One month and two strikes in Bossier City, help! (Shreveport: apartment complex, for rent)

[hindsight2020]

Hi folks,

I moved to Bossier a month ago due to the military, and in all fairness, got into an apartment complex sight unseen (Chaparral Apts in shed road). Well, one month in town and just tonight I had my car broken into and my CD player unit ripped from the car, along with my satellite radio unit. Two weeks ago I had my bicycle stolen from my patio. I think it's fair to say I regret the decision of getting into this apartment, and right now I am very weary of bossier city, considering I was told this was the 'safe side' between the two towns. I am extremely paranoid of having my vehicle stolen now, and I'm very quickly hating the area. The cops were unhelpful also, they said it's the first time they have got a call for this apartment complex in 2 years. Hmm, but I have two incidents of stolen property in a month, I'm just so unlucky. Whatever.

I asked the police officers about their opinions of where to live, and frankly they didn't offer much help. They mentioned some neighborhoods in south bossier, like southgate estates, bellaire, shady grove (they said this one was 50/50..that's reassuring).

My problem is my price range. I'll be taking a paycut and don't quite yet know when I'll be offered a full-time position (could be several years) so my purchase power right now does not exceed my rent. Are there any safe neighborhoods in bossier in the 90-100K range? I'm sick of slum apartments, and to be honest I'm saving a *little* money on the current apartment, but it's not worth my safety. My long time gf (soon to be fiance) is very weary of moving down here now, and the long distance has already taken a toll on our relationship, I'll dump bossier city before I dump her that's for sure. If there are no safe neighborhoods in this price range, then I guess I'll have to continue wasting money on renting, and I'll guess I'll look at the pricey apartments in the area...$850/mo is my top right now for renting or owning btw.

Since I had previously discounted shreveport due to bad opinion of crime, but these are the same people who told me bossier was the way to go, I'm willing to entertain housing options in Shreveport as well. Same question applies, and if no SAFE houses for my price range, any new condos or townhomes for that price range? I don't care about the square footage, at this point just a place where me and my future wife can live decently for a couple of years without turning paranoid, at least until that good paying job comes around and we can entertain houses in the 150K+, which clearly exist in bossier and the communities seem nice and safe.

I think it's a shame what's happening here in terms of balkanization of the SBC area's population, but I gotta tell ya, Ive been from Georgia to Indiana to Oklahoma and back south, and I'm saddened to say this is the place where I've been the victim of crime the quickest since relocation. Any help on the above would be appreciated. I'm afraid I'll have to eat my words from previous supportive posts about the area for a while

[DFWMike]

Hmmm, well, thats unfortunate. Every area gets hit by a crime wave every now and then, but by and large Bossier is still your best bet. I know several people in Bossier that have never had anything stolen, and that apartment complex isn't the worst in town.

I imagine the cops were just baffled, I would trump it up to bad luck also. I'm not saying there isn't crime in the area, Bossier is just much better than Shreveport. I eventually left the area partly because of crime 10 years ago, and it's not getting much better so thats for you to figure out. But Bossier, by and large, is pretty safe. Good luck to you.

I can tell you that I lived in a prime area in Southeast Shreveport when I lived there and my downstairs neighbor's apartment was broken into while they were home when I lived there in addition to my car being broken into, so I definately wouldn't suggest Shreveport as a place to get away from crime. And that was prior to there being any development down there for people from other parts of the city to find any interest in.

Conversely, and to be fair, my brother and several other friends I know live in SW Shreveport and have never had anything stolen, so who knows, just luck I guess. I have an acquaintance who had his car stolen in a gated community in one of the nicest suburbs(Frisco) in Dallas, so who knows when someone going to try and take something from you.

[SunnyJeep]

This is not too unusual in Shreveport and Bossier. During the Mardi Gras parades in Shreveport a few years back, my sister had her PORCH SWING stolen out of her fenced back yard. We can't imagine who or why someone would make off with something like that, but we drove blocks and blocks looking around the neighborhoods in her area looking for it. We half expected to find it sitting on a street corner - someone perhaps having taken it to sit on while watching the parades. We never did recover that swing.

[imaterry78259]

Let put the thugs to work not in a cushy jail. They can pick up trash on the highway and clean up blighted areas

[ginger260]

I have a friend who lives in Bossier. He is trying to get me and my bf to move there. Says we'll love it. And that I could make good money as a cocktail server in the casino there in Bossier and be able to afford to live in the more expensive apt. complexes. Does anyone know if this is true or not. I've read about the crime there being I'd be moving from a SMALL south georgia town. Any advise is appreciated.

[ginger260]

[quote=ginger260;1327576]I have a friend who lives in Bossier. He is trying to get me and my bf to move there. Says we'll love it. And that I could make good money as a cocktail server in the casino there in Bossier and be able to afford to live in the more expensive apt. complexes. Does anyone know if this is true or not. I've read about the crime there ,being I'd be moving from a SMALL south georgia town.I know there aren't any opportunities where I live. He has really built Bossier up in my mind and If I could better myself and my financial situation I am all for it. Especially if my 22 year old son can go with me and find better opportunities. Any advise is appreciated.

[SBCmetroguy]

Originally Posted by ginger260

I have a friend who lives in Bossier. He is trying to get me and my bf to move there. Says we'll love it. And that I could make good money as a cocktail server in the casino there in Bossier and be able to afford to live in the more expensive apt. complexes. Does anyone know if this is true or not. I've read about the crime there being I'd be moving from a SMALL south georgia town. Any advise is appreciated.

Not much crime to speak of in Bossier, but I'm sorry I can't help you as far as working as a cocktail server in a casino and what type of rent you could afford, but if you're a good server and look good to the men you will do just fine. What do you have to lose? You're young it seems... take the plunge... you'll be just fine. Bossier is a great, progressive city to move to if you're young and trying to move up in the world.

[hindsight2020]

I'd be weary of the appeal of the casino jobs. We are trying to get my g/f a job here in Shreveport/Bossier in the landscape design field and we're having a hell of a time. We have our fingers crossed that something will bite when she comes down here for Labor day to interview. From my two months living here I have ascertained that if you're not in the medical field or in the oil business you can't get a job worth relocating to Louisiana for, in general. About every other industry is rather depressed here. My job is somewhat artificial in the sense that I am military, so the location is external to the job itself. If I were you I would look at bigger towns in Georgia. I lived in Atlanta for years so I would say the moving expense for you to move to Macon or any Atlanta satellite town would be more worthwhile than moving 800 miles west. Weather-wise you're looking at the same so you're not missing out on the great Georgia weather if you were to move to LA. I also lived in Alabama, and other than Birmingham I couldn't in good conscience suggest you look there, there is nothing going on in AL, although man beautiful country and awesome pace of life. So I'd look at Georgia more closely, I think the economy there is pound for pound one of the better if not the best of all southern states. (Florida not included, that's like its own country, Texas is not really southern by my definitions, especially north and east texas). Good luck.

[SunnyJeep]

It's not a bad place, but you have to use your street smarts: keep doors locked, keep car locked and valuables out of site. Lock your garage and leave nothing on your lawn you would want stolen, etc. My husband has had his car broken into a few times while on Barksdale AFB - has had CDs and money taken. A leather jacket. And the authorities pretty much do nothing to help you when you've been hit, either. However, I did grow up there in my teen years, and have a soft spot for the place in my heart.

I wouldn't count too much on the casino jobs though - if you get in there you'll notice a high turn over rate in the staff. Same with any "entertainment" type spot in town. Clubs are another employment I'd avoid - they come and go with the seasons. Hot one week, and gone the next.

[Khartley]

I live in Lexington Place Apartments in Bossier (right outside Northgate), with my husband and 17 month old son. It is gated, pretty new and the management is great. We have been here since June and have had no problems, our neighbors are quiet, and the amenities are nice. I would recommend it to anyone. We have a large 2 bd/2 ba and pay $860/mo.