Gangs in Gainesville?

[southern no more]

Originally Posted by gjs

I will be coming from A smaller town just south of Roanoke,VA.
I just turned 50 and have a job lined up in Pengergrass, I want to live in a town with a good park system and not too overly populated, that's why I am looking at Gainesville.
There's not much of towns with things to do around Pendergrass.
Also Gainesville is a town with the amenities that I look for within a short driving distance.
I am comming down Monday to look at rentals in the area, so my move will be realativly soon.

You should think about Brasselton or Buford. Brasselton has some new shopping and homes that look quite nice and I check map quest and it is about half way between Buford and Pendergrass. Buford has the mall of GA and is nice and a good local but 30 min to Pendergrass. Pendegrass is not the best area in the world unless you really like the country. Yeah, as the previous poster said that is definitely not the more desirable side of Gainesville. Best wishes and good luck!

[MovedfromFL]

I live in Gainesville, about 5 miles north of downtown. It's nice in this area of town. Definately not a risk of gang violence. I feel very safe (we moved from the Orlando area, so I know what crime is like) However, if we go to Wal-Mart, Ross, or Marshalls on the weekends, we can tell that our area is 33% hispanic. (33% is more like it, not 50%). The Mexicans work in the chicken industry, but also in restaurants and the like. This area is a strange mix of million dollar+ homes around the lake (lots of high paid medical professionals), and also third world like areas.
I'm not sure what you mean by a good park system. We don't have any bike trails (other than a mountain bike trail but it's about 20+ minutes away). In FL, we had nice flat bike trails but not here. We do have some local parks and playgrounds. Laurel Park has a dog park, a walking trail, and a splash zone for small kids. Over in the New Holland area, there is a brand new county owned water park. You should also know this about the schools: there are two systems in Gainesville. (1) Hall County schools and (2) Gainesville City Schools. Hall County is well managed. G'Ville City is not. They just recently raised property taxes due to a deficit and financial mismanagement. Also, if your kids go to Gainesville City Schools, they will be just about the only white kids at certain schools.

[OhioNative]

Originally Posted by MovedfromFL

IHowever, if we go to Wal-Mart, Ross, or Marshalls on the weekends, we can tell that our area is 33% hispanic. (33% is more like it, not 50%).

The 33% figure comes from the Gainesville zip codes, all of which have areas that are not within the city limits (unincorporated Hall County) but have a Gainesville address. Within the actual Gainesville city limits, the number is closer to 50% - don't have the exact number.

[Punisher21]

Originally Posted by SDotson

We lived in some real nice apartments off 53 just north of the Best Buy and all the shopping there. Like the other poster said that is a newer nicer part of town. i cant say much for the pendergrass side, but thats closer to the chicken plants and more industrial. Do drive around though, the Walmart in Gainesville was nothing but Mexicans. They don't bother you, but they dont make shopping easy. And just really look at everything. You get a quick idea about where to go and not. Stay off Atlanta Highway. All the signs are in Spanish, so you'll know where you are.

I don't think that talking about the "Mexicans" like that is racist, but it sure sounds a bit xenophobic.

[Dick_Buttkiss]

Gainesville can be a good place if you buy in the right area. Most of the good areas are on the north side of the lake. Gainesville is most definately voluntarily segregated. Most of the illegal Mexicans live in one area (around Atlanta Highway). Almost all of the blacks live south of Jessee Jewell in one small area. All the middle/upper class whites live around the lake and north of it. The white trash hicks are scattered about and also live in a town called Murrayville just north of Gainesville. The demographics of the area changed rapidly over the course of 5 years or so as local businesses (chicken plants) have hired droves of illegals with no apparent legal consequence. As rapidly as it changed it could change back if the government actually decides to enforce the law. Long time locals can tell you that the area used to have an asian population. Apparently they came around the time of the 96 olympics. Now there is zero trace of them. In 5 years there may be no trace of the Mexicans. Restaurants? there are a few good ones and quite a few $5 chinese buffets that most people wouldn't consider as an option. Bike trails? Unfortunately no. One movie theatre (ten screens??) Most big chain stores. A small mall (taken over by the Mexicans). A good/big mall 20 minutes away down 985. Lake Lanier is great if you are into boating/kayaking. There are MANY public launching areas..some with docks. They are usually in parks. Lake houses back up to Army corp of Engineers property. This is GOOD. You will NEVER have anyone building a subdivision in your backyard. We have deer come right up to the back porch. The Army corp. will also let you harvest wood (deadfall only) from the property. A downed tree or two can last all winter in the wood stove. Speaking of winter....it is mild. Usually one snowfall a year and by snowfall I mean 1/2 inch and inch that is gone the next day. Taxes are cheap...our 1900 sq. ft. lake access house is taxed at $1700 a year. Houses are also remarkably inexpensive compared to other regions. 200K or slightly over might actually get you lakefront at this point in time. 140-160k could get you a 3 bed/2bath fairly new construction in a nicer neighborhood. Buy in the right place and you'll never know about the illegal Mexican population.......until you go shopping!!

[Bglcma98]

GO to Brownsville,TX. There is a huge bill board there that states " If you need work come to Gainesville,GA." right at the boarder crossing.

[queenlisa]

Originally Posted by gjs

Hello, I am relocating to the Gainesville area soon.
It seems that Gainesville has everything to offer that I am looking for.
Parks, Bike trails, eating out, etc.
But I have been hearing on the gainesville threds so much about gang activity in the Gainesville area, it gets me thinking that maybe I should look to other areas to live, maybe lawrenceville, flowery Branch, etc....
I ask for those of you that live in Gainesville, is it really that bad for gang activity? Is it not safe there?

hey gainesville is ok but it is turning into another atlanta,yes stay away from atlanta hwy,melrose,harrison square,atlanta street apt,and on the weekend stay away from the mall i hear they have gang initiations there

[Dick_Buttkiss]

Update on the gang situation: Gainesville times online this morning reports that last night the Surrenos abd La Onda had a shootout leaving one dead and two in the hospital (at our expense of course). As I stated in my last post this all happens in the south/southeast corner of Gainesville. It's 6-7 miles from where I live but it seems like a world away.