[lvmy3grls]

My husband and I are considering relocating to that area. What is the real deal with crime in both areas. We are looking at the World Golf Village area namely Heritage Landing, but we want to make sure the kids stay in the good schools, and are also considering Jacksonville area. If anyone lives there, please shed some light on crime rates for both areas, and which schools are better than others.

[Winter Wren]

Stay away from Jacksonville. Move instead to St. Augustine close to the historic downtown. My wife and I lived in Jacksonville for 2 years (2004-2006) coming from Washington, DC. We were horrified by the crime (yes in Jacksonville, not DC), bad driving and the liberal use of guns to settle domestic and traffic disputes which we read about daily in the news.
We went to St. Augustine nearly every weekend for the walkable historic town, restaurants, cleaner + safer beaches and many other attractions.
About the only attraction Jacksonville held was our jobs and better shopping opportunities especially in the Southside area where we lived, near the new St. John's Town Center (which is a pleasant outdoor mall with cafes and restaurants).
I think I saw the Golf community you mentioned along route 1 or 95. It's a bit out of the way, but if you mainly want to stay in a gated community it might be a nice location. There are so many new developments and so much undeveloped land near there that it would be hard to predict what the area will be like in 20 years. St. Augustine, on the other hand, is preserved and quite nice with community organizations and a great public library too. It's character is unlikely to change and it's a good investment.
Jacksonville is a sprawling suburban city with crime travelling in cars and not confined to only certain neighborhoods as it is in DC and many older cities. We read news of people being carjacked or robbed at gunpoint in the parking lots of upscale shopping malls. Many of the people we knew through work advised us that we should live in a gated community for safety and many times we were invited to dinner at someone's house and had to show our Driver's Licenses to guards in order to drive into their communities.
Another disconcerting aspect of Jacksonville is that properties rarely retain value. Once a development is a little old the properties can lose value fast. Location is almost meaningless in property value unless you have access to the beach. Everyone simply wants a brand new house, which there are no shortage of for those who can afford them.
Obviously these are just my views. Many nice people we met like Jacksonville and chose to raise families there. We decided to move on.

[dizliz0925]

I have live in Jax for nearly 19+ years (oginally from NY), and the only reason I would move is to have a true 'fall' and some winter, maybe 10 total inches of snow. Crime in Jax is not bad. Every city has it's bad areas, and so does Jacksonville (Northside). But most of the crime is usually domestic or drug related. Not too much random crime unless you live North of downtown.

If you are moving to the World Golf Village, you should be fine. WGV is actually in St. John's county, not Duval, which is Jax. Schools in ALL of FL are pretty bad, but St. John's has some of the best public schools. And you are right between the downtown St. Aug and Jax.

If you choose Jax, the best areas are south and east of the river.

Feel free to ask specifics.
I moved here in 9th grade so I have a pretty good perspective on most things from schools to politics to business.

[lvmy3grls]

Thanks to both of you for your responses. We are looking at Heritage Landing, not gated, but in the WGV area. I just want a safe, family oriented area for my kids. Also, do you know of any preschools, dance schools, or excercise facilities in that area near WGV? So, is the crime in St Augustine WGV area better than JAX? I just want my kids to grow up in a nice, safe area. Is this area for me or not?

[Winter Wren]

I think St. John's County qualifies as a "nice safe area." The public schools are much better there too. You will still have easy access to the shopping on the Southside of Jacksonville. Crime is certainly lower in St. John's County. I am not sure about preschools and dance schools, sorry.
Be sure to visit and investigate the community you are interested in. Each one is different. Some have more familes and others more singles or retirees. Some are good at promoting themselves but the reality is less than the promise. But, I have no knowledge of the particular communities you are looking at.
Good luck!
Our daughter was born there and we had good experiences with 2 area hospitals we used in Jacksonville.

[jmc]

Winter Wren, in regard to where your daughter was born, what hospitals in St. Johns County, etc. would you recommend? My husband and I are moving to the Julington Creek Plantation at the start of the year. Also, would you recommend living in that area vs. Southside? Thanks!

[dizliz0925]

Just on the DUval/St. Johns border is Baptist South.
This is part of the Baptist Medical center, which is very good on Jax area...

http://community.e-baptisthealth.com...uth/index.html

[dizliz0925]

BTW, don't be fooled the the 'Baptist Medical Center' name.
Too my knowledge it doesn't have anything to do with FIrst Baptist Church.
Just a first rate hospital (along with Baptist downtown)
Don't know much about Baptist at the beach, but I am sure just as good.

[jmc]

Dizliz0925, thanks for the info!

[jdebarros79]

My husband and I recently moved to Heritage Landing about a month ago. We love it here. We do hear a lot about crime but mainly it stems from about 45 min away from us. Heritage landing is a beautiful place to live. Our children love it. I am also looking for preschools. My daughter is 3 and will be enrolling for the fall. I here about a preschool right by World golf village but I don't know much about it. They do a lot here for stay at home moms also. I am quite new so don't know much about it yet but from what I do know, I love! If I can be of any more help let me know!