Bradenton, moving from England (Miami, Naples: apartment complex, house, find a job)

[AliceT]

Wow, maybe it's changed since I've been there but I had a really close friend there and I went to visit with her family as often as I could. I would have said it was a lovely place and usually just a bike ride away from a beach. Maybe I was looking at it from a different perspective. Her children loved school and were certainly well mannered and well versed in conversation with us old folks. Her husband was a general contractor and we visited several of the sites he was working on and I never got any indication that we were passing through a rough area no matter which direction we went in.

I couldn't tell you exactly what part of the city it was in, but do remember it was either close to or in an area that was a designated bird sanctuary, as in the whole town was a bird sanctuary.

I think there are so many opinions and variances in what different people see as "bad" or "questionable" that you really need to take a look around for yourselves to see if these areas seem like a good fit or not. You can't always tell by just a casual looking around.

[TKramar]

Originally Posted by New England Yankee

I love East Bradenton but I went to DeSoto Mall and would never go again.
It is awful and it smells of dampness.It seems sooo old and worn down.Not a good area.
There is a BIG brand new mall being built in East Bradenton.
Stay away from Cortez and DeSoto.
Bradenton is a great place on the East side.

Sawgrass Cove is off Cortez Road, by the Albertson's. Looks decent. However, I live in a trailer park, because it's what I can afford...even having to do my own repairs, because I can't get no satisfaction any other way. If I reported the place to the Board of Health, I'd probably wind up with no place to live, along with the other people who live in these trailers!

[Oobie119]

RUN AWAY FROM sawgrass cove.. I live there (regretfully) The place is turning into trash, they are letting the worst class of people move in and they don't take care of the place. They put money into the "office" and the landscaping while the should take care of their cockroach and RAT problems!!! We do NOT want to break our lease but we are out asap!

[Ladywithafan]

I think there's a lot of problems with the apartment complexes in Bradenton...they say they do background checks to get in & there are no drugs & such allowed, well, let me tell you, not!

You really need to come & see the areas you're interested during the day as well as at night, so you know what's really going on around where you want to live.

But, with the way things are in the rental business, they need to keep the occupancy rates up, so they're basically renting to anyone that can make rent.

I used to live on Perico Island at what was called Bristol Bay, back in the 90's. It's a neal communities property last time I checked & being close to the island as well as on Perico Island, it was a pretty nice complex with easy access to town as well as the beach.

The only draw back was getting off the island on a sunday after noon between 3 and 7....with the season traffic going on/off, it can get pretty backed up but as long as you know that & can plan accordingly, not a big deal.

[TKramar]

Originally Posted by Oobie119

RUN AWAY FROM sawgrass cove.. I live there (regretfully) The place is turning into trash, they are letting the worst class of people move in and they don't take care of the place. They put money into the "office" and the landscaping while the should take care of their cockroach and RAT problems!!! We do NOT want to break our lease but we are out asap!

Well, I might be part of that "low-class" breed of people since I don't own a nice new car and plenty of "toys". But I don't get loud, don't drink, don't do drugs, and take care of my OWN property, instead of letting some landlord "get around to it". But I'm working class, not some well-off person making more than $10 an hour.

We considered moving into there, but did not meet their "income restrictions". Even with multiple jobs, I didn't make enough to live there.

[New England Yankee]

Just rememeber it is the people who do have lots of toys etc,who own businesses and create jobs.

[jessiesma]

background checks are only good if someone has been convicted.
Arrests, tickets, warnings are not on there so even if someone has been picked up an trafficking, rape and a whole slew of charges but some idiot judge let them out on bail, they can apply for an apartment in the nicest place and get in because they have a clean record.
And you're right, "to anyone who can make rent." They don't care about the source of the money. They also al ahve policies against dangerous breeds fo dogs but I just saw a "pit" move into my complex. I asked the manager about it and she said the woman showed her a paper saying it wasn't but what about those clipped ears, huh? He's definitely a mixed pup but heavy on the Pit and the kids are making him crazy playing aggressive games with him.

Originally Posted by Ladywithafan

I think there's a lot of problems with the apartment complexes in Bradenton...they say they do background checks to get in & there are no drugs & such allowed, well, let me tell you, not!

You really need to come & see the areas you're interested during the day as well as at night, so you know what's really going on around where you want to live.

But, with the way things are in the rental business, they need to keep the occupancy rates up, so they're basically renting to anyone that can make rent.

I used to live on Perico Island at what was called Bristol Bay, back in the 90's. It's a neal communities property last time I checked & being close to the island as well as on Perico Island, it was a pretty nice complex with easy access to town as well as the beach.

The only draw back was getting off the island on a sunday after noon between 3 and 7....with the season traffic going on/off, it can get pretty backed up but as long as you know that & can plan accordingly, not a big deal.

[MovingfromUKtoAmerica]

Thanks everyone, great advice, Ladywithafan, great advice also, i have been to Bradenton but during the night I stayed in Bradenton Beach so have no idea what Bradenton itself is like so I will be sure to check out some areas at night also! You mentioned about the apartment complexes being a bit like Drugland, well when I first move to Bradenton, the agency will set me and family up with a 2 bed condo or apartment within walking distance to the hospital. Should I be afraid about that then, like would the agency set me up in a dangerous complex or will I be fine? Thanks.

[NJDevil]

Why on earth would you pick Bradenton? (just wondering - this is a big country). Bradenton's nickname is the world's largest trailer park. The nice areas are in the west and east sections. Stay away from downtown, going out to around 30th St. E. South Bradenton (or Breedington as I call it) along 41 is scuzzy. Bayshore area is nice though - 34210 zip. Northwest Brad probably has the most money. Bradenton has too many hicks and losers to ever become culturally aware. Lakewood Ranch is growing by leaps and bounds.
And yes, I lived there for years.

[Ladywithafan]

Originally Posted by MovingfromUKtoAmerica

Thanks everyone, great advice, Ladywithafan, great advice also, i have been to Bradenton but during the night I stayed in Bradenton Beach so have no idea what Bradenton itself is like so I will be sure to check out some areas at night also! You mentioned about the apartment complexes being a bit like Drugland, well when I first move to Bradenton, the agency will set me and family up with a 2 bed condo or apartment within walking distance to the hospital. Should I be afraid about that then, like would the agency set me up in a dangerous complex or will I be fine? Thanks.

If they put you in where I'm thinking....brand new apartment complexes right on the Manatee River by the hospital, you'll be okay. It's old neighborhoods all around Manatee Memorial but they've been striving to draw people to Main Street and the area that surrounds. You'd be pretty close to both polices agencies, MCSO & BPD as they are downtown, the library, post office, etc....and I would hope the apartment complexes have 24 hr. security. I'm thinking it's the Watermark on 3rd Street....