CoCoa Beach or Viera? (Palm Bay, Melbourne: environment, gated, condo)

[AshantaeG]

Cocoa Beach or Viera?

Which area would you vote best for a young, black couple to live in?

[DailyJournalist]

Why does race have anything to do with it?

[runswithscissors]

Originally Posted by DailyJournalist

Why does race have anything to do with it?

Like she'd want her family to be the only black family in the school or neighborhood etc? Or conversely should she want her kids to go to school with a bunch of wanna be gangsters and dopes that certain areas attract with crappy role models etc ? I think it's a perfectly reasonable question. On paper a place can look fine then you find out a big bunch of surprises.

I think ignoring diversity questions doesn't make the issues families face go away, jmho.

[boy3365]

I like Viera. There are lots of shopping options. It seems like a peaceful area. As far as race is concerned, it is a more white area. The schools with larger black populations are in the Cocoa (different from Cocoa Beach), Rockledge, South Melbourne/Palm Bay area, so those areas would be the place to look for barber shops, hair salons, churches, etc. if you are looking for specific places.

[specialk115]

I'm hoping to move to Viera myself and have visited many times. It's a master-planned community and the West side has new everything -- schools, churches, shopping, etc. Most of the communities in Viera are gated and there aren't a lot of mature trees. It looks a bit deserted still because much of it is still under contruction. But we like it because it's similar to what we have now. It's basically parallel to Cocoa Beach, west of I-95 and you reach it by crossing the causeway from the beach side. It's maybe 15 minutes distance.

My brother lives in Cocoa Beach and I have been going since I was a kid. It is a beach town in every sense -- not a suburban feel at all. There a lots of hotels up and down the beach, fast food, restaurants, strip malls, etc. Lots of bicycles and bare feet! I always see shirtless kids crossing A1A with their surfboards. However, there are some GREAT elementary schools in Cocoa Beach and I love spending time there. It's just a very different vibe than you get in Viera.

It depends a lot on where you're coming from and what kind of environment you like best. We chose Viera because it's more suburban but not too far from the beach -- best of both worlds. Good luck!

[AshantaeG]

Thanks all!

I chose to ask about these areas because I know that some people can be very close-minded in some places and I don't want to make a huge move and end up hating it because of the PEOPLE, and not the area in general. I have experienced racism in my own family and I don't want to be a constant victim of it by living in an area that is surrounded by it, the same way people come on here asking where the "ghetto" is, which usually consists of lots of black people or mexicans. I come from areas like that, I have experienced pretty much everything. I am of mixed race and where my family is from back up North, if we'd all go out to dinner together we would get stares! I am not looking for that, and I know racism and ignorance is everywhere, but a place that is culturally diverse would be good for me and my fiancee, because we plan on opening a business as well.

Thank you to all of the people who responded positively, with understanding what I am meant by asking this question...

AND please, I welcome more comments!

[Kaci]

I don't know where to start. Looking for house/condo/apt. to rent. We homeschool are kids, but wouldn't mind nice school district. How does one start? K

[jpb9283]

Originally Posted by AshantaeG

Thanks all!

I chose to ask about these areas because I know that some people can be very close-minded in some places and I don't want to make a huge move and end up hating it because of the PEOPLE, and not the area in general. I have experienced racism in my own family and I don't want to be a constant victim of it by living in an area that is surrounded by it, the same way people come on here asking where the "ghetto" is, which usually consists of lots of black people or mexicans. I come from areas like that, I have experienced pretty much everything. I am of mixed race and where my family is from back up North, if we'd all go out to dinner together we would get stares! I am not looking for that, and I know racism and ignorance is everywhere, but a place that is culturally diverse would be good for me and my fiancee, because we plan on opening a business as well.

Thank you to all of the people who responded positively, with understanding what I am meant by asking this question...

AND please, I welcome more comments!

Hey, I completely understand I am of mixed race too and grew up north of Detroit before moving to Rockledge. You will be comfortable in Rockledge because it is diverse and right next to Viera, Cocoa Beach, Melbourne, etc. I chose to live in Rockledge for these reasons! Cocoa is not as bad as people make it out to be it is just and older town north of Rockledge, where I actually work and I would not consider it a "ghetto" by any midwest city standards. Good Luck with your move!