Possibly moving to Gonzales (Livingston, Ama: relocating, hoa, houses)

[billfam]

I would really appreciate if anyone could give me some ideas about the area of Gonzales or there about. My husband is looking at relocating for business purposes. However, we have horses. And from what I have gathered, there is no room for that within Gonzales. So, if anyone could help me by describing the area and pointing me in a direction that would not be far for my husband to drive but that does have land available, I would greatly appreciate it. I am also very worried about crime. We are from a small, southern town in Tennessee where you don't really have to worry about crime much. Could someone please tell me what it is like there? I would like to live in a middle class or above neighborhood, area. What is the cost of land, cost of living in that area? Again, I would greatly appreciate anything that you can share with us. We would in general like to know more about the area from locals before deciding to move there. Thanks!

[BRMan]

Originally Posted by billfam

I would really appreciate if anyone could give me some ideas about the area of Gonzales or there about. My husband is looking at relocating for business purposes. However, we have horses. And from what I have gathered, there is no room for that within Gonzales. So, if anyone could help me by describing the area and pointing me in a direction that would not be far for my husband to drive but that does have land available, I would greatly appreciate it. I am also very worried about crime. We are from a small, southern town in Tennessee where you don't really have to worry about crime much. Could someone please tell me what it is like there? I would like to live in a middle class or above neighborhood, area. What is the cost of land, cost of living in that area? Again, I would greatly appreciate anything that you can share with us. We would in general like to know more about the area from locals before deciding to move there. Thanks!

Gonzales is in the middle of Ascension Parish, which is a mixture of swamp, suburbia, and petrochemical plants.

Depending on how many acres you want, areas to the east and south of Gonzales (St.Amant, Sorrento) are still fairly rural, although suburbanization has begun. I would not recommend going west of Gonzales because you're in the middle of the petrochemical plants, and it's kind of slummy west of I-10 (especially near the river). Other areas to consider for rural acreage would be southern Livingston Parish and/or Tangipahoa Parish. It would be kind of a drive from anywhere in Tangipahoa Parish to Gonzales, though.

Crime is low in Ascension Parish, especially if you stay east of I-10. Cost of living is rising because the higher dollar suburbs are moving down I-10 into Ascension Parish.

[billfam]

Thank you so much. I will look up land/houses in St. Amant and Sorrento now. Do you know how the schools, crime are there?

[BRMan]

Originally Posted by billfam

Thank you so much. I will look up land/houses in St. Amant and Sorrento now. Do you know how the schools, crime are there?

I don't think crime is much of an issue in most of the "east bank" of Ascension. The good schools in Ascension are in Gonzales/Prairieville/Galvez/Dutchtown. I haven't heard as much about St. Amant/Sorrento.

[billfam]

A local realtor send me a listing of property in Prairieville. I noticed you said they had good schools. Is the area nice? Swampy? Friendly?

[BRMan]

Originally Posted by billfam

A local realtor send me a listing of property in Prairieville. I noticed you said they had good schools. Is the area nice? Swampy? Friendly?

Nice - yes. It's almost uniformly affluent suburbia. Especially around where Bluff Road crosses over I-10 at the parish live.

Swampy - depends. Near Airline/I-10, not so much. The farther away to the east and west from that corridor, it gets more swampy.

Friendly - well, it's got a lot of BR people moving in, so you have a lot of "newcomers." And BR people are a friendly lot, along as you aren't a Florida or Auburn fan

I would caution you that Prairieville (I define it as an area roughly between Airline and I-10 from the parish line to about Gonzales) is growing faster than there have been traffic infrastructure improvements. So there will be some traffic issues.