How is Casselberry? (Altamonte Springs, Winter Springs, East Lake: for sale, city hall, condos)

[Retyre]

Does Casselberry have a crime problem? Are there areas I should avoid? I am interested in the area of Casselberry that borders Winter Springs.

Thanks!

[Prichard]

The part of Casselberry that borders Winter Springs is ok. I assume that you are talking about one of the areas just to the west of Tuscawilla. Other parts of Casselberry are not that great, especially down by the intersection of Redbug and 436. It's not awful in that area, just older neighborhoods that are not very well kept up. Also, a ton of traffic on 436 between Redbug and 17-92. I know that there is a new subdivision going in sort of behind East Lake Road. There are some run down manufactured homes that border that new neighborhood. Probably not going away anytime soon. Also, check into the schools in that area - they are not the same ones as in Winter Springs. English Estates Elementary school is not all that great. I don't like Redbug either because it's right on a busy 6 lane road.

In the seedier areas of Casselberry, there is some crime and some prostitution - remenants of its "glory days" when the strip clubs and scrub parlors were in their prime. Casselberry has done everything that it can to shut these places down or make them move to an industrial area and away from neighborhoods. I give the city of Casselberry a "B" for effort in trying to make this a better city - but they still flounder around quite abit in this regard.

[loriflorida]

Originally Posted by Retyre

Does Casselberry have a crime problem? Are there areas I should avoid? I am interested in the area of Casselberry that borders Winter Springs.

Thanks!

All the areas I mentioned are nice neighborhood with low crime and good schools , We own 2 homes we built here in 2001 (Lakehurst) gated community on Lake Howell, We also just put a home up for sale in Tuska Ridge it is the edge of Oviedo and Winter Springs. Has A + schools and great shopping close to oviedo Marketplace mall and all the building stores and dining places. It is in a beautiful ,safe deed restricted sub division is like a new home everything is in mint condition . If you no anyone looking in the area email me .. thanks Lori

[spunky1]

In my opinion Casselberry is a depressing area. There are many run-down neighborhoods, a lot of traffic, a lot of hispanics that drag race, just not a desirable place to live. In my experience people that move there do so because houses are cheaper there than other areas of Central Florida, not because it is a desirable area. Purely economics, they can afford a single family home there as opposed to other more desirable and family-friendly areas.

[pianogal]

Casselberry has areas with problems. It has some mobile home parks that are rundown and have created crime problems, it has the adult entertainment issues and some areas (they are adjacent to Casselbery but are actually Altamonte Springs) that are crime havens.

Did you seem the Extreme Home Makeover where they did the lady's home who runs a 'helps' center in Altamonte Springs. It is HUGE - over 5000 square feet and gorgeous - right in the middle of a very depressed area, but only 1 block off 436 where the Thomasville Furniture store is in Altamonte Springs. It's only a short distance from Casselberry City Hall - everything is so dense there - you can't tell when you're moving from Altamonte to Casselberrry to Fern Park to Longwood.

Having said that, Casselberry is changing rapidly. Our church is there, my husband works there, but three years ago when we were looking to build, I wouldn't even consider looking there. That is beginning to change. The city has really worked to clean up the adult entertainment business and many of them are gone. I drove through last week, and upscale new subdivisions are going in. Lots fronting 17-92 that used to house run down establishments have been cleared and new banks, businesses etc. are moving in. The city is working to attract new business and clean up its act.

If you are local you probably heard about the crook who was arrested because they found files in a storage unit he had rented that proved he had been in the pocket of organized crime - ALOT of it centered in Casselberry in conjunction with the adult entertainment business. It's a nasty affair - I know someone he tried to ruin and in fact, did cause my friend to be defeated when he ran for city commissioner. This arrrest and discovery will have a HUGE impact for organized crime in Casselberry. It was already beginning to unravel - hopefully this will be its death knell because so many have been implicated - they are on the run.

There are some VERY nice areas of Casselberry that are further from city center - look at some of the communities that are located along Red Bug Road - some are older but well kept - some are brand new, gated and exclusive. They are also some beautiful condos on Lake Howell and some exclusive homes/estates on Lake Howell. My aunt owns several acres fronting the lake and has a lovely home there. These are VERY nice areas.

[loriflorida]

Yes several of the things you mentioned are true. Although I mentioned off Red Bug road and Tuscawilla area along with Winter Springs and Oviedo. All the high Schools Including Lake Howell and Oviedo and Winter Springs are top rated high Schools so I do believe that is very important and also shows the type of people that live in this so called area.

Crime and run down areas are everywhere. You can't run from it.

One thing I will say and I am not a Borned Floridian. I came down here from the North East. I was very surprised to see that zoning had no rhyme or reason why you can be near a commercial and the other side is residentual or you can live in a upper income home with deed restrictions and right next door is condemed area or should be. Metro East is a perfect example.. This just blew me away when I came here. You would not see that back East.

Loriflorida

Originally Posted by pianogal

Casselberry has areas with problems. It has some mobile home parks that are rundown and have created crime problems, it has the adult entertainment issues and some areas (they are adjacent to Casselbery but are actually Altamonte Springs) that are crime havens.

Did you seem the Extreme Home Makeover where they did the lady's home who runs a 'helps' center in Altamonte Springs. It is HUGE - over 5000 square feet and gorgeous - right in the middle of a very depressed area, but only 1 block off 436 where the Thomasville Furniture store is in Altamonte Springs. It's only a short distance from Casselberry City Hall - everything is so dense there - you can't tell when you're moving from Altamonte to Casselberrry to Fern Park to Longwood.

Having said that, Casselberry is changing rapidly. Our church is there, my husband works there, but three years ago when we were looking to build, I wouldn't even consider looking there. That is beginning to change. The city has really worked to clean up the adult entertainment business and many of them are gone. I drove through last week, and upscale new subdivisions are going in. Lots fronting 17-92 that used to house run down establishments have been cleared and new banks, businesses etc. are moving in. The city is working to attract new business and clean up its act.

If you are local you probably heard about the crook who was arrested because they found files in a storage unit he had rented that proved he had been in the pocket of organized crime - ALOT of it centered in Casselberry in conjunction with the adult entertainment business. It's a nasty affair - I know someone he tried to ruin and in fact, did cause my friend to be defeated when he ran for city commissioner. This arrrest and discovery will have a HUGE impact for organized crime in Casselberry. It was already beginning to unravel - hopefully this will be its death knell because so many have been implicated - they are on the run.

There are some VERY nice areas of Casselberry that are further from city center - look at some of the communities that are located along Red Bug Road - some are older but well kept - some are brand new, gated and exclusive. They are also some beautiful condos on Lake Howell and some exclusive homes/estates on Lake Howell. My aunt owns several acres fronting the lake and has a lovely home there. These are VERY nice areas.