Grand Rapids: bad areas?

[lilmnm-kamikaze-]

well really it all depends on what time you are in the "baxter neighborhood" i lived in that area for the past 10 years (most of my life) and well the worse that happened when i lived here is a drug bust (i live close to franklin and eastern) and well since i moved here it seems its getting more and more livable and friendly. but a word of advice to make friends you have to be friendly

Originally Posted by sweetiipie49525

If you want to live more on the NW side, I would recommend Comstock Park area, it is about 10 mins. to downtown, close to shopping, and dining. The schools are pretty good and there is low crime. I see that someone asked about the Gardield park area, I wouldn't recommend moving there especially if you have a family. I work near Madison and burton and drive past Garfield Park daily, in the summer there are alot of people standing on corners, and I know not all of them are waiting for the bus, if you know what I mean. There are some street pharmacists around that area, and I am sure that crime comes along with that. As far as by Bridge street, by the zoo, parts of that area are really nice, but the closer you get to downtown the worse it gets. Some people call it the "Spanish Hood". Not sure about the crime there, but when I drive by it looks pretty run down. Trash all over the streets dirty diapers on the sidewalk, and yards not taken care of etc...It is hit and miss in that area, some blocks are really nice and some are really run down.

and im gonna have to disagree with every thing you are saying there..... one thing dont get into the whole "stereotyping" that when a group of people like to stand on the corners that they are doing something bad and most stores that are this area (the SE) side is pretty well mannered and has a low crime rate as the whole robbery thing goes. But whats wrong with people wanting to walk around their neighborhood and end up seeing someone they know? huh? exactly nothing! now if you please im gonna ask you to stop judging the SE side just cause some stuff you hear from other people why not try living here and seeing for your self its not that bad of a place? if you ask me the NW side of town has more crime then the SE side. where are you to see a "Spanish hood"? near downtown? right and my left leg is a wooden pole and i have a eye patch over both eyes and i ***** rainbow sherbet! if your riding by how would you know diaper is on the side walk? Im sure most people has the decency to put that stuff where it belongs in the first place so it wont be anywhere but in a trash bag. Have you ever thought of Stray animals? you know every city, town, rinky dink place has strays no matter what you do, and so having strays around leads to them going through trash and making a mess.

Most of the neibor hoods you guys call the "bad" neighborhoods are the ones where the poorest of the the citizen of grand rapids and you judge them to be run down places or raggedy or even bad. and well im tired f hearing that. If you dont like how it looks or how it is then PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS AND GET YOUR RICH HANDS DIRTY FOR A CHANGE AND HELP IT OUT AND STOP DOWN TALKING IT ALL THE TIME!!!!!! most of the people have to actually work to keep their homes or to pay rent and bills and even to get what little food they can get with whats left. so how can they keep up with their yards and homes when they are at work? most even get evicted cause they lost their job and couldnt get a new one in time.

you know never mind i dont know why im waisting time on this you rich people dont care about what im saying cause all you care about is how good your life is and that you have a nice house and a nice car is a "nice" neighborhood that get greedy and just try to get more and more money until the USA goes bankrupt (yes i blame the rich people of the nation not just the president or past presidents so really make the nation better stop stereotyping and help out with your bottomless wallets

[magellan]

Originally Posted by lilmnm-kamikaze-

well really it all depends on what time you are in the "baxter neighborhood" i lived in that area for the past 10 years (most of my life) and well the worse that happened when i lived here is a drug bust (i live close to franklin and eastern) and well since i moved here it seems its getting more and more livable and friendly. but a word of advice to make friends you have to be friendly



and im gonna have to disagree with every thing you are saying there..... one thing dont get into the whole "stereotyping" that when a group of people like to stand on the corners that they are doing something bad and most stores that are this area (the SE) side is pretty well mannered and has a low crime rate as the whole robbery thing goes. But whats wrong with people wanting to walk around their neighborhood and end up seeing someone they know? huh? exactly nothing! now if you please im gonna ask you to stop judging the SE side just cause some stuff you hear from other people why not try living here and seeing for your self its not that bad of a place? if you ask me the NW side of town has more crime then the SE side. where are you to see a "Spanish hood"? near downtown? right and my left leg is a wooden pole and i have a eye patch over both eyes and i ***** rainbow sherbet! if your riding by how would you know diaper is on the side walk? Im sure most people has the decency to put that stuff where it belongs in the first place so it wont be anywhere but in a trash bag. Have you ever thought of Stray animals? you know every city, town, rinky dink place has strays no matter what you do, and so having strays around leads to them going through trash and making a mess.

Most of the neibor hoods you guys call the "bad" neighborhoods are the ones where the poorest of the the citizen of grand rapids and you judge them to be run down places or raggedy or even bad. and well im tired f hearing that. If you dont like how it looks or how it is then PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS AND GET YOUR RICH HANDS DIRTY FOR A CHANGE AND HELP IT OUT AND STOP DOWN TALKING IT ALL THE TIME!!!!!! most of the people have to actually work to keep their homes or to pay rent and bills and even to get what little food they can get with whats left. so how can they keep up with their yards and homes when they are at work? most even get evicted cause they lost their job and couldnt get a new one in time.

you know never mind i dont know why im waisting time on this you rich people dont care about what im saying cause all you care about is how good your life is and that you have a nice house and a nice car is a "nice" neighborhood that get greedy and just try to get more and more money until the USA goes bankrupt (yes i blame the rich people of the nation not just the president or past presidents so really make the nation better stop stereotyping and help out with your bottomless wallets

Thanks for the post kamikaze. The "Southeast Side" gets a bad wrap, partly because every time WOODTV reports a shooting, it's on the "Southeast Side" (even if it's not).

[lilmnm-kamikaze-]

yes and yo think that just because there is one or two shootings that it is a bad place. why does everyone follow the judgment of a place that you really dont know anything about.

and your welcome for the post ^^

[Ghostbuster22]

Does anyone know about the area around grand rapids that has the mixtape cafe? is it a pretty cool place for bands to play?

[suydam]

Ghostbuster22,
Mixtape is on South Division in the "Avenue of the Arts" area. It was tough as nails before, now it's more like sandpaper, a little rough but soft enough to be useful.

I see flyers for the Mixtape on telephone polls all the time.... it's not a place I'd sleep in my car the night before a show a show, but it's plenty safe enough that you can play there, and have a good turnout for your show.

[thejumpingsnail]

Originally Posted by billu

can u please suggest safe apartment for a single woman near 32nd street S.E......i looked at arrowhead apartments but am not sure about the safety..pls help

all of the SE side is really bad.. I wouldn't go for over there if I was you. Stay away from division.. ALL of division.. The NE has very few good parts.. the SE is horrible. SW is slums. and NW is bad getting worse.. the best place would be to go to a far side of the NW like around bristol/walker or standale.. those are all really good places.. But you really gotta look for a good area in GR because you could live in a wonderful spot but 9 houses down will be the slummiest place and you could get your house broke into every day.. it's just about finding a good area far enough away from bad areas that way people dont come looking for a good area to mess with.

[suydam]

Originally Posted by thejumpingsnail

all of the SE side is really bad.. I wouldn't go for over there if I was you. Stay away from division.. ALL of division.. The NE has very few good parts.. the SE is horrible. SW is slums. and NW is bad getting worse.. the best place would be to go to a far side of the NW like around bristol/walker or standale.. those are all really good places.. But you really gotta look for a good area in GR because you could live in a wonderful spot but 9 houses down will be the slummiest place and you could get your house broke into every day.. it's just about finding a good area far enough away from bad areas that way people dont come looking for a good area to mess with.

Way to stir things up!
The southeast side includes East Hills and Eastown. Both of those areas aren't just safe, they're charming and have actual retail sections that are doing reasonably well.

[pirate_lafitte]

Does anyone know anything about the neighborhood where Ottawa Hills High School is? I ask because the DeBarge band grew up there.

[beachmouse]

The area around the high school is pretty middle class/suburban-looking. It's not the area known as the Ottawa Hills neighborhood, which is a different historic neighborhood located adjacent to East Grand Rapids.

My Dad had at least one of the brothers when he taught at Union High School on the other side of town.

[enigmaingr]

Originally Posted by pirate_lafitte

Does anyone know anything about the neighborhood where Ottawa Hills High School is? I ask because the DeBarge band grew up there.

From the high school east, it's nice and gets nicer. Go west and past Kalamazoo, it's a different story.