West End Allentown (Macungie, Manor, Jerome: crime, hotel, buying a home)

[lorib49]

My husband and I recently returned from a trip to the Lehigh Valley to check out some areas that we were interested in buying a home. My husband is a medical student and rotated at Lehigh Valley Hospital in August and lived in the hospital's housing in Allentown. He took me back to look at the area around Muhlenberg College. We loved the area. It consisted of large older homes and beautiful tree-lined streets. However, we have heard so many negative things about Allentown, both from this site and even from the manager at the hotel that we were staying in. Can somebody who is knows that area let me know what West End Allentown is like? Is is really as bad as everyone says? Should we stay away, even from a nice neighborhood?

[atownresident]

lorib49,
I applaud you for doing your research and actually going to see the area rather then completely dismiss it. The area around Muhlenberg College is beautiful and the homes are very well built. You would be close to many different activities such as the theatre district, rose gardens, cedar beach, shopping and dining establishments.
You may have heard negative things about Allentown, but Allentown is not a stagnant cesspool of crime and decay. On the contrary Allentown has many nice areas such as the area you are looking at as well as Midway Manor & Jerome Hill on the east side of town, and other areas though out the city.
I also love the area and prefer an older well built home. As far as a particular home that you are looking at drive around at different times of the day, speak with neighbors, and you will make the right decision in your mind and heart.

[virangos]

Atownresident is right, Allentown has some beautiful neighborhoods and the west end is right up there. And no It's not as bad as everybody says.
Even the areas that would be considered bad aren't to bad. I think the crime reports are grossly over stated.

[toobusytoday]

I agree that there are some very pretty areas in Allentown. I go to church in Allentown every Sunday and the farmers market is great. I guess if I were a person considering a move to Allentown, I would stick to the Northwest area to be in the nicer area and in Parkland school district: http://search.live.com/images/result...ages%2Fmap.png Even if you don't have kids to put into schools, it will make a big difference for resale. Besides, it's the best looking area.

[SouthernMomto3]

I'm assuming your H will be doing his residency at LVH. My H is completing his residency there and we technically have an Allentown zip code but are in Parkland School District in Upper Macungie...Kuhnsville area. Where we live it only takes him about 10 minutes to get to the Cedar Crest facility. I don't know what facility your H would be at most of the time. For my H's residency they are primarily at CC, then 17th and Chew and then Muhlenberg. You might want to check out where he would be. The area you are speaking of does have lots of charm but as advised I would check out the area different times of day. In most older areas of any town there can be a great block very close to a bad block. Take into consideration that you will be home alone a lot! My H has one rotation where he is gone 5 nights per week times 4 weeks in a row! I can't speak personally about the area other than I always like to drive through there because the tree lined streets are so pretty! It can't be all bad because there are some very high dollar homes near Muhlenberg College.

[SouthernMomto3]

Okay Lorib49, I just looked back at your posts and how wierd...my H and I are moving to Roanoke this summer for him to work for Carilion Clinic and I noticed you are moving from Roanoke!

[sherwin125]

be sure to check the school district some parts of west end are in parkland. I live here and wish we would have moved 5 blocks down because we would be in parkland, whichever area in allentown you pick same great parks

[lorib49]

Thank you for the advice, we looked at a number of areas around the Valley and were really just trying to get a feel for some of the areas that we liked. SouthernMomto3 let me know if you have any questions about Roanoke

[loose cannon]

The West End is the supreme area but you must not let your guard down. Sometimes the hoods will patrol the area around Muhlenberg and mug/rob people. With the recent closing of Harys by the city due to it's criminal reputation I predict the thugs will migrate further West.

[Lehigh Valley Native]

West End Allentown is beautiful, but if you want to make sure you maximize the value of your property, make sure you are in Parkland S.D., which starts at Trexler park going north on the west side of Cedar Crest Blvd. But, if you decide on West End Allentown in Allentown S.D., you will pay lower taxes. Honestly though, people who buy in West End Allentown in Allentown S.D. can afford and will send children to private school, so it probably is a non-issue.