Relocating to Shreveport/Bossier City...some heads-up? (Ama: appointed, crime rates)

[afcase]

Hi. My husband and I moved here 4 years ago from Minneapolis MN. He's doing his residency at LSU so we knew we'd be here 5 years total....now we are actually thinking of staying. We didn't love it initially, especially coming from a bigger city, but we've seen so many changes just since we've moved here and now we really like it so much. We first lived in North Bossier (Lakewood) and it was very nice, but it was just too far from everything for us. We moved after 2 years to Shreveport and could not be happier. We live in the University Terrace neighborhood. 1970's style houses mainly, extremely safe, good mix of young and older people and the best part is we are literally right around the corner from all the new growth in the city. We abolutely love it. Good friends of ours live in the South Bossier and that is very close to Barksdale. There are several really good neighborhoods in Bossier and Shreveport, depending on your price point, and how close you want to be to work, etc.
There are fun things to do here for adults and children. We are in our 30s and have a 2 1/2 year old daughter. We love the boardwalk, the parks, good restaurants, good festivals, etc. Not great for sporting events, except Mudbugs hockey which can be fun, and they actually have a men's league for hockey which my husband is stoked about. But lots of other sporting activities-boating, fishing, hunting, golf, soccer, etc. You can find it all here. And good weekend trips from here too. The other nice thing is that you'll meet a lot of people that are not from here....LSU, Barksdale, GM, etc bring in a lot of people from other places which makes it nice for transients.
I hope you'll like it as well as we have. If you have any questions once it's closer to your move, email us. afcase@yahoo.com

[SBCmetroguy]

Afcase, thank you for sharing such awesome, honest information about Shreveport-Bossier.

[lokobuff]

Saw your post on the Sport / Bossier area. I am a Bossier City native and will be making a military move in Jan to California. If you are looking in the Bossier area and have kids, the Stockwell Place subdivision is great. Short distance from the elementary school which a recent recipient of a National Blue Ribbon award. Further North to Benton is a growing area and less traffic. A huge new shopping center is going up real close with a Target, Bed Bath and Beyond and all sorts of places. Shreveport is where more of the crime is but there are lots of nice areas and lots of shopping. Look for housing off of Line Avenue or Youree Drive, two major streets in Shreveport. If you are looking for a house in Bossier, i have one for sale!!

[fitone1]

Single mom, just moving in town for job on Barksdale AFB. Seeking temporaray work in evening or nights, or something I can do at home. Kids being schooled at Airline HS, Greenacres Middle and Apollo Elem. Been in Baton Rouge since late 80's. Graduated from LSU. Not convinced that I'll be living here permanently. Hope someone could forward some info on my request.

[SBCmetroguy]

Originally Posted by fitone1

Single mom, just moving in town for job on Barksdale AFB. Seeking temporaray work in evening or nights, or something I can do at home. Kids being schooled at Airline HS, Greenacres Middle and Apollo Elem. Been in Baton Rouge since late 80's. Graduated from LSU. Not convinced that I'll be living here permanently. Hope someone could forward some info on my request.

If you're looking for something part-time and you don't mind about $10-12/hour, try a call center.

Some of the main ones I can think of in metro Shreveport-Bossier:

US Support Co. call center
Budget Phone/Budget Wireless call center
CenturyTel call center
Alltel call center
Hibernia Bank call center

There are others, but these are the main ones that come to mind...

BY the way, Baton Rouge is a nice place, but welcome to Shreveport-Bossier. I hope you love it here.

P.S. I saw in another thread where you said you're actually moving to Bossier, not Shreveport. Good choice! If you're trying to get away from Baton Rouge, moving to Shreveport won't make you feel any better. Bossier is beautiful and nice, and its busiest areas, naturally, are brand new and nice. Soon all the major shopping and dining options you can find in Shreveport or Baton Rouge will be found in north Bossier as well. You'll love it over here on the East Bank.

[fitone1]

The call centers should allow for the flexibility I need. I'm on it, thanks

[schema]

I am a Stucco contractor and work in all the areas that have been mentioned. Just finished a house in Plantation Trace that is still for sale, the biggest question is, What Price range that you are looking for, because you can find it all in Bossier, Shreveport area. I personally like the Olde Oaks area on Slygo Road. ( go south on Barksdale BLVD till it turns into 1 lane then turn left about 5 miles or so on the right) It has a Great country setting, and a Hal Sutton Golf course, but yet is still only 15 minutes to the main entrance of Barksdale base. The house I am working on there happens to be owned by a landsaping owner, oddly enough.The commute from this area to the base would be pleasant. If you were to come all the way across town from north Bossier to the base, Well..... better not leave the house late.....
You can find anything in this area that you want INCLUDING trouble,but I either am not there enough ( even though I work there everyday) or Im not paying attention to the violence. I have found nothing in Shreve,BC area to be afraid of. But to raise children or to just to crave a more subtle living but still close to shreve, bc area then Haughton 10 to 15 minutes east of BC and minden is about 30 minutes and both areas are a little slower but not too far from the big city.
The Haven on East kings is a gated community ( with round the clock guard) that is nice as well, which is just across the Jimmy Davis bridge ( the bridge is a bit of a hastle with traffic, but still it is close) from the base. The houses there are excellent. It sets directly behind the LSUS campus too just in case one of you might be thinking of college.

let me know the price range you are looking for and I might be able to help you better.

[johnusaf]

Gotta agree with most of the posters here. I am an AF guy myself and just left a 67 year stay in the SBC. Tough for me to get used to as we came from ND and the culture shock was pretty hard hitting. Now after settling I have to tell you we were pleasently suprised at the level of things offered there. I mean the changes the area has gone through even since we arrived are immense. Keep in mind a lot of people will tell you you have to live in Bossier. Not true, there are A LOT of nice neighborhoods and rough neighborhoods in BOTH communities. just hook up with a quality realtor who knows what you want and go with it. The area off East kings Highway was probably the most comfortable for us as there was a good mix of old and young. Try to go with your gut. If a nieghborhood doesn't look like you want to live there don't. As for industry there is plenty. Call centers are spectacular and there are always plenty of jobs on Barksdale. good luck and if you need phone #'s for realtor/manager for a house or apartment rental let me know. I still have my rolodex. By the way we just left in June and hope to return after leaving Germany. And yes I have 3 children the oldest of which attended Arthur Circle elementary, excellent school..

[SBCmetroguy]

Originally Posted by johnusaf

Gotta agree with most of the posters here. I am an AF guy myself and just left a 67 year stay in the SBC. Tough for me to get used to as we came from ND and the culture shock was pretty hard hitting. Now after settling I have to tell you we were pleasently suprised at the level of things offered there. I mean the changes the area has gone through even since we arrived are immense. Keep in mind a lot of people will tell you you have to live in Bossier. Not true, there are A LOT of nice neighborhoods and rough neighborhoods in BOTH communities. just hook up with a quality realtor who knows what you want and go with it. The area off East kings Highway was probably the most comfortable for us as there was a good mix of old and young. Try to go with your gut. If a nieghborhood doesn't look like you want to live there don't. As for industry there is plenty. Call centers are spectacular and there are always plenty of jobs on Barksdale. good luck and if you need phone #'s for realtor/manager for a house or apartment rental let me know. I still have my rolodex. By the way we just left in June and hope to return after leaving Germany. And yes I have 3 children the oldest of which attended Arthur Circle elementary, excellent school..

Excellent info, John. I sure hope you're able to return after leaving Germany.

[ShreveportNative]

It is easy. In Shreveport stay east of Southern Avenue. If in the Highland neighborhood, stay south of Olive Street. Most of west Shreveport is inexpensive, but very high crime. I'm not an expert on Bossier City, but it has a few higher crime areas that are rundown.

I'm not a Shreveport basher, just being realistic. Look at the crime stats by zip code if you don't believe my assessment as a 53 year old resident who has lived here most of my life.