Most dangerous neighborhood in Indianapolis? (Carmel, Marion: foreclosure, credit, how much)

[raindance7]

There are actually many very dangerous places to live. 10th and Rural area is very bad, 38th street from keystone all the way over past the cemetery on the west side is bad. Brightwood area, so many. But yes remember when they started building up the downtown area with condos they started moving the projects to the suburbs and running down good areas. 38th and Post Road area is really a hell hole now. 20 years ago it was the place to be.

[Windsplitter]

Originally Posted by SikCense

Hell most of the east side is trouble period!

My family settled in Indianapolis to farm some time near 1800. The Askren house on E. 16th St. is the 2nd oldest house in Indianapolis. The Historical folks are working to see that it isn't demolished.The area from E. 21st to E. 16th , and from Franklin Rd. to almost Shadeland, was the farm until my Grandfather died. I moved back from Florida, I know, to a house on 21st St. that my Grandfather built. I can't believe what has happened here. It's so sad. My Mother and her 2 brothers were born at home at the corner of E. 21st and Franklin Rd. The house was way out from the City, and the only roads were dirt. When I came here back in the 60's and 70's it was still a decent area.

I wish more of the founding families would actively advocate for the Eastside. There's a lot of history here. More than Carmel or Fishers. I remember Irvington and the Arlington areas, and they were not scary areas. There was a movie theatre we went to in Irvington. My Great Great Aunt's Summer home is now Conner Prarie (spelling, haven't been there yet). Her main home was on Meridian next to Billy Sunday's house.

All over the Country areas that "slid" are being taken back. There must be some interest in doing so. Buy it back. The prices are great.

[Dark of the Moon]

Originally Posted by gdude

Woodruff Place bing dicey? I agree with toxic....not really

Sorry. I guess I'm not really saying Woodruff Place, itself -- rather, the neighborhood surrounding.

[Southside Shrek]

I was in the 1100 block of Newman Street not far from Woodruff Place a few weeks ago. Many of the homes are being brought back but it is a slow process.

[Yeppity]

Originally Posted by Southside Shrek

...Many of the homes are being brought back but it is a slow process.

This is what's been eating away at me. I grew up all over the Eastside, and we have lived in the Christian Park area for 21 years now. Our street is on the downward side of the "process." A couple months ago, there were 7 empty houses on our block alone. Calling the Mayor's Action Center and Health Dept. has helped in getting the yards mowed, but the decline is still picking up steam with property owners not willing or able to rent out these homes. Most people who buy around here don't want to live in these little 800 sq. ft. bungalows. Sometimes they'll flip these houses for $20,000-$30,000 below market value. They rent them out for $600-$700 a month, and don't care what kind of people the tenants are.

Case in point--across the street from me is a house that was sold last summer to a company that buys/sells houses on Ebay. The "tenants" who moved in don't seem to work, sit out in the front yard drinking literally all day, and have had various sundry nuisance issues that have resulted in the police getting called on them (not by me, though) 4 times in the last month. I suspect they're selling drugs due to the high volume of traffic to the house. Another thing--my daughter's playmate's mother told them to "stay away from the Mexicans' house." Yes, this area is becoming another Little Mexico. Not all Hispanics live like this of course, but it's an undesirable element of their culture just like any other culture. This is just one of the elements that's fueling the decline.

I love my hometown, and I used to like this area. I'm sickened over what is happening here. We are considering trying to sell our house and leaving Indy altogether, but would have to stay somewhat close due to work (Downtown). We've also thought of going to Franklin or Perry Township. Maybe New Pal, even Greenfield might be far enough out of the crud that has ruined some parts of the Eastside. But I don't see the cycle, the process you speak of, leaving time on our side. Our daughter is still young; I don't want her to grow up in what I believe will eventually become a very dangerous place.

Sorry for the length of this post--I just gotta vent. Any thoughts on this--Christian Park area in particular? I'd like to hear what others familiar with this area think. --Thanks

[Southside Shrek]

Owner-occupied rehabs are the answer to bringing older neighborhoods back. Too many speculators buying old rundown houses usually tend to use them as HUD rentals and those investors usually don't care about revitalizing the area.

[Yeppity]

Originally Posted by Southside Shrek

...those investors usually don't care about revitalizing the area.

Yes, the key words are "don't care." Frequently the investors are out of state, but not always. The house 2 doors down from me has been empty for much of the past year, and one of the recent past owners was somebody from Greenwood! Why can't the person come up here and at least check on the house, cut the grass, keep curtains or blinds on the windows? Put some timers on a couple of lights in the house...just a few things to make it a little more secure. But they don't care, especially if they don't live here. Frustrating that they just let these houses set here to rot. Crack houses just waiting to happen, is what I call 'em.

The one positive, if it can be called that--whenever I've contacted the city about tall grass/weeds, unsecured doors, junk in the yards, etc., they've been good about inspecting and getting crews out to take care of it a little bit. And a couple of the houses now have been rented out--so far seem to be good neighbors. But sometimes the good tenants don't stay too long, either.

[Toxic Toast]

Originally Posted by Yeppity

Any thoughts on this--Christian Park area in particular? I'd like to hear what others familiar with this area think. --Thanks

I never thought the Christian Park area was that bad; but I have never lived there. I love English Ave directly across from the park itself, and the area north of the park seems nice. It would be a shame if that neighborhood went the way of Martindale, because there are some very nice looking little houses along English with great access to the park.

[Future Trooper]

Originally Posted by raindance7

There are actually many very dangerous places to live. 10th and Rural area is very bad, 38th street from keystone all the way over past the cemetery on the west side is bad. Brightwood area, so many. But yes remember when they started building up the downtown area with condos they started moving the projects to the suburbs and running down good areas. 38th and Post Road area is really a hell hole now. 20 years ago it was the place to be.

I was just up at 56th and Post(Fort Harrison) last week and we kept running up and down Post Road. Post Road from I-70 up to about 42-46th street is a hell hole.

[Yeppity]

Originally Posted by Toxic Toast

I never thought the Christian Park area was that bad; but I have never lived there. I love English Ave directly across from the park itself, and the area north of the park seems nice. It would be a shame if that neighborhood went the way of Martindale, because there are some very nice looking little houses along English with great access to the park.

Yes, English Avenue right at the park is still in pretty good shape. But if you take a drive down Hoyt Avenue, for instance, from Sherman to Temperance--some people are keeping their homes as nice as they possibly can, and then there are some really ratty places. I feel bad for the people there; it's actually worse than my street, but it's only a couple blocks from me. Overall, I think the area as a whole is beginning to slide. My block has changed a lot in the last couple years.

A big part of the problem has been with long-time residents moving away or dying off, then the houses get bought by investors, people move in and out, which destabilizes the area.

I have nothing against renters--my family rented for many years until the mid-80s. But as far as I can tell, about 50 percent of the houses on our block are owner-occupied with the rest either rented or empty; it's obvious to me that large a percentage of non-owner-occupied dwellings is not good.