Is Alafaya Trail Good (Orlando, Winter Springs: apartment, condo, income)

[elissa74]

We are going down to Orlando next month to check out the area and are planning on moving from California. Some people we know have been telling us to look into Alafaya Trail (i think that is how u spell it) to live. Is this a safe place to move to. We have elementary age kids and I am planning to finish my teaching credentials, but most of all I am looking for a safe family orientated place.
Thank You,

[Alphaman]

Yes the waterford lakes area is family oriented and safe. Also look into Avalon park this is also off alafaya.

[nimrod5480]

The Alafaya trail has certain sections. South of Colonial (50) is the Waterford Lakes area the previous person mentioned which is a nice upscale area with shopping very close. I don't think this is a bad area at all. Also Alphaman mentioned Avalon Park which is close and also very nice.

The end of Alafaya north of UCF is Oveido which is also a pretty nice area that is a little more upscale. Oveido is more of regular houses while Waterford lakes has more condo / aparments.

Inbetween about university blvd and colonial on Alafaya though looks a bit more run down. I'm not really sure if this a higher crime area or not. I don't generally think it's that bad but definitely less nice than the other areas I mentioned.

[nimrod5480]

Something I said was misleading. Alafaya doesn't end on the north end by Oveido. At some point it just drops the name and becomes just 434.

[Wilshire81182]

In between Colonial and University is a lot of low income housing. It is mainly student housing but there is also some riffraff in the area that results in some crime. I agree with everything said about Waterford and the areas south of Lake Underhill Road. The areas north of McCulloch are also very nice as you get closer to Oviedo.

There are also other areas you may want to look into though because the 32828 and 32826 zip codes are also not the very best there is in the area. You may also want to look into Lake Mary and Winter Springs on the northside.

[Metallisteve]

Originally Posted by nimrod5480

...At some point it just drops the name and becomes just 434.

The name "Alafaya Trail" ends at Mitchell Hammock Road. From there north, it's known as either SR 434 or "Central Ave." to Oviedians. It carries the Central Ave. namesake further north to the 90 degree bend and becomes just SR 434 through Winter Springs.

[Crane's Rooster]

Agreed with everyone else. Alafaya can basically be split into 3 distinct areas.

South of Colonial-Waterford/Avalon area. Newer single family homes.

Colonial to just above University-Student ghetto. Mostly student apartment style housing.

North of UCF-Oviedo area. Older single family homes. Older more established, and somewhat more rural, community.

[paleo99]

I have been living in the "run down" section just north of 50 for a year and will be moving out shortly. Besides the typical students, there are quite a few druggie/loser types who migrated to this part of town before I moved into this area. In my complex, vandalism is pretty common, and a few people got their AC's taken last month. I originally moved over here because it's by where I work, and I didn't know any better at the time. Most of Orlando looks relatively nice on the outside--at least initially--and figured being by a school it would be mainly the college crowd instead of the welfare loser people/drug dealers.

Oh yeah, the traffic on alafaya by UCF is probably the worst I've seen in town..YES THE WORST. Semoran is nothing..at least you can make a left turn at 2am over there. Alafaya is just never ending and going to most of the businesses by 50 makes you feel like your in some inner city ghetto.

Don't forget about the homeless people hanging out in the plazas surrounding 50/Alafaya.

[Roboat]

Originally Posted by Wilshire81182

In between Colonial and University is a lot of low income housing. It is mainly student housing but there is also some riffraff in the area that results in some crime. I agree with everything said about Waterford and the areas south of Lake Underhill Road. The areas north of McCulloch are also very nice as you get closer to Oviedo.

There are also other areas you may want to look into though because the 32828 and 32826 zip codes are also not the very best there is in the area. You may also want to look into Lake Mary and Winter Springs on the n
orthside.

I agree. You can also check the new expanded "crime map" in Orlando Sentinel.
Orlando Crime Map - Orlando Sentinel

[DailyJournalist]

If you want to live close to the Alafaya Trail area, I would choose Oviedo, much safer community.