Moving to MKE: Are these neighborhoods safe?? Help! (Milwaukee, West Allis: how much, home)

[vemureaux]

Now I'm a little confused.

I thought I was choosing a decent part of town, but I now have someone telling me that they'd be concerned with some of the areas I was looking at in the first original post, so much so that they suggest I live outside of the Milwaukee city limits unless I had to.

The place I ended up choosing is in the East side neighborhood, near North & Oakland. Is this not a safe area for a young woman? Do I need to be afraid? I'm not new to city living (in fact Milwaukee may be the smallest city I've lived in yet) and do stay alert and use common sense. It seemed a bit much to say live outside of the city unless I have to, or is it a valid concern?

[EnjoyEP]

Originally Posted by vemureaux

The place I ended up choosing is in the East side neighborhood, near North & Oakland. Is this not a safe area for a young woman?

Very safe. No need to be concerned at all.

Sure, it is *urban* so stuff can happen once in a blue moon, but with your experience living in cities, this'll seem like a walk in the park.

Largely a young person / college student area, it is quite vibrant, hip, and alot going on. Restaurants and bars, etc.

You'll be FINE here. Good area. My wife and my first apartment oh, 8 or so years ago, after we got married was right in this area. I loved living there.

[quijote]

The places you mention in the first post are fine, and the North/Oakland area is ideal for a young person wanting to be near nightlife, etc.

[Hntr]

You're pretty close to the lake so that will help in the summer with AC needs.

[Milwaukee City]

I thought I was choosing a decent part of town, but I now have someone telling me that they'd be concerned with some of the areas I was looking at in the first original post, so much so that they suggest I live outside of the Milwaukee city limits unless I had to.

Beware of trolls and firestarters trust people who have been members for a while or have a strong rep, a lot of people here have agendas and instead of helping they don't help.

[vemureaux]

Originally Posted by Milwaukee City

Beware of trolls and firestarters trust people who have been members for a while or have a strong rep, a lot of people here have agendas and instead of helping they don't help.

Yeah, that was the gut feeling I got from the PM I received. The person was VERY new to the forum (not that that's a bad thing per se), and I didn't want to divulge any more information than I already had in my previous posts.

Thanks again for your help everyone. I'm once again reassured and looking forward to the move!

[tully]

Originally Posted by vemureaux

The place I ended up choosing is in the East side neighborhood, near North & Oakland. Is this not a safe area for a young woman? Do I need to be afraid?

That area is decent and college-y enough, the Beans and Barley is a local draw, and there are other interesting-looking businesses (which I haven't looked into..) Vibe stays good more or less, all the way up toward the Whole Foods/Oriental theater area. I'd still exercise some caution at night, there can be driftweed from parts west.

One FYI..
(and I hate to repeat myself - i just made an almost identical post on another Milw thread)
There is a bad pollutor in that neighborhood-- Wisconsin Paperboard on North Ave and the river (east bank). The odor can't really be ignored. As pollutants go, I don't think papermaking is overly harmful to human health. If odor bothers you, you'll need to move south of Brady (to around Knapp St), or North of around Webster. Sadly, you can't escape it moving due-east... odor carries to Lake (but diminishes somewhat over that distance).

Eastside odor won't hit you every day-- it's more like an every 3rd or 4th day thing. But I'd think it's worse than that, at that intersection.. I'm not there every day so I couldn't tell you for sure.

One note about WI Paperboard: UW-M has approved construction of a new dorm complex practically nextdoor. (I think they'll be breaking ground soon if they haven't already.) I suppose it's possible they'll lean on the city to do something about WP, assuming they care about their residents' quality of life. But that's not very bankable, and the city would likely argue it amongst themselves for years, and with the company for years more.

[vemureaux]

Hmmm... I visited the area two consecutive days and didn't detect any odor, but still good to know! I am a bit sensitive when it comes to smells. Hope it's not unbearable!

[EnjoyEP]

Originally Posted by vemureaux

Hmmm... I visited the area two consecutive days and didn't detect any odor, but still good to know! I am a bit sensitive when it comes to smells. Hope it's not unbearable!

It's not. Not by any stretch. In fact, I have lived in Milwaukee much of my life, lived in the North and Oakland area as mentioned previously, and have many friends / business colleagues in the area...and honestly...this is the first I really ever heard *anyone* make a big deal about it.

(I am not disputing what tully states in the least, or disputing that others maybe have pointed this out and possibly I have just missed discussion surrounding it)...but truly, I don't think this would even be a minor consideration in your day-to-day life if you are like the 99.9% of folks that live in that area.

This isn't like a major smelter plant or something in your backyard. I think you'll likely find it to be a complete non-issue. Great area!

[tully]

And therein is a demonstration of how human beings are capable of blocking out almost anything. Whether it be a beeping smoke detector, barking dog, or in-your-face pollution.

Combine it with status quo attitude ("hey if you don't like it, why live here?"), and you get those kinds of responses.

I have had to explain numerous times, to numerous out-of-town guests, what "that" odor is.

Walk by WI Paperboard sometime at night... while it is lit up, operating full-tilt, spewing smoke and steam out of every oriface. Post-apocolypic doesn't begin to describe it.

The only reason you haven't detected it is that either a) the wind hasn't been right, or b) they've been economically impacted, and are temporarily out of operation. I've been hearing about recycling programs around the country being shut down (for lack of purchasers of their recycled outputs), and I think that's a core part of WI Paperboard's business.