What do you LOVE/HATE bout your town?

[tyandhope]

This has given me alot of information. Thanks to all who are posting. I'm in Roanoke VA right now, loves would be the scenery and people the dislikes would be the rise in gang activity/involvement, please don't get me wrong, it's not like a huge city but I never had to deal with it at all before this year and my children have been very much aware of it and they go to county schools. I'm moving to Williamsburg Va, any advice for me about the Jamestown High School district or the Pocahontas Trail area? All information would be greatly appreciated. Roanoke is a nice place to live, it's just beginning to deal with some of the same problems a much bigger city has to. Also, there's not much to do for teenagers around here.

[Stonecoldharbours]

I LOVE this area, it is so opposite of Newport News, I feel like I died and went to heaven! The roadtrip down 220 to Roanoke is awesome!

[Alanboy395]

Originally Posted by CAKASK

Well I am from another state and have a little apartment in Del Ray - Alexandria, while I work here - but I still go home regularly. While I can agree with some of your post I have a "little" concern about the "low crime" - I guess compared to DC - but it is by no means crime free.
In November (?) 2006, my car was parked on the street and someone smashed my driver's side rear window damaging the frame/body just a little: cost (although covered by insurance) was around $1,800.

A couple months later my car was broken into and my camera stolen from the truck.

Another few months and my car was broken into again - this time just loose change was taken.

On a more serious note, there was a murder at Commonwealth and Mt.Vernon with a women shot in her car- although it was reported that she was a witness against a violent gang I think this was fall/winter 2006-2007. and then the day after the VT rampage, 2 men were found dead in the street on Route 1 between Delray and Old Town. (This made 3 people in a few months about 2 miles apart.)

Some of the homes in Delray are GORGEOUS. . but it is dis-heartening that almost everything is $600,000 and up - and your gorgeous craftsman or art deco house can be next to a dump with the "sofa" on the porch.

yea, i do sorta agree. no place is crime-free espically Alexandria and Hampton.

I live in the Landmark area and a year ago someone got shot and killed in a car on S Whiting St. and there have been been three robberies that came a little close to home. One was committed by someone i went to TC Williams with, and two happened in front of my building. There are more and more robberies and crime happening on Edsall Rd, more or the Fairfax Co. side of the road but still close enough to the Alexandria city line to cause concern.

I think the Landmark area has a couple of crime issues, but with DC and PG county and even the Alexandria area of Fairfax County or where i now "used" to work Bailey's Crossroads/Seven Corners close by i feel lucky i don't have to deal with crime in a huge way.

[VA_Native]

Petersburg, I grow up here and I love it here, I think we got a bad reputation because of our crime and poor school system but what city doesn't have problems? Pros- the city is reviving
Cons- the poor school system

[Lisa_from_Debary]

There is too much for me to write that I love so I will tell you what I hate.

The next town over and a little south has an airport...I often see and hear the small planes as they fly over...one crashed yesterday and destroyed two homes and killed 3 people on the ground...seriously injuring 3 others...

I HATE it that that airport is so close by.

We live in a nice neighborhood...safe for the most part however in the last year there has been a report of a peeping tom AND just recently, someone who sleeps with their windows open at night, had someone come in and steal a laptop computer out of a bedroom where the window was open.

[citygirlturnedcountry]

Finding a home in a safe area, that is affordable, not in desperate need of repair and not overly county assessed is difficult to find! The good news is that the real estate market is bombing - good for buyers, bad for sellers. I am with Pamela, forget prestige and go for safe, especially if children are involved. FWIW - my fiance and I are in the same situation. We are looking into Warren and Fauquire (sp?) counties. At the moment, seems to be the most bang for the buck. Best Wishes!

[Stonecoldharbours]

I don't think there ever was a murder ever where I live now, I think like 20 years ago a passerby motorist killed someone, but nothing since then...my life will be longer cause I won't have to worry bout getting murdered here, you can walk at night and your safe...of course nothing is crime free but small towns rule!~

[Wi_Girl]

Newport News: positive - City has a great variety of classes for children and adults, great swimming program at the Midtown Community Center. Good amount of jobs offered, has some decent neighborhoods, close to Busch Gardens and Water Country

negative - too much traffic, over religious people, not all that great of schools, expensive housing, high crime

We plan to move away in 3 years, as soon as we get our degrees. We've decided this area is not the place for us to raise a family. But that's just us, others may love it.

[Neifi "the finest" Perez]

Crime in Williamsburg? I'm surprised, its just a little college town correct? William & Mary

I've only been there once and it seemed like a very safe area and very upper classish