Bellefontaine Rd - neighborhoods (St. Louis, Florissant: cul-de-sac, for sale, crime)

[FLonthemove]

Hello,
I may be taking an administrative job that is located on Bellefontaine road. I'll be going on a site visit first, but I'd like to have an idea of what I'm walking into. Any hints are appreciated.

What are the chances of finding a safe, nice place to live in the Bellefontaine road/area? Any recommendations (me and my 75 lb mutt)? I've tried doing some searches, but haven't called an agent yet. I'd love to get some St. Louis natives' opinions.

My internet searches for the area have turned up things like 'combat zone' and then also some hints that areas are being refurbished, and that there are some older, safe neighborhoods. I really want to avoid a nightmarish commute (already doing that in FL).

If I buy, I'd be a first-timer, 65k income range. I'm from FL, so my perspectives are skewed on home prices, anything (well, except CA and NY city) seems cheaper.

Am I naive to think about living in this area of town?

[kpasa]

Hello, I guess we are trading places per se. I am moving to Jax from St. Louis.

I have a friend that lives in Florissant (west of Bellefontaine Rd.) in the Lindsay Rd. (west of Lindbergh Blvd., North from McDonnell Blvd, West of I-270) and it is a well established area with all the conveniences of shopping, bike trails and parks. the house was a 3bd/2bth on cul-de-sac for $130, 000. Commuting to Bellefontaine Rd. from there is very convenient, all freeway more or less.

[FLonthemove]

Thank you for replying, Kpasa! Good luck with your Jacksonville move.

[AMERICAN NORSEMAN]

I would have to agree Florissant is a great area to live in and it's just 5 min. away

[MissouriHouseHunter]

HI FLonthemove,

Bellefontaine Neighbors is history rich town located just 20 minutes from The Gateway Arch and Downtown. For more information, you can view the city's website: http://www.cityofbn.com/ourtown/
[cut]

Best Wishes,
Melissa :-)
[cut]

[pcrawford]

Originally Posted by FLonthemove

Hello,
I may be taking an administrative job that is located on Bellefontaine road. I'll be going on a site visit first, but I'd like to have an idea of what I'm walking into. Any hints are appreciated.

What are the chances of finding a safe, nice place to live in the Bellefontaine road/area? Any recommendations (me and my 75 lb mutt)? I've tried doing some searches, but haven't called an agent yet. I'd love to get some St. Louis natives' opinions.

My internet searches for the area have turned up things like 'combat zone' and then also some hints that areas are being refurbished, and that there are some older, safe neighborhoods. I really want to avoid a nightmarish commute (already doing that in FL).

If I buy, I'd be a first-timer, 65k income range. I'm from FL, so my perspectives are skewed on home prices, anything (well, except CA and NY city) seems cheaper.

Am I naive to think about living in this area of town?

Bellefontaine Neighbors is an older established area of St. Louis. Currently there is not a lot of new home construction and the homes for sale in that area "older". There are some surrounding communities, i.e. Black Jack, Florrisant, that would be in close proximity to where you work (10-15 minutes). Both of these communities have a lot of newer homes and are building new subdivisions.

[maryfrk]

Hi,

Where on Bellefontaine Rd. is your job? I know the area well because I grew up near Bellefontaine Road.

There are a lot of new homes being built in the area as well as some really nice established neighborhoods. Florissant is a nice area as well.

Good luck on your move!

[lynnew]

I grew up in what was then called Spanish Lake, east of Bellefontaine Road. It became a sea of small houses for lower-middle class families to live. It was safe and life was good. The houses are still there but the flavor of the neighborhood is totally changed. Now the crime is high, the drugs flow and it seems anything goes.

If you take highway 270 over the river into Illinois, a short commute will take you to a booming area called Edwardsville, IL. The housing is a bit pricey but you get that safe feeling when you close your eyes at night. And the schools are great.

[bls5555]

agree with the above poster. That florissant, black jack, bellefontain rd. area is not someplace you will want to set up shop in. Head across the river to Edwardsville, Collinsville or Fairview Heights (though Fairview Heights is a bit longer drive than the other 2) and you will be in a very nice area that is expanding so your house value will in all likelihood keep rising.

[StlMick829]

Originally Posted by FLonthemove

Hello,
I may be taking an administrative job that is located on Bellefontaine road. I'll be going on a site visit first, but I'd like to have an idea of what I'm walking into. Any hints are appreciated.

What are the chances of finding a safe, nice place to live in the Bellefontaine road/area? Any recommendations (me and my 75 lb mutt)? I've tried doing some searches, but haven't called an agent yet. I'd love to get some St. Louis natives' opinions.

My internet searches for the area have turned up things like 'combat zone' and then also some hints that areas are being refurbished, and that there are some older, safe neighborhoods. I really want to avoid a nightmarish commute (already doing that in FL).

If I buy, I'd be a first-timer, 65k income range. I'm from FL, so my perspectives are skewed on home prices, anything (well, except CA and NY city) seems cheaper.

Am I naive to think about living in this area of town?

Florissant is a neat and great place to live with lots of history, but also many newer homes being built in the last few years, which has helped property values rise 23% from 2004-05 as evidenced by this article http://www.findarticles.com/p/articl...9/ai_n14830882. There is a beautiful section of town called Old Town with some buildings dating back to the 1790's and early 1800's, and many improvements are being made in the city the last few years that I have witnessed which is helping to redevelop some shopping centers that were outdated.

Everything you need is there, I think there are like 9 or 10 grocery stores in the city, where ever you live in the city will be close to what you need the city just won an award for best new shopping center in Missouri with the new Shoppes at Cross Keys. The city has 18 parks, there is a beautiful park on the Missouri River named Sunset Park which they are renovating to include a nature area, camping grounds, a nature lodge, and even a marina. There is a new bike trail running through the city that eventually when all the work is completed will connect the River and Sunset Park to the heart of Florissant which is Old Town. There are two Civic Centers in the city, each on the opposite end, which have indoor pools and great workout rooms.

It is very conveinant to where you will be working only about a 5-10 minute commute I would say, just hop right onto 270 and you'll be there in a flash, because most of the traffic in that area of 270 in the morning will be commuting the the opposite way from Illinois into Missouri your commute should not be a problem.

Florissant is about as safe as you can get, in fact one of the safest cities in America for its size. The most recent crime statistics in 2005 Florissant had a crime index of 135, which ranks up there with places like Chesterfield that other St. Louisans consider to be very safe, and if you look on the city website http://www.florissantmo.com/local/current/crime.htm (broken link) you will see that crime has even decreased more in 2006 which is amazing consider how low it already was in the past.

I encourage you to look into Florissant and dont be turned away by people with false misconceptions of the area, at least give it a try and a look, its probably the closest and best place to live with where you will be working. It is a friendly community and great place to live. Just my opinion.