The bad parts of San Antonio (Houston, Alamo: low income, crime rate, homes)

[n0vemberHAWK]

Every place has their good and bad sides of town.

What are your thoughts on where the bad side of SA is?

[ShaneSA]

I don't think there is a "bad" part of SA. There is crime all over the city. The East seems to have a concentration of gang activity right now. Last year it was in the northwest side of town. The police have gang units and they change thier operationg area on occasion depending on the need.
I remember an incident last year of a man being carjacked at his home in a gated community in Stone Oak. ( The thieves had spotted his expensive custom wheels and wanted them.)
The gangs seem to be the real problem in SA...and it changes where the gang activity is from time to time. Or the news coverage of the gang activity.
I've lived here 20 plus years and never really seen a "bad" side of town. Crime is every where. It just moves from place to place.

[LongHornGuy86]

Moderator cut: personal

As for the "bad" areas of SA, I guess the south side, west side of 410, and east side. I guess this depends how you define bad. Crime? Lower income housing? Schools?

Because Alamo Heights has a higher than expected crime rate and inexpensive housing, so even it could be classified "bad". All depends on the factors.

[googie2525]

I'm a bit wary of any areas that have excessive homeless populations. For instance, parts of Beacon Hill and Monticello Park I would definately consider "bad" in this respect (I lived in Monticello for several years. And yeah, I was glad to get out, a depressing area that will, unfortunately, IMO, be in "transition" for many many years to come). As well, I wouldn't walk around the East Side too readily (although I have toured those cool old graveyards, albeit with a large group). I guess what I'd consider a "bad" area is one I wouldn't personally feel safe walking through (and there's quite a few of those).

[AnthonySA]

I'm sorry but that made no sense at all. First of all, define inexpensive... the average home in Alamo Heights in 2006 cost $438,096 (http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/realestate/stories/MYSA011007.investments.EN.27d6e365.html) (broken link). Second, Alamo Heights has a virtually nonexistant crime rate compared to most of the cities in Texas.

http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/05cius/data/table_08_tx.html (broken link)

Alamo Heights reported crime in 2005:

Population: 7,427
Violent Crime: 3
Nonnegligent Manslaughter: 0
Forcible Rape: 0
Robbery: 1
Aggravated Assault: 2
Property Crime: 272
Burglary: 26
Larceny-theft: 240

----- Be careful where you walk at night in Alamo Heights... outrageous numbers - NOT!

Moderator cut: personal

[crazedchef]

ShaneSA

What did you mean about the NW side of town last year, I really want to know where this comes from. Lived around Wurzbach, IH-10 area since the 70's and have not seen too much gang activity. I really want to know because I have been out of the country since '05 and have not kept up. Was your reason because of that isolated incident in Stone Oak? Or have there been a lot of other attacks? Graffitti, gang fights, shootings. My parents have not mentioned anything and I think they would be amazed that there little burb was being labled the "Bad" side of town.
Not being accusitory, just want to know because I have been out of the loop.
Growing up, the "Bad" side was the East side by downtown, & the far West side. I only knew this from my Dad who worked for ADT back in the day and used to go on calls and he told me about where the majority of break ins were.
thanks,

crazedchef

[firemedic242]

Working EMS in various areas of the county I have come to the conclusion that the East side (mainly The Glen, Camelot and Windsor Oaks at Walzem) have a high rate or crime and violence. We noticed an increase in crime especially at Windsor Oaks. Difference? A large amount of low income, densely populated town homes. It became home to a large evacuee population. Just my 2 cents...

[spursfan]

Originally Posted by Guerilla

I don't know why my post was deleted, but I will put back what I wrote:

I can't believe San Antonio doesn't have a bad area of town. Most cities have a bad area of town that you really don't want to go into.

How about the East side..that is a terrible part of town

[210]

Originally Posted by spursfan

How about the East side..that is a terrible part of town

Is it really? Or is that the perception because it’s a older black low income section of the city?

Trust me, living in the Highland Hills area of the city and almost on a weekly basis going to Fort Sam Houston (my father was in the army then was discharged and then began to work as a fire fighter for FSH) to shop at the PX or go to the commissary.

We'd drive Walters St. all the way from the Highland Hills area to FSH. That's the heart of the east side. Driving past St. Philips, Antioch Baptist Church, etc. As a kid we drove through there and never once were I scared.

Then I got older and was able to drive and had access to the post (FSH) so I'd go, drive through the East side. Never once felt scared or locked my door at a stop light, etc. You'd see people waiting at boss stops or walking to the corner store.

What I'm saying is, its perception.

[googie2525]

Originally Posted by 210

We'd drive Walters St. all the way from the Highland Hills area to FSH. That's the heart of the east side. Driving past St. Philips, Antioch Baptist Church, etc. As a kid we drove through there and never once were I scared.

Then I got older and was able to drive and had access to the post (FSH) so I'd go, drive through the East side. Never once felt scared or locked my door at a stop light, etc. You'd see people waiting at boss stops or walking to the corner store.

What I'm saying is, its perception.

Exactly, you'd DRIVE. Try walking next time...BIG difference.