What's to hate about Brown Deer,WI (Milwaukee, Racine: section 8, for sale)

[ffknight918]

Originally Posted by Softtail_Honey

No, Brown Deer isn't "dangerous" but in the last 6 months 2 teens stormed a house and shot a teenager and a man was going to his car early in the morning and was beat up for no apparent reason. Last summer they put "clubs" on the hoops at the middle school because there was fighting and there have also been gun shots fired. Last summer there was a shooting at Brown Deer Park(albeit that is a Milwaukee Park System Park) not to mention things out of control(fighting and stepped up police presence during sporting events).I've lived in Brown Deer for the last 8 years and it IS changing. Diverse, maybe. In our school system the "minority" is the "majority". 48 percent of the students are white and the other 53 are back, hispanic and asian. Next year we are going to pull our 8 year old out of Brown Deer schools and send him to either a parochial school or to Elmbrook School District on the School Choice Option. Not to mention the TAXES................almost 4 grand for a 1000 sq foot house with only 1 bathroom. And yes, the houses are well kept....I'll agree. Norman Rockwell? Not IMO. We live on the east side of the HS

I was at Brown Deer High School last night(been there quite a few times) to scout their basketball team. You go through a metal detector just to get in. You could definitely tell that white is the minority now, at least at the game. I stopped at a Taco Bell before the game to get some food. There were about 20 people in there and I was the only white person. It doesn't bother me at all, but others are different. It isn't the place that it used to be.

[Softtail_Honey]

Originally Posted by ffknight918

I was at Brown Deer High School last night(been there quite a few times) to scout their basketball team. You go through a metal detector just to get in. You could definitely tell that white is the minority now, at least at the game. I stopped at a Taco Bell before the game to get some food. There were about 20 people in there and I was the only white person. It doesn't bother me at all, but others are different. It isn't the place that it used to be.

Was that the new Taco Bell by the old Northridge that you were at? We've been to that one and its only ever been pretty much just us and no one else. Must be the time of day.........? My biggest concern about all this is the well being of my children and their education and what will perhaps come of Brown Deer in future years.Our youngest is 8 so that would mean 9 more years in the school system. If BD changes in the next 9 years similar to what has happened in the last 8 it just will not be a place we will feel safe in any more. We will eventually move out of Brown Deer but not sure when that will happen!

[ffknight918]

Originally Posted by Softtail_Honey

Was that the new Taco Bell by the old Northridge that you were at? We've been to that one and its only ever been pretty much just us and no one else. Must be the time of day.........? My biggest concern about all this is the well being of my children and their education and what will perhaps come of Brown Deer in future years.Our youngest is 8 so that would mean 9 more years in the school system. If BD changes in the next 9 years similar to what has happened in the last 8 it just will not be a place we will feel safe in any more. We will eventually move out of Brown Deer but not sure when that will happen!

Not sure. I'm only 20 and I'm from the southern suburbs of Milwaukee so I'm not really familiar with that area. I got off on Good Hope Rd, went past a Taco Bell, kept going past 60th street where BDHS is, then got to another Taco Bell. So my guess is some street in about the 40s. Might not even be Brown Deer?

[Softtail_Honey]

Originally Posted by ffknight918

Not sure. I'm only 20 and I'm from the southern suburbs of Milwaukee so I'm not really familiar with that area. I got off on Good Hope Rd, went past a Taco Bell, kept going past 60th street where BDHS is, then got to another Taco Bell. So my guess is some street in about the 40s. Might not even be Brown Deer?

Uh, yeah. That would be Teutonia and Good Hope Rd. That sounds typical then.

[RNye]

Brown Deer has high points and low points. It is true that Brown Deer has a more blue-collar reputation then it nearby neighbors. However, Brown Deer has beautiful neighborhoods especially the one's that border up against River Hills, Mequon and Glendale. The rest of the village is fine but has smaller homes and their is nothing wrong with that. Nevertheless, an average person will not notice a difference between Brown Deer and Glendale at first glance because they are both solid middle class Milwaukee suburbs with an older housing stock. Also, Brown Deer and Glendale both represent a somewhat diverse population among Milwaukee's Northshore communities even though they are both predominately white. They are the most affordable suburbs on the Northshore, Brown Deer is slightly more affordable which I believe contributes to the areas diversity. Yet, I believe Brown Deer gets a bad rap because their schools are not as prestigious as the rest of the school districts on the Northshore. Glendale and River Hills share a school district and River Hills is excessively rich so the schools are looked high upon. Mequon has top-notch schools, Whitefish Bay has top-notch schools, Shorewood has top-notch schools, Fox Point has top-notch schools, and Bayside as top-notch schools. As well as Cedarburg schools, and Grafton schools. Now, Brown Deer doesn't have bad schools by any standard. They are college-prep and send the majority of their students to reputable colleges in Wisconsin and around the country. I think the so called "ghetto" perspective comes from Brown Deer's welcoming approach to having a large minority student body, and Brown Deer's geographic borders. The district participates in the Chapter 220 program just like the rest of the Northshore school districts. However, since Brown Deer has a sizable African American middle class their schools have become a racial and economic melting pot. My best advice to Brown Deer is to focus on getting their school district to the same caliber as the rest of the Northshore school districts so residents can feel like the are getting the most for their expensive Milwaukee County tax dollar. Brown Deer should be know for excellent schools just like to rest of the Northshore. I am totally confident that this is possible because their is significant wealth in Brown Deer, just check out Donges Woods Subdivision on County Line Road. Those are some very nice homes. I also researched some information on Brown Deer School District's total spending per pupil and it was $9,646 per student. By comparison, the Whitefish Bay School District spent $9,678 per student. So, obviously the money is available within the district to improve the schools. Just look at Rufus King High School located very close to the Northshore. It is an MPS high school with a minority-majority student body and is ranked as one of the best schools in the state of Wisconsin and made the Newsweek ranking as top 1000 in the nation coming in at 215 in 2005. If Brown Deer improves the reputation of their schools the suburb will keep its charm and residents. People are just frustrated with paying high taxes and not getting top-notch results for their children like the other Northshore communities. Lastly, crime is not really an issue in Brown Deer. Brown Deer has not had a murder in more than a decade and the shooting that occurred back in November was obviously an isolated incident because that was the only shooting I can remember in my life. Their was also a shooting/robbery in Glendale in November. Similarly, this is the only Glendale shooting I can remember in my life. Brown Deer, Glendale, Shorewood, and Mequon all share Milwaukee borders, so I do not understand why people come to the conclusion that Brown Deer is so “ghetto” and Glendale, Shorewood and Mequon are not. As far as I am concerned, the Village of Brown Deer proper is a convenient, affordable, diverse, safe, clean, and quiet village with respectable residents who care about their homes and their children’s futures. Let’s face it, nobody is getting gunned down in Brown Deer! Maybe it could all be a race thing? However, Brown Deer is only 12% black according to City-Data 2000 census reports. It’s probably closer to 20%in 2008. Brown Deer’s ethic diversity is unique and should be used to represent pride in the community because it is so rare. I personally know doctors, lawyers, teachers, engineers, police officers, family members, and other hardworking people who call this village home. I'm an Urban Studies and Planning major so I study housing patterns in the metro area. Also, all the Northshore communities share a Fire Department, so why hate on Brown Deer.

Some Links To Different Information/Sources:

JS Online: Donges Woods shows Brown Deer’s changing face
JS Online: Suburban district gets an A for diversity
JS Online: Foul called on locked hoops
JS Online: Minorities moving from city, but slowly
JS Online: A generation ago, bias was written on deed
http://www.browndeerwi.org/pdf/Visio...%20Profile.pdf
Graphic: Wisconsin 2000 census

[pirate_lafitte]

Originally Posted by RNye

Brown Deer has high points and low points. It is true that Brown Deer has a more blue-collar reputation then it nearby neighbors. However, Brown Deer has beautiful neighborhoods especially the one's that border up against River Hills, Mequon and Glendale. The rest of the village is fine but has smaller homes and their is nothing wrong with that. Nevertheless, an average person will not notice a difference between Brown Deer and Glendale at first glance because they are both solid middle class Milwaukee suburbs with an older housing stock. Also, Brown Deer and Glendale both represent a somewhat diverse population among Milwaukee's Northshore communities even though they are both predominately white. They are the most affordable suburbs on the Northshore, Brown Deer is slightly more affordable which I believe contributes to the areas diversity. Yet, I believe Brown Deer gets a bad rap because their schools are not as prestigious as the rest of the school districts on the Northshore. Glendale and River Hills share a school district and River Hills is excessively rich so the schools are looked high upon. Mequon has top-notch schools, Whitefish Bay has top-notch schools, Shorewood has top-notch schools, Fox Point has top-notch schools, and Bayside as top-notch schools. As well as Cedarburg schools, and Grafton schools. Now, Brown Deer doesn't have bad schools by any standard. They are college-prep and send the majority of their students to reputable colleges in Wisconsin and around the country. I think the so called "ghetto" perspective comes from Brown Deer's welcoming approach to having a large minority student body, and Brown Deer's geographic borders. The district participates in the Chapter 220 program just like the rest of the Northshore school districts. However, since Brown Deer has a sizable African American middle class their schools have become a racial and economic melting pot. My best advice to Brown Deer is to focus on getting their school district to the same caliber as the rest of the Northshore school districts so residents can feel like the are getting the most for their expensive Milwaukee County tax dollar. Brown Deer should be know for excellent schools just like to rest of the Northshore. I am totally confident that this is possible because their is significant wealth in Brown Deer, just check out Donges Woods Subdivision on County Line Road. Those are some very nice homes. I also researched some information on Brown Deer School District's total spending per pupil and it was $9,646 per student. By comparison, the Whitefish Bay School District spent $9,678 per student. So, obviously the money is available within the district to improve the schools. Just look at Rufus King High School located very close to the Northshore. It is an MPS high school with a minority-majority student body and is ranked as one of the best schools in the state of Wisconsin and made the Newsweek ranking as top 1000 in the nation coming in at 215 in 2005. If Brown Deer improves the reputation of their schools the suburb will keep its charm and residents. People are just frustrated with paying high taxes and not getting top-notch results for their children like the other Northshore communities. Lastly, crime is not really an issue in Brown Deer. Brown Deer has not had a murder in more than a decade and the shooting that occurred back in November was obviously an isolated incident because that was the only shooting I can remember in my life. Their was also a shooting/robbery in Glendale in November. Similarly, this is the only Glendale shooting I can remember in my life. Brown Deer, Glendale, Shorewood, and Mequon all share Milwaukee borders, so I do not understand why people come to the conclusion that Brown Deer is so “ghetto” and Glendale, Shorewood and Mequon are not. As far as I am concerned, the Village of Brown Deer proper is a convenient, affordable, diverse, safe, clean, and quiet village with respectable residents who care about their homes and their children’s futures. Let’s face it, nobody is getting gunned down in Brown Deer! Maybe it could all be a race thing? However, Brown Deer is only 12% black according to City-Data 2000 census reports. It’s probably closer to 20%in 2008. Brown Deer’s ethic diversity is unique and should be used to represent pride in the community because it is so rare. I personally know doctors, lawyers, teachers, engineers, police officers, family members, and other hardworking people who call this village home. I'm an Urban Studies and Planning major so I study housing patterns in the metro area. Also, all the Northshore communities share a Fire Department, so why hate on Brown Deer.

Some Links To Different Information/Sources:

JS Online: Donges Woods shows Brown Deer’s changing face
JS Online: Suburban district gets an A for diversity
JS Online: Foul called on locked hoops
JS Online: Minorities moving from city, but slowly
JS Online: A generation ago, bias was written on deed
http://www.browndeerwi.org/pdf/Visio...%20Profile.pdf
Graphic: Wisconsin 2000 census

I figured as much. Why don't some people just admit they don't want to live around minorities(rich or poor)? And the phrase "PC" is getting old.

I knew Brown Deer was a good places to live in many aspects.

[metro223]

Originally Posted by pirate_lafitte

I figured as much. Why don't some people just admit they don't want to live around minorities(rich or poor)? And the phrase "PC" is getting old.

I knew Brown Deer was a good places to live in many aspects.

Usually it's poor minority areas people don't want to be near, and personally, I'd be more than willing to admit that for you. Historically and statistically poor minorities live in high crime areas, so there's nothing wrong with not wanting to raise a family around that. You need to get a clue. Quit pulling out the "I'm a victim" card.

[arimor]

hmm the only suburb i heard people bad mouth alot was S MILWAUKEE mainly its drivers..............

[pirate_lafitte]

Originally Posted by metro223

Usually it's poor minority areas people don't want to be near, and personally, I'd be more than willing to admit that for you. Historically and statistically poor minorities live in high crime areas, so there's nothing wrong with not wanting to raise a family around that. You need to get a clue. Quit pulling out the "I'm a victim" card.

What poor minorities in Brown Deer?

[JustT&Me]

I've been looking to relocate and thus found CD and have been perusing it's various threads. I had been checking every now & then re: WI and found this thread that looked interesting to read, and having done so, here I am with my two cents.

First, I have lived in and around this area for many years. I have lived all of W., far W., S., SW., N. and further N. of downtown. I have also rented properties in the Northshore area, and I for one, would not feel comfortable or safe living in Brown Deer, and there are several reasons why:

Yes - a portion of this perspective is the difference in percentages of minorities, and not bc of the minorities themselves but of the difference I personally have seen and experienced when various crimes have been committed - primarily by those of minority background. That is not a slur or a racial comment - it is simply a fact. In fact, I was just on another post (but unfortunately lost it right before I pushed the send button) defending just the opposite in another part of the country.

For whomever stated there has only been one shooting in the past decade, I would venture to guess that this person is quite young. There have been many incidences of crime, including shootings, in the Brown Deer area. *That* is probably your # 1 reason why ppl are saying that it is "not safe", "dangerous," or that they would not live there. I would not go as far as to say that it is "dangerous," bc I personally have shopped there and felt "safe enough" (during the day) to go, but I can tell you that I was followed to my car on more than one occasion and upon stopping and turning around to go back into the store, the person stopped dead in their tracks and left. There were many incidences several years back that even caused Northridge Mall to either close down temporarily or to change hands with too many concerns over the crimes and concerns of safety in and around the mall.

Just as one would state a safety issue on one side of the River or other downtown, there are territorial boundaries between communities lying within Mke county, the Northshore area, Northern counties, and South of Milwaukee as well. As urban areas grow into the suburban areas, those who can afford to move from those urban areas move with the flow. Over time, those previously upper class suburban areas become infiltrated (simply meaning mixed) with those attributes from the urban areas, and those in the neighborhoods "before they changed" look for areas "out in the country" where they feel "safer". It is the same in many other places and not isolated to this area.

Then over more time, the previously urban areas become somewhat abandoned, and within more time, a mix of local gov't, developers, and "new blood" come to claim and either "restore" or "renovate" those areas - or a mixture of both - intro trendy hot spots which become coveted, upscale, high-end, high-priced places where ppl want to live, work, and shop. Those ppl are generally visionaries (or money-mongers), and those who stayed in those communities either are pushed further out as the places they are living become "condemned" to new developments, or find themselves in the middle of it all with higher property taxes as a result. They either pay up, or are priced-out (sadly enough).

It's the cycle of life in many given cities, and this area is not immune. I-94 & 1-43 are two of the territorial boundaries in and around Mke Cty which help define "location, location, location" when it comes to buying property. I have not recently checked property taxes in these areas, but WI Property Taxes are high to begin, so it wouldn't matter a whole hill of beans compared to say, moving to a different state where Property Taxes themselves are much lower, as to where they might choose to live if they are initially simply comparing states (and if taxes are in their pros/cons list when considering a move).

If you compare census data between the various SE WI counties, you will find a definite racial difference. This does not mean that one area is necessarily better or worse than another, they are simply facts, and facts follow trends which curtail perspectives. There are areas of Mke where I personally feel absolutely unsafe, and yet - when I drive through those areas, I see ppl living walking down the streets, children playing, elderly ppl sitting on benches, etc. "Safety" depends in part on stats, in part on perspective by proximity, and in part on one's experiences in life. I have not lived here all my life, so what information I have to offer is based on what I have seen here in over a decade of living in this part of the state.

There are places others are this board might feel uncomfortable where I might feel completely at-home, and vice versa. That is one of the great things about living in the U.S. (at least for now!)... is the ability for one to carve out their niche and to find that place which they can call "Home" and enjoy it. Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness...

It's great that several on this thread love Brown Deer as much as they do! If someone is going to live *anywhere*, I believe it is better for that someone to live in a place they enjoy and are "proud" to call "Home." However, based on what I have seen and experienced in over the last decade, Brown Deer, unfortunately for this thread's aims, is not one of them, so I would not want someone to come to this board and read almost alternating responses between a few ppl who do (like it and feel safe there) without hearing from at least a couple of ppl who do not.

Check multiple and varying perspectives before moving permanently to any unfamiliar location. It's much less expensive to rent and take some time to find a place you truly love, than to move and buy a place only to wish you hadn't left the place you called "Home" at all...

I will attempt to include a few links on another entry to support my opinions. However, bc I lost my other post doing that same thing, I will send this now not to risk losing this one as well!

And many happy findings to those of you who are searching... remember young Dorothy and the Classic of OZ... sometimes you have to leave a place to find... "There's no place like home."

Best of everything to each of you in your endeavors.