Concordia neighborhood?? (Milwaukee, Highland: spring break, for sale, rent)

[symboliq]

Hi all. Thanks to everyone who responded to my posts re single family homes in Milwaukee.

We're heading over to Milwaukee and then Iowa next week as it's my daughter's spring break, plus I have a 2nd interview scheduled there in Milwaukee. I'm planning on looking at some places in Bayview, Riverwest, and several high rises around Prospect area.

My question to you all...I currently own a Victorian and just love it. There are some gorgeous Victorians in the Concordia neighborhood from what I can see on the web, and priced more like the housing I'm used to here in eastern WA State. How is that neighborhood with regard to personal safety? Access to downtown amenities/festivals/cafes? It looks so charming and well taken care of in pics.

Thank you in advance!

[Milwaukee City]

The old houses in the area are just gorgeous however the area isn't the best. There are blocks that are fine and for the most part you would be left alone from the bad element. I wouldn't advise someone to live there before they lived here first. I know they are trying to fix up the area with the new SoHi (South of Highland.Ave) project going on. I would feel safe living there but I have lived in the city my whole life and I never had problems growing up in a "bad area"(S.20th n Becher.St). Maybe rent there first or take some time walking around at night and during the day and see how comfortable you feel.

[Milwaukee City]

I could see Avenues West, Concordia, Walker's Point being the next Brewers Hill. Bay View I just don't see it becoming uber-yuppie, more of an upscale riverwest if anything.

[rso092]

I work in this neighborhood. Personally, I would be fine living there. However, as Mil City said, you would probably want to check out the area first. If you really want to get a feel for the things you will be dealing with/seeing in the neighborhood, swing through at about 9PM on a warm spring/summer night. If you are comfortable with it, then you will be fine.

This area of the city has a fair amount of crime, and you would be surrounded by some very sketchy neighborhoods. The primary crimes in Concordia itself are property crime, although there was an armed robbery at a Walgreens a couple nights ago right near the area at 35th and Wisconsin.

In a nutshell, check out the area thoroughly. Depending on your comfort level with crime and a diverse population, you will either love the area or hate it.

Just one final note. If you are set on this area of the city, check out Valley Park. It is a small enclave right on the banks of the Menomonee River at the bottom of Miller Valley. Only 2 ways in really, and no bus lines run through the neighborhood. Very nice place, the homes are well kept, and there are a few for sale right now.

[Milwaukee City]

Just one final note. If you are set on this area of the city, check out Valley Park. It is a small enclave right on the banks of the Menomonee River at the bottom of Miller Valley. Only 2 ways in really, and no bus lines run through the neighborhood. Very nice place, the homes are well kept, and there are a few for sale right now.

This area is sometimes referred to as Piggsville, as many of the old Irish residents used to work at the tanneries in the valley. I would also recommend this area as well.

[Milwaukee Ronnie]

One note of caution about Pigsville. When I was house hunting back in '05 and '06, I noticed the houses there were really, really cheap. The appraisals and sales prices were far lower than surrounding neighborhoods.

I wondered why this could be, and then I remembered that Pigsville flooded back in the late 1990s. Several blocks of the neighborhood were cleared, a new park was developed complete with a new floodwall. So I don't think it's the same flood risk as it was in the past, but the fact that it did flood may have led to some damage of existing houses, hence the lower prices.

Aside from that, Pigsville has always struck me as a unique little neighborhood, centrally located to everything.

[Milwaukee Ronnie]

Originally Posted by Milwaukee City

This area is sometimes referred to as Piggsville, as many of the old Irish residents used to work at the tanneries in the valley.

The story I heard is that there was swine farm across the river from Pigsville back in the early 20th century. And I always heard the residents were Czech. The Irish settled in the more prosperous neighborhood just up the hill, Merril Park.

[Milwaukee City]

Originally Posted by Milwaukee Ronnie

The story I heard is that there was swine farm across the river from Pigsville back in the early 20th century. And I always heard the residents were Czech. The Irish settled in the more prosperous neighborhood just up the hill, Merril Park.

That's rights! I got the two areas mixed up.