Jamestown, New York (Buffalo, Saratoga Springs, Springs: living in, wealthy, suburb)

[ndou2]

Originally Posted by WILWRadio

You may want to look at the Dunkirk-Fredonia area. Fredonia is growing and the SUNY campus is rated as the best in the state, at least according to what I've read in recent years. Dunkirk is a bit dumpy but has potential. They are slowly rebuilding their lake front and I am seeing indications that new companies are moving into the area and new small business startups are on the horizon. People are friendly at best and cordial at worst. I felt pretty welcome here during all of my visits to the area.

Fredonia is a great place, and would easily be my top choice of all of the towns/cities in western NY. It's actually one of the few towns that has been gaining population as opposed to seeing mass flight. I went to college there but moved west because like most places in western NY, there aren't a lot of jobs, and quite honestly, being single and in my mid-20's, there's just not a lot to do. However it really is unique when compared to the rest of the area and has a sense of life that surrounding towns just don't. If it continues to grow and more opportunities spring up, I would honestly entertain a move back several years from now if I ever decide to want to settle down.

[badguykc]

Originally Posted by prius109

You hit it dead on. The kids around there really do get extremely bored, so they turn to drugs drugs drugs - and this is seriously no joke! Gorgeous county though, man i miss that aspect of it - plus all my memories are there, but even still, i could never go back, 95% negative outweighs the 5% positive.

And lo and behold...the drug problem is rapidly making its' way south to Warren. Warren will be another Jamestown within 5 years. Watch and see.

[badguykc]

Originally Posted by cityperson

I am thinking of visiting Jamestown, NY because I am a big I Love Lucy fan. Would you suggest going to the city at all for that? If so is it safe to stay in the a motel in the city? Anything else would be very helpful. Thanks.

If you can afford it, check out the Holiday Inn on West 4th Street. Downtown Jamestown is safe at all hours, although I personally wouldn't go exploring Jamestown's other neighborhoods at night.

Other places you can try are the motels in West Elllicott/Lakewood (a few miles from downtown J-town on Fairmount Avenue (NY 394). They might be a little more affordable. Hope this helps ya.

[cityperson]

Originally Posted by Aran

You would almost literally have to start a fight to get yourself into a bad situation in Jamestown. There's really not a lot of spontaneous violence, at least not in the "smoothed-over-but-still-falling-apart" section of 3rd street that I refer to unlovingly as Lucyville.

I'm sitting roughly three blocks from Lucille Ball's childhood home in Celeron (Not Jamestown, mind you.). I'll happily go take all the pictures of it you want before I leave town again. There's no good reason to come here from anywhere, unless you have business here. It's more hype than content.

Pragmaniac brought up the area schools.

The schools in Jamestown itself, I can't speak much for. But just outside the city is the Southwestern Central school district, where I attended (Class of '04). It gets referred to as the "Country Club on the Hill", and I suppose it pretty well earned that title. Where Jamestown is primarily the.. I don't want to say poor and destitute of the area, it's somewhat true. The yuppies all live in Lakewood and their precious Ashleighs and Taylors all attend Southwestern.

I'll gladly throw my vote to avoid the entire area into the ring. Once I graduated, I moved immediately south, to Pittsburgh. While it may not be the economic powerhouse of a city it once was, I'd rather be in the Pittsburgh area than here. (However I'm home on a break to visit family. I can't wait to go back 'home')

I would love to see some pictures to both cities if you wouldn't mind. Her home in Celeron and anything else in Celeron or Jamestown. Also is her home in Celeron easy to find?

[cityperson]

Originally Posted by badguykc

If you can afford it, check out the Holiday Inn on West 4th Street. Downtown Jamestown is safe at all hours, although I personally wouldn't go exploring Jamestown's other neighborhoods at night.

Other places you can try are the motels in West Elllicott/Lakewood (a few miles from downtown J-town on Fairmount Avenue (NY 394). They might be a little more affordable. Hope this helps ya.

It should help a little. Thanks for the information. It's not going to be anytiime very soon, but just toget some info beforehand is always better than not getting anything at all.

[NatreeRose]

I think pretty much everybody who's commented hit Jamestown pretty much on the nose. I grew up in Sinclairville, 10 miles from Jamestown but constantly commuted, worked, and went to school there. The employment SUCKS in this area: I have been searching for a serious full-time job for over 8 months now and have had no luck. Mostly just dead end paycheck-to-paycheck jobs. The people here are fairly miserable, with the exception being the inner-city art enthusiasts. We actually do have a good art community built up, with some extremely kind people. I am a local musician and have met some pretty incredible people here (on that note, the music scene is pretty cool too). But the city is actually pretty segregated, with a surprisingly large number of puerto ricans, people on welfare, single parents and a lot of people living well under the poverty level.

The school systems are actually pretty good, including the local community college we have here. Fredonia state isn't far, and it's an excellent school. Your husband shouldn't have a hard time finding a teaching job, either.

So needless to say, I and lots of other people have mixed feelings on the area, but you really just have to spend time here to catch the vibe and see if it's right for you. I personally am looking to get out of the area, but I am 23 with no college degree and a completely insatiable need to travel. I know I will end up back in this area as I always have, because it really isn't that bad of a place.

So, Definitely check out the art/music scene.

[BilboBaggins1]

Apparently you have no idea what is involved in the education of YOUR children. Teachers are not on any level paid like physicians and the benefit packages were negotiated years and years ago. Most teachers don't even care about the benefits, it's the rape and pillage of the benefit packagae that has them up in arms. Starting NYS teacher's salaries top out at about $42,000. Find any other professional who will work the hours, (don't even go near th "summer's off" subject) you must be joking. How many classrooms have you ever been in to see what actually is put into the art and science of teaching? It sounds like none. Don't forget the incessant questioning of your professional ability by people who have NO CLUE as to what they are talking about. Do you know that in every other country in the world teachers are revered because the the awesome responsibility that they have? Check your facts. It's not the teachers uninons and it is laughable for you to even suggest that teachers are paid like "doctors" What planet do you live on..Walk a mile in a teacher's boots before you spout your propaganda.

[Dragonchaser]

Bilbo,

I take it you are a teacher?

[reyndan]

I only have a bachelor's degree and just got a jog in town starting at 48,000 per year not bad in a town where the average house costs under 70,000.

[tboland101]

I am originally from Binghamton, NY (also in Southern Tier) and have been in Jamestown a couple of times. It is an area that is extremely pleasing to the senses. Its quite a beautiful area. However, I have never lived there and some of these people have much greater insight into the finer details of residency. If you do go there, I think you may be overcome with the beauty of the surrounding area and the huge lake. But apparently there is also a downside as eveidenced by the other contibutors to this site who have lived there. Personally, I know that the snow is bad in that area. Except for the snow, I think that I could live there quite happily. But...you will be living in NY which is strapped for money right now and the downstate Democrats are the worst enemy of residents of upstate NY, which includes the Southern Tier. The Democrats are in control and when that has been the case since I have been alive (56 yrs), all of upstate suffers financially.