tell me about fort pierce (Port St. Lucie, Vero Beach: 2009, affordable apartments, lease)

[homesick]

we moved to ft. pierce from Indianapolis 8 months ago and i hear all kinds of wild stories about what goes on here. is it myth or fact, is it really as bad as they say? I came from a city of a million plus and lived in areas that werent really that dangerous but were lower middle class and had some issuse, but i get here in a town of just under 30k ppl and it looks like a bomb went off in the majority of the city.i see hookers, dope dealers, crackheads and the majority of buisnesses i see are closed down, the malls are abandoned etc.. then i go to PSL and its like im back in 2006 again.
As someone who had never been to florida prior to moving here, and someone who had to find residence over a 3 day span i feel hustled, florida is pretty and all but they sure do a good job of hiding how it really is to the rest of the country.

[ddlove01]

As a resident of PSL for 13 years, I know a lot about Fort Pierce. It has actually improved in the last 10 years if you can believe it. What part of Ft Pierce are you living in currently? There are good areas in FP. Maybe I can help.

[pslOldTimer]

As a resident of Port St. Lucie for 34 years, I agree with ddlove01. I don't know where you're going in Fort Pierce; there have been many business start-ups, the downtown area is gorgeous, etc. There are malls that have closed down everywhere. You mentioned Port St. Lucie; the very first mall here was a total failure, has been largely empty for years, and is now the focus of a redevelopment of a blighted area.

If you've been here for 8 months, you were probably here for the Christmas holidays -- did you go downtown to the waterfront park and see the fantastic, state of the art, computerized Christmas light show? I've never seen the equal anywhere!

Even the street which had the reputation as being the worst in town, Avenue D, has been totally rebuilt and remodeled and the neighborhood has shown definite improvement.

Indian River Community College has the reputation as one of the best in the state, and their new technology center has no equal anywhere.

Fort Pierce is consistently voted as having some of the better beaches in the state -- not the best, but far from the worst.

I suppose if you are looking for negative things, you can find them anywhere. I have always preferred to llok for positive things. I find I'm a lot happier wherever I end up.

I just can't imagine where you hang out that tou have gotten such a negative impression.

[homesick]

i dont really hang out much. i live off juanita between us1 and 25th st. its not too bad, fairly quiet i like being close to the beach access. i cant speak about the other side of 25th street, there was a homicide over there recently. Avenue D is far from rebuilt as far as i can tell, it must have ben REALLY bad off if thats the case, all i see is dope dealers, hollowed out buildings and chickens running in the street.. matter of fact someone was shot and killed down there last week.
i missed the xmas light show , however i did go to the marina around that time and saw they had a few lights up it was nice. i also got to see a manatee. the beaches are nice, not too many people and friendly lifeguards, but on memorial day there was a shootout at pepper park and i was unable to leave the beach parking lot untill the police let traffic through.
its just what i see when i drive around. i havent been south or edwards road much but around my area ( the lettered avenues) i see alot of poverty and crime. i might be looking at the glass half empty i suppose. i just wish i knew more before i made the decision to move here. Vero beach is right up 1 and has alot of good places to shop. maybe i need to get used to how things are in the south. over all its ok, the people arent as rude as i read on here, and the cost of living isnt bad (besides rent lol) but im here now and i'll make the best of it. im gonna be looking at apartments when my lease is up out towards 95 to try to get a little further away from where i am now.

[Texan]

homesick,
I almost relocated to Ft. Pierce a few months ago. I spent one week checking out the place, and it wasn't the image I visioned. I checked out quite few apts during the day and decide to drive at night to get a better view. It was pretty bad. I stopped at few "corner" store, each time I was approched for money. I left back to Houston with a pretty sad souvenir of Ft. Pierce. When your lease is up, please choose either Vero Beach or Port St. Lucie, Stuart is better. But, again I hear that things are going little out order in those areas as well.
I am not sure why you picked Ft. Pierce, try to make to best of it. The weather place a very important part in someone's health. and Ft. Pierce has a lots of good sunshine and beaches.
Regards.

[maryinindiana]

I am currently residing in Indiana, in a very small town called Centerville. I am wanting to relocate to Florida. I am seriously eyeing Ft. Pierce. I have two children, so I can't afford any mistakes. My attraction to it is of course the weather, the beach, and I found some pretty affordable apartments. It all looks so beautiful, I would love to offer a place like that to my two daughters. However, I have read nothing but bad reviews about the place. I live in a small, zero crime rate, ten square mile, town. It is scary enough moving to somewhere I have never been, let alone some crack ridden, horror movie, of a place. Please give me more insight about the area, it would be so appreciated.

[ddlove01]

Mary I do hope you are planning on visiting the area first! Not all of Ft Pierce is bad and this thread is 2 years old but it just depends on what part of Ft Pierce you were looking. If you post the areas, like streets or cross streets we can probably help you more..

[FlaLadyB]

Having worked in Ft. Pierce before and still reading the newspapers, there are etter places than some. I personally would not live there for the very reasons you are talking about. Yes, Ft. Pierce is trying to clean itself up, but in the meantime look elsewhere to move.

If you drive down to Port St. Lucie and go west of US#1 towards I95 you will see all new construction, newer homes and lots of new businesses. Lots of friendly people and certainly not the crime rate you see in Ft Pierce. We are in 2009. Drive down I95 and get off a St. Lucie West Blvd or Gatlin and take a look. I think you'll be surprised and glad you did.

[J.R.]

The poster is spending all his time in the ONLY crime hotspot we have. That is not an accurate depiction of Ft. Pierce. Ft. Pierce has plenty to offer - the "lettered streets" comprise a very, very tiny section of a nice town.

Drive south, east, west or north and explore all Ft. Pierce has to offer!

[ddlove01]

Originally Posted by J.R.

The poster is spending all his time in the ONLY crime hotspot we have. That is not an accurate depiction of Ft. Pierce. Ft. Pierce has plenty to offer - the "lettered streets" comprise a very, very tiny section of a nice town.

Drive south, east, west or north and explore all Ft. Pierce has to offer!

I agree.