More information on Shreveport/Bossier City please... (Benton, Forest: 2009, renting)

[becoming]

My sister lived in the Broadmoor area (Charles Street) for years and never had the first problem with crime. Her daughter went to Kindergarten at Arthur Circle Elementary over there, and they loved the school and the neighborhood.

[Nikki Shinn]

For the record, if I were you, I'd avoid like the plague any area with the word "Highland" attached. While one small margin of it is still nice to live, all of the Highlands are being overcome with high crime, random violence, and huge drug problems - unsafe, rape, murder, carjacking - and it's gradually weeding its way through the Highlands as a whole. You might love your nice Victorian or plantation home but give it 2-5 years and you'll be scared to sit on the porch after dark. It's not a wise investment considering the element is spreading and the SPD are basically too inept or too overwhelmed to get a handle on it. It's only a matter of time before all the Highlands is overrun.

South Shreveport areas are still the better options for low crime, LSUS/Ellerbe areas as mentioned, University is a good school and the area is great...nice homes in that bracket in University and probably far more suited to what you have in mind.

[erinbearin]

Well, as usual, I am completely confused about where to look. My hubby had visited the South Highlands area (at a friend's house one night) and was really hooked on the charm. What you're saying is to stay away from All of the Highlands/South Highlands areas? I think if he gets this job, I am going to have to get a good realtor and call the local police before I make an offer on anything.

[Nikki Shinn]

I promise I wasn't trying to scare you. Currently the area is relatively safe. The thing I was suggesting to keep in mind is that buying a home and that sort of long term investment would be risky down the road. You might enjoy a handful of years leaving your doors unlocked, so to speak, but the Highlands as a whole, and currently the area that's become a nightmare also had beautiful historic homes with southern charm, old Victorians and gothics, at one time the whole area was the prime place to live. Unfortunately, when some of the owners turned their homes into apartments or rentals, it nosedived. The element deteriorated the homes, they fell to disrepair, roach infested, rat infested, drug houses and all sorts of things and while about in the mid 80s the city did attempt to do a refurbishing to run out that element, remodeling the homes, landscaping and such it didn't work. The criminal element just spread like a virus to more and more areas.

The border between the good, safe side and the run down corrupt, criminal unsafe side is very thin, maybe by 2 or 3 blocks. As an investment, unless Shreveport gets serious and sets up some sort of non rights infringing plan to eliminate the element entirely, buying something long term just isn't sound, and eventually won't be safe.

Granted, this is a risk in every neighborhood, even those I suggested. The difference is the worst of the criminal element, unsafe, etc happens to be centralized in the Highlands, leaving other areas some leeway. If you guys are able to afford the sort of homes found in south Highlands, perhaps you should look into Ellerbe estates, gated communities, a real quality sort of upper middle class neighborhood (and also upper class wealthy)...security is better and it's a really nice area. If you want general middle class closer to town, south Shreveport in the LSUS area is ideal.

Apologies if I spooked you...but buying a house is a risk anyway, and it just urged me to make you aware of the reality of the situation as it actually is so you didn't get stuck in a home that is perfect now but 10 years from now, overrun with vandals, carjackings, breakins, drugs and all that, and the chunk of money you'd be losing when the property value plummets. There is always a chance the city will be able to prevent it. The risk, though would be yours and, which motivated the post, in the case of Highlands, not a very sound one. A good realtor would tell you the truth. If any of them wave it off as nonsense, buyer beware - they'd be looking for a sale because a commission on a high dollar home in that area would set them up for a year Good luck with your search.

Ps yes, I would strongly suggest you steer clear of anything Highland, even if it looks safe and cozy now. The risk that it won't be in a few more years is high.

[SBCmetroguy]

Note to ALL regarding crime in the Highland area of Shreveport:

Contact the Shreveport Police Department for information regarding crime statistics in Highland and South Highland. You will find that the only area of Highland with an abnormally high crime rate is the area nearest Stoner Hill. The rest of Highland, particularly the areas nearest South Highlands and Pierremont Hills, have relatively low violent and overall crime rates.

To the ignorant people posting misinformation for all to see: STOP SPREADING LIES!

[erinbearin]

Thanks again! I re-read one of my middle posts and realized that I had posted plain ole "Highlands" (which probably sparked a little debate)...In reality, the stuff I am looking at is more in the South Highlands and Broadmoor neighborhoods. I can kind of tell based on the pricing of the house, if it is going to be in a rough neighborhood or not. I also must say that Google's streetview maps are totally helpful in seeing the everyday, non-realtor view of the neighborhoods.
Hopefully we'll know about the job soon! I think I am going to stick to my guns about those locations (versus going to BC). I will definitely contact the local Johnny Law and get a better feel of certain streets if it becomes applicable. Thanks again to everyone for all y'all's 2 cents- it definitely helps!

[Locomech]

I hope that you're getting plenty of good information about the area. I'll just throw in my two cents worth for good measure. First, I spent 2-1\2 years in the Houston area (Humble) and if you could put up with the traffic in Houston then the traffic situation around here is not going to upset you too greatly. My wife and I have lived here all our lives and we both agree that even Airline Drive at rush hour is still better than I-45 or U.S 59 traffic in Houston.

[SBCmetroguy]

Originally Posted by Locomech

I hope that you're getting plenty of good information about the area. I'll just throw in my two cents worth for good measure. First, I spent 2-1\2 years in the Houston area (Humble) and if you could put up with the traffic in Houston then the traffic situation around here is not going to upset you too greatly. My wife and I have lived here all our lives and we both agree that even Airline Drive at rush hour is still better than I-45 or U.S 59 traffic in Houston.

Agreed, without a doubt. While I loathe driving down Airline Drive or Benton Road at rush hour, I have driven in Dallas, Houston, and Chicago at rush hour and I can DEFINITELY agree that we have it good here.

[Locomech]

Well, if leaving Shreveport for Bossier City is considered "white flight" then I am guilty as charged. I lived in the Shreveport area most of my adult life and when I returned from Humble, TX, we never bothered to look in Shreveport as the demographics in alot of the areas change in a matter of ten years or less.(my humble opinion) The schools in the Bossier area are better and the demographics really haven't changed that much.
If you look in Bossier City, I would suggest North Bossier since Willis-Knighton Medical Center is located there, if that is a concern. Access to Shreveport is quick and the shopping is becoming comparable to that on Youree Dr. in South Shreveport. Housing is plentiful and the price range is dependant on what you want and how new it has to be. I won't go over the crime rate as that seems to have been handle already. Dogwood and the Stockwell Rd. area are good places to live, not many traffic concerns and easy access to I-20 and 220. About the only thing you might not enjoy is the occasional aircraft from Barksdale flying overhead but they aren't that low and not much of an irratant. There are newer subdivisions north of I-220 on Airline Dr. and Benton Rd. Also you may want to invesigate the newer part of Green Acres between Airline and Benton Rd.

[erinbearin]

Hey Everyone. Well we are totally in the dark about the job. We are not banking on it. It was narrowed down to just my hubbie and another person. Since then, we noticed that the Gov has instituted a hiring freeze (and we haven't heard a peep). We are not sure if it will impact the job or not, but are thinking it's likely. We're looking ahead to the Atlanta interview next week.
Thanks for all the great input on the area. I'll keep you posted.