Moving to Hampton Roads (Norfolk, Chesapeake: renters, condos, low crime)

[ladycthomas]

My family and I are moving to Hampton Roads area. Any suggestion on the best area to live, school for kids , and shopping. Forgive me for what I'm about to say. It may sound a bit racist..... Although, we are an Africian American family we do not desire to live in or near the hood. We are accustom to living in a muti-cultral neighborhood. We are looking for a working community, a community where we can get to know our neighbors. Not one with drugs dealers on the corner, sagging pants, crime,run down cars and governmental housing.
All black people are not ghetto....lol

[NorfolkNoggin]

The Hampton Roads is a biiig area. You have any idea where in the HR you'd like to be? Close to work?

I'm sure you'll get lots and lots of suggestions for different neighborhoods but I will predict that most of people with kids would suggest Chesapeake or VB.

I, however, will give you my personal opinion. I live in Ghent in Norfolk. If you are familiar with Norfolk Ghent is the second oldest neighborhood here (someone correct me if I'm wrong), the oldest one being downtown/Freemason. Ghent is beautiful. Lots and lots of old houses (100-120 years) and most of them have been restored.

I have two kids, almost two and four. They both go to preschool a block away. There are actually lots of preschools in this neigborhood. Many of them churchbased.

This neighborhood has lots of diversity. Most people here are well off and educated but there are also lost of young people here. Even though it seems to me that it's the American way to move to the 'burbs once you have kids there still are kids living here and quite a few playgrounds. We also have lots of runners and dogwalkers here. So the neighborhood is full of life. That's one of the thing I love about it.

There are a lot of churches here. Think one on every corner. With churches come soup kitchens so yes, we do have quite a few winos walking the streets, even sleeping on the steps of churches. They really don't bother me and I have never seen anyone of them make trouble for anyone. Winos generally tend to be harmless, it's the druggies you should worry about.

We walk everywhere. To work. To the kids' school. Downtown. To the grocery store. Restaurants. The mall. Our car accumulates cobwebs.

I would appreciate seeing more African Americans here. The African Americans living here tend to be young, professional and childless. There's only one African American kid in my kids' classes. He happens to be my youngest's best friend.

To summerise. I wouldn't live anywhere else in the whole HR area (ok, maybe I'd move to Fremason but that's it). The pros: Quiet, friendly, beautiful, walk everywhere, close to everything, good schools, very low crime. Cons: winos and very few houses with garage and driveways (old neighborhood, houses built before people had cars).

Good luck finding a good neighborhood that you like and feel free to ask me more about Ghent if you're interested.

[haydensmomma7407]

Ghent sure does sound nice! Is it all older housing? Many for rent?

[NorfolkNoggin]

Not all older housing but probably most of it. We live in a townhouse built in the eighties. One of the few houses that has a garage and driveway.

I would think you could find quite a few houses here for rent. It is expensive though. Especially if you want a single family house as a lot of the houses here are huge. But you'd also have an option of townhouses or duplexes and the condos here are also very nice.

I suggest you check out craigslist to get a gist of the rent. Just type "Ghent" in the searchbox.

[haydensmomma7407]

Awesome! Thank you very much! We'd love a townhouse or condo!

[NorfolkNoggin]

ghent norfolk va - Google Myndaleit

Link to a google search for pics of Ghent.

[haydensmomma7407]

Whoa! Verrrrrry big homes!

[NorfolkNoggin]

Yes very big.I don't think I'd live in those huge houses even if I had all the money in Ghent.

But you can also find townhouses of reasonable size and great condos. There's an area of Ghent Square that has nice little townhouses (newer and they have garage). I think thoses townhouses are generally two bedroom and I remember seeing one of them up for rent a month or so ago so aparently some of them are on the renters market.

[ladycthomas]

Thanks for your help! I will take a look into that area!

[haydensmomma7407]

Originally Posted by NorfolkNoggin

Yes very big.I don't think I'd live in those huge houses even if I had all the money in Ghent.

But you can also find townhouses of reasonable size and great condos. There's an area of Ghent Square that has nice little townhouses (newer and they have garage). I think thoses townhouses are generally two bedroom and I remember seeing one of them up for rent a month or so ago so aparently some of them are on the renters market.

Me either. I'm scared it would be haunted!

Sweet, I will try to look that up, do you know about how far the drive is (with traffic) to Oceana?