rochester (Greece, Irondequoit, Webster: environment, relocating, real estate)

[Farmdexter]

Irondequoit is a dangerous place. Last Easter a middle-class family was abducted from Irondequoit at 11pm and stuffed into the trunk of their car and driven around the hood in Rochester. The wife was violated, the husband pistolwhipped, and their preschool daughter traumatized for life. Stay away from the city.

[Lax]

Irondequoit is not dangerous. That is one isolated incident. You can pick any suburb out of any metro area in the country and find isolated incidents like this. The fact that you have to use a crime that was committed several months ago as an example shows that much does not happen there. The city is fine too. The crime is isolated to a few specific neighborhoods.

[I'minformed2]

Yeah, the whole "fear the city" thing needs to stop. Yes, there are some rough areas in the city of Rochester' particularly in the Northeastern and Southwestern neighborhoods; but not all of the city is like that. The city needs to be embraced more by the suburbanites (which now outnumber city residents in Monroe County by 2 to 3) for the better of the whole metro area. Irondequoit really is one of the more dangerous suburbs, but I wouldn't call it crime ridden (unless you are talking about Irondequoit Mall aka "Medely Center"; just kind of dull and less welcoming to newcomers than some of the other suburbs.

[kitty71]

Just wanted to add here that ANY city of substantial size (I'm talking over 100,000) will have its rougher areas... there is no escaping that. I grew up in a city of 250,000 (relatively small, but still) - lived there 20+ years, NEVER had any incidents... for most of it, lived in a very urban area. I actually really miss it.

I think that the important lesson here is to avoid the areas you know to be a little more unsafe - at least during evening/night hours. I hate to say it, but most attacks etc. you do hear about tend to be people who are not exactly being too smart with their choices - walking alone at night, drinking and not being cautious about where you are going/talking to etc. OR they are involved in more unscrupulous activities (prostitution, drugs etc.) in which case danger is to be expected. Just my two cents.

[NWGirl31]

I agree Kitty71- Any city has its problems, we can't live our lives in fear, but the threat of suburban sprawl is much scarrier! Believe me, people here sit in traffic for 2 hours trying to go 25 miles. I would move to Seattle in a second, unlike my parents, I think it would be a wonderful place to raise kids, except for the fact that a 1 bedroom condo costs roughly $300,000. Also, the city has started to close elementary schools, just not enough kids there. In my neighborhood, our "neighborhood" school was changed because they expect 1200 more families in the next year! I believe in reviving the cities, and if they offer enough services for my children, I can put my money (or moving truck) where my mouth is.

[I'minformed2]

Many neighborhoods city of Rochester are still very feasable for families in every way except for public schools; large nice homes with spacious yards (spacious for a northeastern city atleast) can be had for very reasonable prices, while still being in a safe neighborhood within walking distance to many urban amenities. There are a few good magnet schools in the city; but other than that they are pretty bad. Most families in the nicer neighborhoods of the cities either send their kids to Catholic school or use relatives addresses who live in the suburbs and send their kids to school there.

[NWGirl31]

What's up with the schools in Rochester? Are they really horrible, or are they just bad in comparison to the award winning suburban schools? Its hard to tell. Is there a lot of violence? Is the administration/school board bad? I ask all of the questions because I am in a state that has the 48th lowest spending per pupil in the nation, but I am in a suburban school district, so I don't know if I'm comparing apples to oranges (:

[I'minformed2]

Rochester city schools simply face the same woes as other school districts of older cities (pretty much any city that developed before suburbenation). There isn't a very large family-based middle class in the city any more, and most of the children of affluent city neighborhoods go to private schools; so the city's public school system is pretty much left with the poorest of kids from the worst neighborhoods who grow up around crme and unfortuntely, bring it to the classroom. Again, there are exceptions such as the fantastic Wilson T. Magnet school (which is actually in one of the worst neighborhoods in the city). In general; dropout rates are high; test scores are low (for NY standards at least) and student crime activity is higher than it should be. Yes, it is overplayed a little bit because the suburban school districts (at least those east of the city) are top ranked; but it is a real issue. Many kids from normal middle and upper middle class families in the city go through their entire educations in Rochester City Schools and have no problems; it's all just a matter of circumstances.

[NWGirl31]

Thanks so much for the information!

[kitty71]

I just cannot believe how unfortunate the whole situation with the city schools is... it is such a shame.... I would live in a city district in a heartbeat, but I just cannot compromise my daughters' education. I only want the best for them, and I just can't see it happening unless we aim for Brighton, the 3 P's or Webster (I know not on "the list" but seems like it would be a good bet).

It's a terrible shame and I totally wish I could say we could change things... that's the problem, isn't it... who wants to put their kids into a dangerous/unsatisfactory situation so that eventually it will change... but that is probably the only way... seems like a real catch 22...