Seriously Thinking....Jacksonville! (Orlando, Homestead, University: high crime, homes, safe area)

[LoveBoating]

No, we aren't leaving Charlotte b/c of the crime here. We are leaving in-part due to the "too cold" of winter days here (that can be definitely colder than Jax mornings) and b/c we just don't have the interest in continuing to live here, like we did when we first moved here last year. As far as crime goes, Jax IS lower compared to Los Angeles, New York and other cities that size. As for Jax having the highest crime rate in Florida, we are sure that Orlando, Miami, Tampa Bay and other areas have their share of crime also. Not disputing what you are saying, but we DO want Jacksonville to be the RIGHT move for us to be making. Got to go now anyway......moving company partly paid for and apartment already chosen!

Originally Posted by Web B. Rowser

Jax has like the highest crime rate in the state. The southside of Jax is better than most other parts though. But if you left Charlotte trying to escape crime, than Jax wouldnt be the place to do that. Just my thoughts.

[KerryB]

I hope it works out for you guys. But it does seem like you're moving to Jax just for the weather & because of your current living conditions (noisy neighbors, etc).

I mean, I'm not trying to discourage you, Jax is a fine town. But it does seem like you guys havent given Charlotte a fair shake. From everything I hear about the place, its a wonderful town with a lot going for it (lively downtown, sprawl isn't outta control, has a new light rail system, etc) & is always tops on those "best places to live" lists. Jax doesnt have any of those. And the job market here probably isnt anything better than you have there, maybe worse actually depending on the field.

Again, not trying to poo poo on your plans & Jax is indeed a nice town, but I dont want you guys to move for the wrong reasons & end up regretting it. I've moved for weather, beaches, etc before in my travels (not here, somewhere else) & let me tell you, that stuff does get old. I've learned weather is overrated & having access to things (jobs, culture, etc), the city & the people are what matters most.

Good luck to you guys!

[Karla with a K]

Originally Posted by LoveBoating

Just how far was that "first murder" of 2009 (last night), which was near UNF?
How close (miles) from Southside Blvd / Belle Rive Blvd? Since the local newspaper is saying the murder was in Jacksonville/Southside, does that mean "Southside" is a fairly large area? We will be living near the freeway intersections of 295 and 95.

From the article

" "We do have a lead on a suspect. We believe the suspect and victim know one another," Jacksonville Sheriff's Office Sgt. Derrick Lewis said. "It appears that they got into some kind of argument and then it turned violent."

Brooks was not a resident of the apartment. Police said his last known address was on Lem Turner Road.

Man Shot At Apartment 1 Hour Into 2009 - Jacksonville News Story - WJXT Jacksonville

[LoveBoating]

First of all, when we were there earlier this month, the temp was 78 degrees and sunny.......we loved it!! Remember, we are 60 yrs old and many folks in that age bracket no longer want/can handle the cold weather of 45 degrees in the middle of the day.......and, there are numerous days like that here in our area during the winter months. The "noisy neighbors" thing can also happen to us in Jax and we know that (we just can hope that it don't). We have been here for a year and that is plenty of time for us to know that we don't like it here.....obviously our choice/opinion. As far as the downtown area goes, we very, very seldom even go into Charlotte......have what we need close to where we live now. There is basically nothing in downtown Charlotte that we even want (no interests). Light rail doesn't even come up to where we live! Charlotte may be in the "Best Places To Live" lists, but we are sure that there are numerous folks here that would disagree with that. As far as the job market goes, there are more jobs there than here, believe or not! Charlotte can be a great place to live for some folks, just not for us. If we move to Jax and don't end up liking it, we will just have to move again......just a part of life for some folks......moving 'til they get an area they really like.
Funny thing is, we talked to people in the Denver, CO area that just couldn't figure out why we would want to move to North Carolina/Charlotte. Even the supervisor I had said to me, "I hope you like heat and humidity" and I said back to him, "You must like snowstorms, blizzards and ice". He didn't get pissed off at me, but the conversation did end after I said that! When we moved from So Calif. to CO, people in Calif wondered why we would want to move to an area that has snow and ice. Oh well!

Originally Posted by KerryB

I hope it works out for you guys. But it does seem like you're moving to Jax just for the weather & because of your current living conditions (noisy neighbors, etc).

I mean, I'm not trying to discourage you, Jax is a fine town. But it does seem like you guys havent given Charlotte a fair shake. From everything I hear about the place, its a wonderful town with a lot going for it (lively downtown, sprawl isn't outta control, has a new light rail system, etc) & is always tops on those "best places to live" lists. Jax doesnt have any of those. And the job market here probably isnt anything better than you have there, maybe worse actually depending on the field.

Again, not trying to poo poo on your plans & Jax is indeed a nice town, but I dont want you guys to move for the wrong reasons & end up regretting it. I've moved for weather, beaches, etc before in my travels (not here, somewhere else) & let me tell you, that stuff does get old. I've learned weather is overrated & having access to things (jobs, culture, etc), the city & the people are what matters most.

Good luck to you guys!

[fsquid]

If the meetings the next two weeks go decently, I might be also relocating from Charlotte to Jacksonville. No clue what I'm getting into (as I've posted in my thread), but I can see why someone of your age would want to make the switch. I wouldn't mind a more laid back area instead of the "look at me" scene we have in Charlotte. Will miss the access to the mountains though if it goes through.

[Web B. Rowser]

"Jax IS lower compared to Los Angeles, New York and other cities that size."

Crime? Jax probably has higher crime than both per capita. It may not have the amount of crime due to LA and NYC's population, but I bet per capita, which is the most accurate way, Jax is probably higher.

[Web B. Rowser]

"I wouldn't mind a more laid back area instead of the "look at me" scene we have in Charlotte."


Unfortunately, most of FL is "look at me and what I drive" much more than Charlotte and certainly any other part of NC. And as far as laid-back, lol, not much of that left in FL either.

[fsquid]

like I said, I won't be able to know until they finalize the position and give me the stipend to go visit.

[Web B. Rowser]

Coming from Charlotte, Jax may seem a little nit similar. Both have somewhat friendly residents, both semi-Southern in feel, although Jax may be more Southern feeling actually now. Charlotte has grown so much with all the Northerners moving there, it may feel less southern. Obviously, the beaches a big plus for the Jax area, but Charlotte has lots of nice rolling hills and mountains not far away at all.

I find Charlotte to be a little bit cleaner, and prettier. And also having a better economy and better pay. I think cost of living is about the same, although if I had to guess, I'd say Jax is slightly higher.

[LoveBoating]

So, our question would obviously be.......why do so many people choose to live ANYWHERE in Jax if the darn city and area are as bad in crime as stated it is?? Do you live there and if "yes".....why, with all the crime that is there?! Not disputing what you are telling us, but you do make the city/area sound like a terrible place to live and absolutely full of crime!! We know that crime is higher in certain areas of different cities, but you sort of make Jax sound like a "war zone"! Oh well, we are moving there anyway. If we don't like it, we will just move.

Originally Posted by Web B. Rowser

"Jax IS lower compared to Los Angeles, New York and other cities that size."

Crime? Jax probably has higher crime than both per capita. It may not have the amount of crime due to LA and NYC's population, but I bet per capita, which is the most accurate way, Jax is probably higher.