need for central air, unfortunately, b/c it just doesn't get that hot.

[Cha Ching]

As a southerner (from Texas), I can tell you that we get spoiled because parts of it are much more sparkly and new than the northeast.

But that's also a problem. In Dallas, they destroy history to put up a mall or a parking lot, and you lose a lot of what makes the cities original and beautiful places.

I visited Buffalo a few years ago. And although there are parts that are rundown (it was part of the Rust Belt, unfortunately), there is beautiful old architecture there. But yes, the northeast has always cost more than the south. Get used to it.

I am also spoiled by having superblasted air conditioning everywhere. In the south, where it's 100 in the shade, we can't exist without it. But up there, it rarely gets that hot. And remember, you're dealing with much older buildings. Many of them have never been retrofitted for AC. That is something that is common to the northeast and Midwest. Milwaukee is the same way. It's not as common to find places with air conditioning. It's never been a matter for survival for them the way it's been for folks in the south. Most people don't need it. The only reason I do is when my MS starts kicking my butt. The heat makes it worse.

And begging your pardon, but the "two streets over" thing was something I encountered in Dallas when I first moved there in 1994. That is not just a Buffalo thing. There were pockets of good and bad neighborhoods jammed right next to each other. I lived where I could afford, on the outskirts of Oak Lawn, in a rundown neighborhood full of Latinos, but three streets over were the mansions of Highland Park. Same thing with Lakewood and Unpleasant Grove being right next to each other.

And gangs are EVERYWHERE. That is endemic to our cities. Start a citizens watch group if it bothers you to the point where you want to clean up the town. I applaud you.

I'm not sure where the city is supposed to come up with the money to be doing all these other improvements you want done. Just about every city, and just about every state, and our federal government is bankrupt right now. The fed might have had a little extra in its coffers to provide assistance to all the jobless if it hadn't been squandered on an unnecessary war the last six years. But that's another story.

[TLC1495]

Hey Rochester, I see your obviously on the side of the gangs. How old are you? threatening people with guns? Hmmm, lets see why the city can't get cleaned up. Because of people like you. Yeah I'm not scared. My Daddy taught me to shoot as a child. Duck, rabbit, deer, hog hunting. I guarentee I'm a better shot. I hunt, but if need be I shoot to kill to protect myself. You have no chance city boy.

to everyone else: My comments of the corrupt government has been ignored, wonder why? My comment on your old democratic and union ways have been ignored? My comment on why you people keep electing the same people into office have been ignored?
My point exactly. NO ONE there has any desire or motivation to clean your town up. Does anyone even go vote? Or do these people keep getting into office becaue of no shows at the polls?

Where is the money coming from to do all of these improvements? Again my comment on your corrupt government that is pocketing all that tax money has been ignored. There's your money to clean up the city. What are the salaries? What are they charging on their government paid credit cards? Believe me, when you are one of and almost the number one state with the highest taxes their is or should of been plenty of money to keep up with the declining city. City almost bankrupt???? There is no excuse for that! There was plenty of money and is still plenty of money coming in from the residents and tourists. But everyone will sit back and re-elect, and keep the unions, and not do a damn thing. All you do is sit there and defend, defend, threaten people that call your city out, and your NOT proactive is reclaiming your city.

Keep posting. Maybe people will get mad enough at me to complain to their neighbors about the horrible comments I'm making and maybe your younger residents will LISTEN and quit leaving as soon as their grown and take action. It's time for your government to retire!! Their thinking and reasoning does not work anymore. Although I don't think it ever worked or it wouldn't be where it is today.

good Day all.