neigborhood 4 toddler (Omaha, Papillion, Craig: military, budget, apartments)

[jesse--james]

While I agree that Papillion is nice place to raise a family, I wouldn't send someone who commutes to Creighton to live there. Driving on 84th Street from Papillion to the interstate will take this person longer than the interstate to Creighton portion of the commute. What I would suggest is perhaps west La-Vista or Millard near the 120th and Harrison interchange. If she is going to pick suburbia then the shortest distance to the interstate will give her the quickest commute. Pick a house on a cul-de-sac if possible.

[Redoem]

Thanks for this tip jesse--james!
I was told that the Millard area is also family friendly.

[Redoem]

So we have been looking for places to live and found a number of apartment communities in South Omaha (mainly in Ralston and LaVista, few in Papillion and Bellevue). The advertisements make them look very appealing (each of these communities typically have clubhouse, fitness room, swimming pool....) but I am getting a bit skeptical precisely because it looks too nice. Each community has over 150 units... I would say they may be crowded. Also the lease term may run for as short as 3 months, meaning that population changes very fast.
Is anybody familiar with this type of housing? I ask for your advice about this type of communities.

Thanks!

Redoem

[jesse--james]

If so then I'd stay away --- they are not the place to raise your toddler. High crime -- drug dealers -- etc..... There is a new apartment complex near 156 and 160th and center ( I drive by it every day)- it's a larger complex -- but it is newer -- and it only takes about 20 minutes to get dowtown. I'll get the name of it later today.

[Redoem]

Yes, some of the communities are located in/around Q street between S84th and S96th

Other complexes are more to the south, between Lambert Dr. and Cornhusker.

[ehenningsen]

84th-96th an Q full of crime????

That's news to me, that is actually a nice area where the Citadel and Wentworth apartments are, with okay shopping in the area, I'd say that it is an average area, definetely not high crime or with drugs, I lived there for a very long time and really haven't experienced that...

[Dave1215]

Originally Posted by jesse--james

If so then I'd stay away --- they are not the place to raise your toddler. High crime -- drug dealers -- etc..... There .

Where do you get that? That SW Omaha, Ralston, and LaVista are not high crime rate. Can you find some in some apartments around there - yes, but not at any higher statistical rate than any other high concentration area of folks in West Omaha.

Take a look at apartments around 72nd and Hwy 370 (SW corner). Take a look at apartments on 96th in LaVisata by the new police station across from where the church is.

[AbQ]

I have recently bought a home in Florence and I love it. My husband is from Ponca Hills ( an area just to the North of Florence off of HWY 680 right by the Mormon Bridge) It is a very communal neighborhood with families that have been here their whole lives. Lots of children, an active library/community center, parks. It still feels like a small town, but is only 10 min from Creighton. Florence begins from Hwy 680 and extends down 30th street to about Forest Lawn Street. Then it becomes "North Omaha." Homes run about $100,000. It is very forested and feels like you are on the outskirts of town in a few places. Close to the Missouri River, Dodge Park, Hummel Park, Neale Woods. Several historic landmarks here too. We have a beautiful view of the bluffs from our deck.

[jesse--james]

Originally Posted by Dave1215

Where do you get that? That SW Omaha, Ralston, and LaVista are not high crime rate. Can you find some in some apartments around there - yes, but not at any higher statistical rate than any other high concentration area of folks in West Omaha.

Take a look at apartments around 72nd and Hwy 370 (SW corner). Take a look at apartments on 96th in LaVisata by the new police station across from where the church is.

The Citadel Apartment complex is HUGE -- LOTS OF PEOPLE -- That area is FREQUENTLY in the news for occurances of crime -- also lots of drug dealing going on in that area. Back in the day -- that's was the place to go to score weed.

[Dave1215]

Originally Posted by Dave1215

Papillion.

A few years ago was named one of the top 25 best places to live in the nation... no other Nebraska community made the cut... I think it was Money Magazine.

Not sure if you have made decisions or still looking, but thought this needed an update. I saw in the newspaper today that Papillion was now named the 6th best place to live in the US for 2007. This was by CNN/Money Magazine. According to the state listing on their website, no other city/town in Nebraska made the top 100 and only one other in Iowa made the list.