Relocating to Shreveport/Bossier City...some heads-up? (Haughton, Atlanta: renting, broker)

[SBCmetroguy]

Originally Posted by Khartley

Can I take you up on your offer for more info? My family and I are relocating to Bossier City from Texas really soon and have narrowed down where we are going to live to three apartment complexes and if you could give us your opinion on them that would be great. The Reserve, Cypress Point (both on Airline drive-north of 220) and Lexington Place on Williamsburg Place (just south of 20 and north of barksdale). We're basically just wondering which one is in the best neighborhood (safest, cleanest) and which look the nicest. We really appreciate any insight you may have.

I think the Reserve are ugly apartments on the outside. I wouldn't live on the based on that alone, but I'm a home designer so it's a personal thing with me. The apartments may be really nice, but you'll want to keep in mind the Airline Drive commute every day... a nightmare.

Cypress Pointe are nice, but they have major construction flaws and I personally wouldn't live there for how often the maintenance people have to replace windows and such. With Cypress Pointe you also have that dreaded Airline Drive commute into the city every day.

Williamsburg Place are new and extremely nice. The only downside is that they are right next to the base. If you're military and are okay with the noise, then go for it. If the noise will be an issue, you might want to rethink that decision. I almost bought a house in the neighborhood next to Williamsburg... very nice area for the money, for sure. The other bright side is, you'd literally be within walking distance of the Eighth Air Force Museum, which is right inside the base's North Gate. This complex is also inside an older part of the city, so there's no commute to get to that area. The only commute will be if you have to commute to Shreveport for work, in which case ANY Bossier apartment complex you choose will have a hellish commute. I do it every day, though, and you do get used to it eventually.

[Khartley]

Originally Posted by SBCmetroguy

I think the Reserve are ugly apartments on the outside. I wouldn't live on the based on that alone, but I'm a home designer so it's a personal thing with me. The apartments may be really nice, but you'll want to keep in mind the Airline Drive commute every day... a nightmare.

Cypress Pointe are nice, but they have major construction flaws and I personally wouldn't live there for how often the maintenance people have to replace windows and such. With Cypress Pointe you also have that dreaded Airline Drive commute into the city every day.

Williamsburg Place are new and extremely nice. The only downside is that they are right next to the base. If you're military and are okay with the noise, then go for it. If the noise will be an issue, you might want to rethink that decision. I almost bought a house in the neighborhood next to Williamsburg... very nice area for the money, for sure. The other bright side is, you'd literally be within walking distance of the Eighth Air Force Museum, which is right inside the base's North Gate. This complex is also inside an older part of the city, so there's no commute to get to that area. The only commute will be if you have to commute to Shreveport for work, in which case ANY Bossier apartment complex you choose will have a hellish commute. I do it every day, though, and you do get used to it eventually.

Thanks for your help! My husband will actually be working in Minden and we couldn't find anything in that area, so we thought Bossier City would be the place to go. We're only going to be there around a year, so we would definitely buy a house otherwise, and we're coming from an Army post so we're definitely used to the noise surrounding a base. Your help is just what I wanted, we don't want to rent a poorly constructed or ugly place.

Last question, you said the area around the base is a nicer older neighborhood. I'm just wondering if it's anything like most army posts where right around the gates are strip clubs, pawn shops and pay day advance places are.

I really appreciate you're advice!

[SBCmetroguy]

Originally Posted by Khartley

Thanks for your help! My husband will actually be working in Minden and we couldn't find anything in that area, so we thought Bossier City would be the place to go. We're only going to be there around a year, so we would definitely buy a house otherwise, and we're coming from an Army post so we're definitely used to the noise surrounding a base. Your help is just what I wanted, we don't want to rent a poorly constructed or ugly place.

Last question, you said the area around the base is a nicer older neighborhood. I'm just wondering if it's anything like most army posts where right around the gates are strip clubs, pawn shops and pay day advance places are.

I really appreciate you're advice!

That's even better! I live halfway between Bossier City and Minden. My commute to Shreveport every day (about 25 miles) is a nightmare... but that's because the majority of the traffic at rush hour is headed toward Shreveport. If your husband is heading into Minden every day, he'll be going in the direction with less traffic... what a commute! It'll be just fine for him. He'll likely pass me on a daily basis and I'll be in that long, congested line of traffic fighting to pass people. He, on the other hand, should be cruising along very swiftly with little to no problems except for the occasional road construction.

Also the Williamsburg Apartments are very close to I-20, so getting on/off I-20 will be fairly simple.

You might also want to check into Stockwell Landing, which are a few miles east of Williamsburg, and within view of I-20 and I-220. They might be more expensive, though... but worth a look at least!! A lot of movie production crews has been living in those apartments when the industry first came here. Most of those people now own homes here, though, so getting an apartment there might not be as difficult.

To answer your question about strip clubs and such: no. There are neighborhoods outside the North Gate of Barksdale. Down the road a good distance is Highway 80, former home of the once-infamous "Bossier Strip" where people such as Johnny Cash, Elvis, etc all mingled and visited bars and strip clubs on a nightly basis. That is now basically a rundown stretch of road that still has some old motels, bars, and strip clubs... but it wouldn't be in your neighborhood.

The thing to consider is that this is Barksdale Air Force Base, which isn't at all like an Army Fort that has all the bars and such outside their gates. Barksdale is an extremely nice facility and I urge you to seek out tours of the base. If you're able to tour the base you will be extremely impressed by the French architecture and the well-manicured grounds. Barksdale is about as large as Bossier City and is basically a self-contained city. It has its own golf course, bowling alley, fitness center, fast food, gas station, grocery facility, etc. Not to forget the museum I mentioned which has about a 1-mile long or 1/2-mile long display of vintage and modern aircraft that you can walk right up to and view. They even have an SR-71 Stealth Bomber on display at the museum.

[Khartley]

Originally Posted by SBCmetroguy

That's even better! I live halfway between Bossier City and Minden. My commute to Shreveport every day (about 25 miles) is a nightmare... but that's because the majority of the traffic at rush hour is headed toward Shreveport. If your husband is heading into Minden every day, he'll be going in the direction with less traffic... what a commute! It'll be just fine for him. He'll likely pass me on a daily basis and I'll be in that long, congested line of traffic fighting to pass people. He, on the other hand, should be cruising along very swiftly with little to no problems except for the occasional road construction.

Also the Williamsburg Apartments are very close to I-20, so getting on/off I-20 will be fairly simple.

You might also want to check into Stockwell Landing, which are a few miles east of Williamsburg, and within view of I-20 and I-220. They might be more expensive, though... but worth a look at least!! A lot of movie production crews has been living in those apartments when the industry first came here. Most of those people now own homes here, though, so getting an apartment there might not be as difficult.

To answer your question about strip clubs and such: no. There are neighborhoods outside the North Gate of Barksdale. Down the road a good distance is Highway 80, former home of the once-infamous "Bossier Strip" where people such as Johnny Cash, Elvis, etc all mingled and visited bars and strip clubs on a nightly basis. That is now basically a rundown stretch of road that still has some old motels, bars, and strip clubs... but it wouldn't be in your neighborhood.

The thing to consider is that this is Barksdale Air Force Base, which isn't at all like an Army Fort that has all the bars and such outside their gates. Barksdale is an extremely nice facility and I urge you to seek out tours of the base. If you're able to tour the base you will be extremely impressed by the French architecture and the well-manicured grounds. Barksdale is about as large as Bossier City and is basically a self-contained city. It has its own golf course, bowling alley, fitness center, fast food, gas station, grocery facility, etc. Not to forget the museum I mentioned which has about a 1-mile long or 1/2-mile long display of vintage and modern aircraft that you can walk right up to and view. They even have an SR-71 Stealth Bomber on display at the museum.

Thank you so much. I feel a lot better about this move already! We did look into Stockwell Landing, because they looked fabulous, but we have a Lab and unfortunately he is a little outside their 20lb weight limit on pets

[hindsight2020]

It's been a while since I last checked in but it's good to see TONS of great info here since I started the thread.

I am about 2 months away from relocating and for now it seems I'll be renting until I settle down and get my finances ready for home ownership. I am trying to stay relatively close to base and so far I've been able to figure the apartments in the Bossier side tend to be the way to go.

Anybody care to expand on Chaparral Apts and Northgate square Apts? They both seem to have excellent reviews here and on other sites and are close enough to base to make it really convenient. Also the price range for 2 beds is within my budget. There are no pictures of the interiors, which is really the telling clue of an apartments quality. Anybody care to expand on these?Places on Airline drive like Tallow Wood seem real nice but their price range limits me to a one-bedroom.

Another more general question, my g/f will be relocating here at some point and she's in the landscape design field. Anybody know who are the bigger players in town for this type of work? I figure the casinos may have some larger firms design and/or maintain their exteriorscape. And with all the residential and retail construction going on in S-BC I figure there have to be several firms holding good work in the area. Anybody know of the bigger names for her to start sending the good ol'resume?

Again, thanks for all the info so far, this site has been great intel on the area. I am very excited to make S-BC home for the foreseeable future, can't wait to go back to some southern weather and pace of life, not to mention cost of living. Oklahoma sucks!

[deemack]

My condolences on your move to Shreveport. Hopefully, however, you will be able to discover the few pockets of joy that exist there that will make your time tolerable, and perhaps even enjoyable.

I have wanted to write my following words for some time now, and I'm compelled to do so now.

Moderator cut: personal - off topic I'm a Shreveport native who never wanted to leave my hometown. I loved it and worked hard to make it better.

Thank God I woke up. I'm not sure if it was the Hightower Administration or Hurricane Katrina that finally made me realize that sometimes one person just CAN'T make a difference. I gave up, and I'm happy I did. The grass is VERY MUCH greener on the other side.

Anyone out there thinking of LEAVING Shreveport? Do it! The sooner, the better.

Here are some things I'd like to address:

1. Shreveport's crime rate is absolutely unacceptable. Don't compare Shreveport to other Louisiana cities -- they're all bad. It's shocking that per capita, Shreveport's crime rate rivals the nation's largest cities, like Dallas and Detroit. Per capita, it's safer to live in New York City. Look it up for yourself. I did.

2. Crime is a problem everywhere? No, not really. Just everywhere in Shreveport. And maybe everywhere in Louisiana. I now live in a city of 70,000that actually has more amenities than Shreveport and practically no crime. Last week, our community newspaper reported that a drugstore had two Viagra tablets stolen at a cost of app. $37. That and one or two DUIs are MAJOR crimes here.

3. When I return to Shreveport to visit my family, I'm always shocked at how dirty and destitute the city seems. I wonder, was it always like that, or do I just expect much more modern, cleaner surroundings since I've moved away? Nope. It's worse. There certainly were no homeless people wandering around my middle-class neighborhood when I grew up there, as there are now.

4. Shreveport's politicians are all self-serving and worthless. Other cities throughout the U.S. pass and enforce laws to improve the safety of their citizens and reduce the number of vacant buildings around town. Shreveport never progresses. The city only continues to deteriorate. How many members of the city council have criminal records these days?

5. East Shreveport has become more tolerable the past three years with the introduction of new restaurants and shops. But it is only a small oasis in a sea of sewage. The same shops and restaurants, plus more, can be found in any other mid-size and larger cities out-of-state. And, as that area of town grows, so does the crime.

6. When you move away from Shreveport, you find out that the quality of life you were happy to tolerate in Louisiana just isn't that great. Actually, it's pretty substandard. Wages are low, and the cost of living is high compared to other communities outside Lousiana. You never feel safe, and the city water tastes really bad.

I could write a book about everything that is wrong with Shreveport, and someday, I may.

Moderator cut: offensive remarks

[SBCmetroguy]

Since I took my last post in the wrong direction, let me just come back to this topic and say what I should have said before.

Everyone has their own opinions about Shreveport-Bossier... some (such as myself) love it and hope we live here forever, but others will naturally hate it.

Shreveport actually is the third-largest city in the state and has the third-highest crime rate. That makes perfect sense. Name any city Shreveport's size or larger that doesn't have a high crime rate... sure you can do so, but there are very few.

The world isn't a perfect place, but to some of us (even those of us who have traveled all over the United States as well as abroad) think this is a great place to be. It's undoubtedly the best time to be here.

With more hotels planned for the riverfront, including yet another highrise, obviously thousands and thousands of visitors tend to agree that this is a great place to be and a great time to be here!

And FYI I don't work in the tourism industry. I work in the home design industry. I'm someone who was born and raised here, and having been all over, still prefers to live here.

Shreveport, like any other city, is what you make it. If you know how to live a successful life, you will be successful here.

[Gary and Jan Buffey]

Originally Posted by hindsight2020

Hi,

I will be moving to the Bossier City/Shreveport area in about a year or so for my job (Air Force Reserve) and I was wondering if anybody in the know would give me some feedback regarding the nicer areas of Shreveport I should look into for housing, shopping, etc, once I get settled. The opinions I have received from people so far range from the usual "don't live there" to "crime is so high" etc etc. One person in particular decided to move to NW Oklahoma (where I'm currently stationed for training) instead of settling in Bossier City. He admits this was in the early 90s, citing racial violence and high crime rate as the major reason for his decision. I took his perspective with a grain of salt, but being stuck here in NW OK for a couple months now I can tell you crime can't be THAT bad in Shreveport to make this dustfield a better choice to live! The downtown Shreveport area looks like the Vegas Strip compared to NW OK if that says anything. But I digress.

Bearing that in mind, I don't really have a choice in the matter, I have to live in Shreveport/Bossier for a while, so I'm trying to see if I can get more specific advice on how to maximize my experience. I have also asked several members of my unit and they seemed happy with Shreveport; I'm sure they live in nice areas (didn't want to ask specifics as I was still interviewing for the job back then).

What are the names of good neighborhoods to look into in Shreveport/Bossier? What neighborhoods to avoid?

I saw a cluster of decent shopping by E. Kings Highway, that's about the nicest I saw in my short time out-processing out of Barksdale for training. Also, the area around Barksdale is in rough shape, as well as an area in the north side coming from Texarkana; I hope Shreveport as a whole is not like that or I'm in bad shape myself LOL. Also saw Cross Lake, as I was driving off to training, seems like a nice place for boating and such.

Anyways, any heads-up on where to find nice areas in Shreveport would be appreciated; online searches for homes in the area result in fairly nice properties and reasonable price (love southern cost-of-living!!!!) but I can't quite put names with places as far as neighborhoods and such. Any help would be appreciated.

The best place in SHreveport to live is Colonial Heights, the homes are very nice, you can walk in our subdivision and not havw to lock down everything you own, we all watch out for each other's property, have great neighborhood watch, keep tp our selves Gals work in the yards and shar eflowers recipes and kids, guys all make suer everyone's vehicle is running right and we all REFUSE to us ethe local Garbage pick up because the are all so sloppy and messy, we use each others trailers to haul all the trash off to the compactor, have our own water wells, cajun aire systems no city maintenance, it squiet and we al are good friends with our Deputies that watches over our homes very closely while we are on vacations, hit I- 220 and you would be at the East Gate in no time, Interstate all the way into Bossier. BAFB, We aer just west of the CAddo Sheriff adn Police Accademy and hardly anyone knows we are even back here, it so peaceful and quiet, the most commotion you wil haev is occasionaly an ambulane comes intoour Area. We do not have to deal with all the City garbage and we are still only approx, 2 miles from all the shopping we can use. Bo gangs No robberies no drive bys, just plain old good peace and quiet with good neighbors that are nor meddlers but there if you need them, we cook for each other when one of us is sick or needs us, we work for and with each other always so friendly and esy to either be by yourself or have company which ever you like best. We walk our pups and share so much, no body can say antgjing about our yards being unkept or messy, no ditchefull of trash, super nice houses and all of us are "friends" males a big difference, when looking for a place to live in comfort and security.City wil not even bother to comeout if there is emergencies, ,Sherif Dept out here you can always depend on 100%. THEY stay the same and they know everyone of us,there is only one way in and out of here thats why we have no crimes and no problems out here.We are 8 miles from the Texas line and rigth at I-20 also. There is NOTHING missing from our little subdivision, except "bad things" and we all love that .Check it ou there before you take expensive. drug areas, apartments and you have a choice you dont have to have but one utility out here that is elecricity.Not ver ymany places in Shreveport/Bossier anywhere near this peace an comfort out here/Check it out first you wont have to fool with teh rest of the dangers in this Little Las Vegas.

[TurboD]

I would like to know a little more about Colonial Heights. My wife and I are new to Shreveport and are currently renting an apartment in the 3132/W70th St area.
It sounds so good with your post. Where exactly is it located? I would like to ride out and have a look see. I am writing tonight from Denver, but will be back in Shreveport tomorrow night. So any info will be appreciated.

Thanks Don

[SBCmetroguy]

Never heard of Colonial Heights, so it must be a well-hidden treasure.