Moving (New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport: insurance, crime, homes)

[SBCmetroguy]

Well, as far as Shreveport-Bossier goes, this is not a big "college town" type of area, but Louisiana Tech University is 60 miles down I-20 in Ruston. Shreveport-Bossier, however, IS home to Louisiana State University at Shreveport, Louisiana State University School of Medicine, Centenary College of Louisiana (gorgeous small college campus but with a university feel,) and Bossier Parish Community College. There are also smaller, satellite campuses for Northwestern Louisiana University School of Nursing, Louisiana Tech University, Southern Illinois University, and possibly some others that I'm unaware of.

Shreveport has a high crime rate in the city proper, but that's really not unusual for a larger city in Louisiana. Bossier City has a very low crime rate (including an almost non-existant homicide rate) and is extremely family-friendly. In addition, Bossier City's population has swelled from about 54,000 just a few years ago to around 60,000 today. The Census Bureau estimates that Bossier City will be around 65,000 by the 2010 Census. Bossier City's growth is mainly to the north and east, but some of it is to the south as well. To the west, of course, is Shreveport so there isn't any room to grow in that direction. Bossier City is home to a huge riverfront shopping/dining/entertainment complex called Louisiana Boardwalk (www.louisianaboardwalk.com.)

Also, this is a huge gambling resort area, with highrise casino hotels lining the riverfront on both sides of the river.

Southeast Shreveport and north Bossier are the hottest retail corridors in this area. Google "Youree Drive Shreveport" or "north Bossier" to see what all those areas have to offer. Also, don't forget to check out the Boardwalk. It has Bass Pro Shops, a Regal 14-screen theater, bowling alley, arcade, Hooters, Joe's Crab Shack, Buffalo Wild Wings, Build-a-Bear Workshop, and tons of major brand-name outlet stores all along a riverfront promenade.

As far as safe, clean, nice, well-educated, etc... southeast Shreveport or north and east Bossier would be the areas to look at!

[CindyM]

Dh & I are both northern state transplants. When we met he was living in Lake Charles and I was living in central Mississippi. Since he works offshore we pretty much had our choice of where to settle. Lake Charles had too much of a small town feel for me. We briefly considered the Lafayette area (the heart of Cajun country with a pretty amazing cultural diversity), but settled on Baton Rouge. BR is the state capital and home to two major universities -- LSU and Southern, in addition to a community college. The park system is run by BREC. There's definitely no shortage of restaurants or shopping with 2 malls, the new Towne Center at Cedar Lodge, strip malls galore. Our first Whole Foods opened 2 years ago and a Fresh Market is scheduled to open this summer. The only thing missing as far as food shopping is a Trader Joe's. Downtown is enjoying a revitalization with restaurants, nightclubs, hotels. There are 2 riverboat casinos and I think a third is in the works.

A few years ago we contemplated moving to the Northshore (Covington/Mandeville area) and even St. Francisville, which is a charming small town about 30 miles north of Baton Rouge, before deciding to stay put and remodel our little house.

I think you really need to visit Louisiana and get a feel for various cities on your own.

http://www.lafayettetravel.com/

http://www.visitbatonrouge.com/

http://www.stfrancisville.net/town_new/index.html

http://www.brec.org/

http://www.townecenteratcedarlodge.com/

http://www.malloflouisiana.com/html/index12.asp

[SBCmetroguy]

I couldn't edit my post, but Cindy's post made me realize I missed two universities. Sorry!

Grambling is also an hour down the road, just one town over from Louisiana Tech, and there is a Southern University campus in north Shreveport.

Seeing her mention that Baton Rouge is the home of Southern University's main campus, which is a great school, reminded me.

[modemo]

thanks man

[Rmaf623]

The economy of Alexandria is actually in great shape right now. A few years ago, the economy was terrible, especially after England Air Force Base shut down. However, in recent years, the economy has begun to turn around tremendously. The former airbase is now an international airport with a state-of-the-art terminal completed last year. In 2004, Union Tank Car decided to build a plant northwest of town, which has created hundreds of jobs. Across the river in Pineville, Procter and Gamble has expanded their current plant and PlastiPak recently built a plant nearby. The medical industry in Alexandria is thriving. Rapides General is currently building a new 4 story expansion downtown. Christus St. Frances Cabrini Hospital is also in the process of major expansions. New construction is going on throughout Alexandria. A new Wal-mart has been approved west of town along the Hwy 28 corridor creating a commercial boom in this area. Dozens of new subdivisions are being constructed throughout the area, especially western, southwestern Alexandria, Woodworth, and Pineville. A recent population estimate predicted that the population of Alexandria has grown by 3,000 since 2000.

The downtown area, however, has been somewhat revitalized but still has a long way to go. Crime is a problem in some areas, especially east of MacArthur Dr. excluding the Garden District.

The Alexandria area has plenty of restaurants and has a small shopping mall. Nearby lakes and Kisatchie National Forest provide plenty of outdoor recreation opportunities. However, Alexandria does not have many of the big city amenities present in cities such as Shreveport, Baton Rouge, and New Orleans. But it is still, overall, a nice place to live.

The Alexandria area has two colleges. Louisiana College in Pineville is a small private Baptist 4-year college. LSUA is located a few miles to the south of Alexandria and is a small public 4-year college.

[SBCmetroguy]

Originally Posted by Rmaf623

The economy of Alexandria is actually in great shape right now. A few years ago, the economy was terrible, especially after England Air Force Base shut down. However, in recent years, the economy has begun to turn around tremendously. The former airbase is now an international airport with a state-of-the-art terminal completed last year. In 2004, Union Tank Car decided to build a plant northwest of town, which has created hundreds of jobs. Across the river in Pineville, Procter and Gamble has expanded their current plant and PlastiPak recently built a plant nearby. The medical industry in Alexandria is thriving. Rapides General is currently building a new 4 story expansion downtown. Christus St. Frances Cabrini Hospital is also in the process of major expansions. New construction is going on throughout Alexandria. A new Wal-mart has been approved west of town along the Hwy 28 corridor creating a commercial boom in this area. Dozens of new subdivisions are being constructed throughout the area, especially western, southwestern Alexandria, Woodworth, and Pineville. A recent population estimate predicted that the population of Alexandria has grown by 3,000 since 2000.

The downtown area, however, has been somewhat revitalized but still has a long way to go. Crime is a problem in some areas, especially east of MacArthur Dr. excluding the Garden District.

The Alexandria area has plenty of restaurants and has a small shopping mall. Nearby lakes and Kisatchie National Forest provide plenty of outdoor recreation opportunities. However, Alexandria does not have many of the big city amenities present in cities such as Shreveport, Baton Rouge, and New Orleans. But it is still, overall, a nice place to live.

The Alexandria area has two colleges. Louisiana College in Pineville is a small private Baptist 4-year college. LSUA is located a few miles to the south of Alexandria and is a small public 4-year college.

Hey, thanks for clarifying this!

I'd read different on other forums, but mostly from people who have just passed through and such. It's easy for one from outside the area to say something that isn't true, based on perception.

I certainly don't want to give any Louisiana city a bad name, because this is a great state with some really nice cities.

I'll check out Alexandria in person in the very near future. It's been about 2 years since I was last down that way.

By the way, for a city Alexandria's size, it's mall is actually quite large and impressive! I remember being VERY pleasantly surprised by its size the first time I walked inside that place! Shreveport's mall market has always been spread among 304 different malls, and most of them are smaller than Alexandria Mall (is that the name of it?) South Park Mall might have been the only mall we had that was bigger than Alexandria's one mall. Louisiana Boardwalk in Bossier is now the largest mall north of I-10, I believe, but before that came along all we had left were 3 smaller malls.

[Rmaf623]

Originally Posted by SBCmetroguy

I'd read different on other forums, but mostly from people who have just passed through and such. It's easy for one from outside the area to say something that isn't true, based on perception.

Yes, I can understand why many people might get a bad first impression of Alexandria just from passing through. Unfortunately, I-49 cuts across some of the most run-down and least attractive parts of the city. Unlike many places, the main shopping centers and restaurants are not visible from the interstate. The stretch of I-49 in Alexandria is relatively new and not much development has had time to occur nearby yet. The more developed, most prosperous parts of town are along MacArthur Drive, the Mall area, and Jackson St. Extension.

Pineville, across the river, is also a nice town and has seen much growth in recent years.

[SBCmetroguy]

Originally Posted by Rmaf623

Yes, I can understand why many people might get a bad first impression of Alexandria just from passing through. Unfortunately, I-49 cuts across some of the most run-down and least attractive parts of the city. Unlike many places, the main shopping centers and restaurants are not visible from the interstate. The stretch of I-49 in Alexandria is relatively new and not much development has had time to occur nearby yet. The more developed, most prosperous parts of town are along MacArthur Drive, the Mall area, and Jackson St. Extension.

Pineville, across the river, is also a nice town and has seen much growth in recent years.

By the way, in my post I meant to say 3-4 different malls, not 304!

Anyway, no doubt... hey, think about Shreveport. I-49 cuts through ghetto Shreveport and if you don't stop and enjoy the city, you'd think that's all we have.

Last time I was over by the mall in Alexandria, I must say there was quite a bit going on over there. I stopped in for dinner on my way back to Shreveport from New Orleans.

[jwtkdplus]

I have lived in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, and Monroe (currently). For what you're describing, I would say Lafayette. It's no more than 3 hours from anywhere in the state, sits right on the I-10 corridor, meaning that Lake Charles and Baton Rouge are an hour away, NOLA and Alexandria are about 2, Shreveport and Monroe are about 3. Plus, Lafayette is a relatively nice area with GREAT food.

[WendyW.]

Sounds like you are looking for a place like Lafayette to me too. Or maybe the surrounding towns. My friend lives in Youngsville in an amazing house with tons of shopping and her kids go to a good school and are involved in all sorts of things.
It's too big for me, but I like living in the middle of nowhere. LOL