North County? (Kansas City, St. Louis, St. Charles: loans, relocating, estate)

[21mm397]

Thanks to everyone who has commented on North County. We just got back from a week long house hunting trip in STL and didn't look at a single place in North County. Mostly we concentrated south and west. We got some good possibilites, on our list. Now if we can just get our house sold here Georgia, we have some options available.
Thanks to everyone for your advice on this thread and others.
Chuck

[MondayNgt]

Originally Posted by Aisysmom

We currently live in Florissant, and I love it here. Unfortunately we have to move soon, since my husband is in the miltitary.

One thing to know about St. Louis,(I grew up here) is that people are racist here. (I am white BTW) and people who brand North County as "ghetto" really mean that GASP black people have moved in.

But you live in Florissant, enough said. Florrissant is a nice town (although it's very true that crossing a portion will change things dramatically, as one person said). And there are other areas in NC that aren't too bad either. But the rest of NC? There are good reasons why people want little to do with the area....trouble areas are trouble areas no matter what color you are. Look up the crime rate in a lot of those area in question. (And don't forget to take the size of the population in consideration, too.)

Every now and then, I come across a person who plays the "racist" card when discussing NC critics, it's a convenient response to come up with. But subsequently, whenever I ask them where THEY live, it comes as no shock that it's usually in a nice/decent area. The following questions apply to judging any area....would I personally move there? Would my kids be safe going to school there? If the answer is no to both, is that simply being "racist".....or just plain common sense?

On another note, addressing a few of the others using the atypical "Crime can happen anywhere" argument, heard this quite often too.....and sure it can, I'm sure I can be in the middle of the desert and get robbed by someone, there is always an exception to the rule. But it's not a matter of IF crime can happen, it's a matter of how OFTEN or likely.

[Takeoffurcool]

Florissant expands a wide area. I live in Florissant and still find myself trying to figure out where it begins and ends. I live on the edge of Florissant (what might be considered old town florissant) which neighbors Hazelwood. I have a six-year old daughter that attends Atonement Lutheran school. There are also many public schools to choose from as well. Combs elementary on St. Jean is a wonderful elementary school in that area.

In response to some of the previous posts, (especially the one that referred to Florissant as "ghetto") I do believe that the majority of people who have a problem with Florissant have a problem with diversity. If you want to live in a restricted community where everyone there looks like you, Florissant is not the place for you. But if you welcome diversity, and all the wonderful things that make us different, Florissant is a nice place to raise a family.

Good luck on your move!

[Takeoffurcool]

Originally Posted by aminah

I read the post regarding North County that I previously posted, and I know what I am talking about. I moved to North County in 1995, and have lived ALL over the place. I am very aware of North City vs. North County, and would not live in North City EVER! I used to live in Aspen Wood Apartments (Cross Keys & New Halls Ferry) and it is HORRIBLE! The schools suck, and my son had nothing but stress. The children are not raised properly, and they cause trouble all of the time. I am not saying that all the kids are bad, but the good ones are limited in number. I also lived in Hazelwood, and my son attended Hazelwood West schools. I do admit that they were better than I expected, but that school district is going down too. The more the property value goes down, the more affordable the houses are. This simply means that disadvataged citizens are moving in FROM the city. It's crazy how bad living is in North County. There are nice (spacious) homes, but the occupants are causing the issues. In 2005, a TWELVE year old boy raped a SIX year old girl and left her for dead. They both lived in Spanish Lake (NORTH COUNTY), and it terrified me! I would not even let my son leave the front of our house fearing that he'd run into gangs. Don't let anyone convince you to waste time (and money) moving to North County. It will continue to get worse, and has little chance of getting better. I am very blessed that my family was able to get out of there, and give my son a chance to live peacefully.

Crime happens everywhere. It is not indicitive of all the citizens in the area. There is just as much gruesome crime happening in what many would label as the so called good areas of St. Louis. Let us not forget that two teenage boys, one only 13 were kidnapped from small town St. Louis and held in a Kirkwood apartment (which is west county). One was captive for four years. Who was the abductor, a North County Resident? No! An East ST. Louis resident? NO A North City resident? No! It was a Kirkwood resident, who happened to be a Imo's pizza manager. I know you know the names of the boys, one snatched off his bike and one abducted when walking home from school; Sean Hornbeck and Ben Honby. Crime happens everywhere. A young lady just got her purse snatched and was ran over by the assailant in Brentwood, one of the more affluent areas of the city. Both the victim and assailant were young and white. You can't stereotype these things. As a young black person, you of all people should know this. We love to take isolated events and use them to turn our own opinions into fact.

[Juice13610]

Not only did the purse snatching/running over happen in Brentwood, I think it actually happened in the parking lot of the Galleria.

[NewMexDreamin']

I agree that North County is too risky - it's the worst part of St. Louis (except for North St. Louis City). Most young families are moving to O'Fallon, MO where the people are very nice and it is new and safe and the schools are good. It's a drive but I think you will realize in time that it's worth it. St. Charles and St. Peters are also good choices, but again, the commute is tough. Housing has sky rocketed in St. Louis as everywhere else. You really have to be on the outskirts for $150,000. There may be smaller, older homes in that price range in Maryland Heights or Creve Coeur which are excellent neighborhoods. Stay away from Jefferson County and North County in my opinion. Florissant has some nice subdivisions but the area is declining and I wouldn't live there. Good luck!

[stlsmoore]

I think a lot of the reason people think that the North County area is such a "bad" area is because of the perception of the media. A lot of crime in other areas doesn't get reported, I used to work for the police department and it's amazing how much crime there is everywhere period. The News Media decides on what or what not to report for whatever the reasons may be. If you're scared of diversity which seems to be the cast with a lot of people on this forum then Florissant may not be the place for you. That's the only thing I could possibly think of on why not to move to this area. North County def. isn't the worst part of St. Louis though are you kidding me haha

[JCrow Nuremberg]

Jennings, Normandy, Berkely, Dellwood, Ferguson, Riverview, Bellefountain Neighbors, etc, etc, etc.








Nothing.



Just reppin my hoods is all.



Trust me – contrary to what is said or being insinuated on this thread, we don’t bite (well not too hard anyway ()

There is still plenty of 'yall' here.


Not that that was an invitation. Try South County. I hear they’re great

I wouldn't suggest Hazelwood or Florissant. It's becoming a lot like those 'other' areas of North County.

Like I said, I hear South County is GRRRRREAT!

[GuruOfReason]

I live in North County, off of Natural Bridge and Lucas and Hunt, and I've driven around North County, as (being black), I have many relatives who live in North County. I've never felt in danger walking around in North County. The black people living in north county are living nice, suburban lives like their white suburban counterparts. North County is not a high crime area, even if it is populated largely by black people. How many of you have ever even been to North County?

[gobigred]

Originally Posted by Takeoffurcool

Florissant expands a wide area. I live in Florissant and still find myself trying to figure out where it begins and ends. I live on the edge of Florissant (what might be considered old town florissant) which neighbors Hazelwood. I have a six-year old daughter that attends Atonement Lutheran school. There are also many public schools to choose from as well. Combs elementary on St. Jean is a wonderful elementary school in that area.

In response to some of the previous posts, (especially the one that referred to Florissant as "ghetto") I do believe that the majority of people who have a problem with Florissant have a problem with diversity. If you want to live in a restricted community where everyone there looks like you, Florissant is not the place for you. But if you welcome diversity, and all the wonderful things that make us different, Florissant is a nice place to raise a family.

Good luck on your move!

We have a friend whose son attends Atonement Lutheran school and loves it. He is in the 8th grade this year. Florissant is a good place to live.