Some of you guys make me sad -- But Lets talk about Bowie (Columbia: real estate, crime)

[mcmartian]

it's good to see this post. I thought that the dc area was completely unaffordable for housing. But last night I noticed Bowie and have been wondering if it's too good to be true.

I'm seing listings of 2,000 sq ft, 2 car garages, .25 acres, 4 bedrooms, that don't appear to be fixer upper's for 350,000 to 400,000 in bowie. Although that's still uncomfortably high of a price for our family unless our current house (same stats as above but in less expensive area of the country), sells for a heck of alot more than we think it will.

I've seen crime stats on bowie that suggest that it's very safe, and also ones that suggest that center city Philadelphia or NYC are safer. So I don't know what to think though.

[mekka]

Prince George's County, MD - Police Department : Agree Instructions)

I religiously searched this link for addresses I was interested in. It gives you a quarterly snapshot of crime in the area so one could conceivably multiply that by four to get a glipse of annual crime. Also I searched the sex offender registry.

Like I said; Based on my income, I know that my first home will certainly be a townhome unless I luck up on a 'bitter divorce' estate sale where I can get a single family home for $1.00 ( a girl can still dream right?) But ultimately I have a good feeling about Bowie. I am more or less concerned about the crime in my immediate neighborhood and surrounding neighborhood. Not as concerned about the level of crime in every corner of the city.

[Dingler]

South Bowie is newer and mostly African American. North Bowie was developed in the 1960s and has a few white holdouts but an increasing Black population.

[mcmartian]

As long as my neighbors are nice, I don't care what ethnic background they are. And nice neighbors is a chance you take everywhere. You won't know how well you get along with the neighbors for better or worse until you're in the house awhile.

I've always lived in mostly caucasian areas and am caucasian. but I don't see ethnicity as telling me much about an area. although my view is probably a minority viewpoint.

[mekka]

I am interested in a diverse and safe neighborhood; that's what I came from. So the ethnicity of my neighbor isn't an issue I have; But as far as events; activities; schools and socially I prefer not to always be the only black family.

I didn't think Bowie was majority black anyway.

[RFMD]

Bowie remains an upper middle class community. It has changed with some degree of white flight. African Americans who have migrated there also want the best for their families-good schools low crime etc. Bowie has actually improved regarding retail options with the Bowie Town Center and the revitalization of the malls on 450. Crime in Bowie seems to be primarily teenage stuff. The Fairwood community, a new master planned very large development, is very upscale and one of the new developments in the area. The area is becoming increasingly wealthy with many other new development taking place. The prices of the older homes on the north side will only increase and as far as I 'am concerned is excellent value for the DC metropolitan area.

[Dingler]

South Bowie is not diverse. It is all one race basically.

[RFMD]

Originally Posted by mekka

I am interested in a diverse and safe neighborhood; that's what I came from. So the ethnicity of my neighbor isn't an issue I have; But as far as events; activities; schools and socially I prefer not to always be the only black family.

I didn't think Bowie was majority black anyway.

I don't have the statistics however if I were to guess it is probably 55/45 black/white. 15 years ago I would say the number was likely 20/80 black/white

You will be hard pressed to find a community with a stable 50/50 diversity. If one or two blacks move in a predominantly white wealthy community it is okay however as the numbers increase whites migrate despite the fact that the Black families want the same as the white family. As long as you are one of the few blacks in a community and trying to assimilate into their community then things are fine.

[RFMD]

Originally Posted by maat

Some web servers, PGC server being one of them, will not recognize a URL that does not contain "www." You had it in the first link, but not the second.

Executive PressReleases

I agree with you about Capitol Heights. If Capitol Heights was in DC it would be hyped as a hip transitional neighborhood for young singles or couples without children. I also agree that creating new homewners is key and the county is putting a lot of effort into that. Getting as many people as possible out of the gazillion garden apartments that are just outside the DC line and into the affordable housing that surrounds them. The project in Suitland is scheduled to start later this month. I think I'll be there to watch the bulldozers take down that first building at the Suitland Manor apartments. About 50 families who lived at Suitland Manor became first time homeowners.

Thanks Maat! The next time I will paste the URL by left clicking in the link dialogue box. Hopefully this will work.

They are building town houses in Capital Heights starting at $400,000-New townhome development coming to Central Avenue
This will help but you are right the clustered apartments which are breeding grounds for crime are the real issues. They need to be upgraded and turned into affordable homes which people can purchase.

How do you think the Suitland project will go? I heard of a large project on route 4 I believe called Rosewood. It is suppose to redevelop the route 4 corridor heading into DC. Have you heard of this?

[dorado0359]

Have you considered Greenbelt, Maryland near Goddard Space Center. I do not know too much about the housing cost for the community, but I have driven through there on a number of occassions and have found it to be quite nice; and convenient. It's 5 minutes off of both I 95 as well as 495.