Is Bowie still a good a city?

[bowian]

Originally Posted by Blochwave

If i can jump in, I was looking at The Meridian at Bowie apartments, which are in what I'm assuming is the "E" section (I can put two and two together!)

Y'all are talking about more crime and worse areas than the other, nicer parts of Bowie, but in an absolute sense, is it particularly bad for, say, a single guy? I understand I'm not in the nicest, safest city on earth (we're probably in the wrong country for that, sadly), but if I'm living away from the urban centers like downtown Silver Spring, I'd like to get some of the benefits that are supposed to come with that, like less crime.

This website (which I just stumbled onto) seems to imply the specific neighborhood the apartments are in are sorta separated from the higher crime areas by Mitchelville Road: Moderator cut: link removed, linking to competitor sites is not allowed
Does that ring true to you guys?

Someone was recently robbed while sitting out front at the Meridian. Crazy.

[Blochwave]

Originally Posted by bowian

Someone was recently robbed while sitting out front at the Meridian. Crazy.

Ah, here's the story: Police: Bowie Man Robbed at Gunpoint on Elder Oaks Boulevard - Bowie, MD Patch

That's a pretty bold crime! Makes me wonder, I usually don't have cash on me, so what happens when I tell the guy he's SOL unless he wants to dig through the change in my car?

[EducatedBro82]

They will rob you of your iPhone/Android/ or $200+ shoes that you have on. Then just beat you or pistol whip you. Im not joking either

[Big Fred]

Hey Everyone:


This thread is great!!! I looking to buy in Bowie early part of 2020. Is there good Bowie neighborhoods you guys recommend? From the thread, I see 20715, 20721, and parts of 20720 are good. Is this still good assessment?


Thanks!!!

[Turnerbro]

Originally Posted by Big Fred

Hey Everyone:


This thread is great!!! I looking to buy in Bowie early part of 2020. Is there good Bowie neighborhoods you guys recommend? From the thread, I see 20715, 20721, and parts of 20720 are good. Is this still good assessment?


Thanks!!!

Depends on your price range and what you're looking for. Are schools and shopping important to you? There's two main types if neighborhoods in Bowie. On one hand you have the older smaller Levitt built houses near 450 Belair DR , Rockledge and Yorktown. You also have the newer larger neighborhoods like Saddlebrook, Glenallen, and Northwood.

[sittilove]

Originally Posted by PGC Native

The Pointer Ridge area (south Bowie, late 60's and early 70's Levitt neighborhoods) are not as safe or desirable as north Bowie. The contemporary 70's housing line (Peach Walker Drive area and Nottinghill Drive in S. Bowie) are not holding up well. Many homes are in disrepair with yards overgrown or homeowners have tried to turn the houses into more "colonial" designs, rather unsuccessfully. It looks junky and messy, IMO compared to the well-manicured streets of north Bowie. There are far more rentals, Section 8 vouchers and group homes in Pointer Ridge than other parts of town. Break ins, armed robberies, and car thefts are not unheard of in Pointer Ridge. The only section in 20716 I would consider on a $300,000 budget is Holiday Hills.

While I don't think anyone is in terrible danger in South Bowie, I think it's best to look at all options. You will see many of the same floorplan/home designs that you can find in North Bowie in Pointer Ridge for significantly less money. There is a reason for this.

The bolded above is purely racialized language with no basis in fact. "Safe and desirable" is specifically coded language, but what basis do you have to say this other than that there are more black faces in South Bowie (which is the only reason the houses are more affordable--look at our history if you need more explanation on that).

There is no rampant crime, section 8 or rentals to any greater extent than there are in North Bowie. South Bowie is actually really beautiful and have that brand new library there that is top notch. Its more rural since it is closer to Upper Marlboro, but that's about it. I've driven through their plenty of times and the only difference I see is that there are more black faces that way than up North.
You are actively trying to stir people away from an area simply because it is black, which is actually the cause of any future problems the neighborhood might face. That's disgusting.

[ArcticH]

Originally Posted by sittilove

The bolded above is purely racialized language with no basis in fact. "Safe and desirable" is specifically coded language, but what basis do you have to say this other than that there are more black faces in South Bowie (which is the only reason the houses are more affordable--look at our history if you need more explanation on that).

There is no rampant crime, section 8 or rentals to any greater extent than there are in North Bowie. South Bowie is actually really beautiful and have that brand new library there that is top notch. Its more rural since it is closer to Upper Marlboro, but that's about it. I've driven through their plenty of times and the only difference I see is that there are more black faces that way than up North.
You are actively trying to stir people away from an area simply because it is black, which is actually the cause of any future problems the neighborhood might face. That's disgusting.

It’s a post from 2013, maybe Bowie was different back then,

[sittilove]

Originally Posted by ArcticH

It’s a post from 2013, maybe Bowie was different back then,

It was not any different back then than it is now. Since 2013, crime in Bowie has not increased any more than crime any other place (with population increases).

[908Boi]

Originally Posted by PGC Native

The Pointer Ridge area (south Bowie, late 60's and early 70's Levitt neighborhoods) are not as safe or desirable as north Bowie. The contemporary 70's housing line (Peach Walker Drive area and Nottinghill Drive in S. Bowie) are not holding up well. Many homes are in disrepair with yards overgrown or homeowners have tried to turn the houses into more "colonial" designs, rather unsuccessfully. It looks junky and messy, IMO compared to the well-manicured streets of north Bowie. There are far more rentals, Section 8 vouchers and group homes in Pointer Ridge than other parts of town. Break ins, armed robberies, and car thefts are not unheard of in Pointer Ridge. The only section in 20716 I would consider on a $300,000 budget is Holiday Hills.

While I don't think anyone is in terrible danger in South Bowie, I think it's best to look at all options. You will see many of the same floorplan/home designs that you can find in North Bowie in Pointer Ridge for significantly less money. There is a reason for this.

Peach Walker Drive:
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.9184...7i16384!8i8192


Nottinghill Drive
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.9302...7i16384!8i8192

disrepair? overgorwn yards? junky? messy?

[Turnerbro]

According to the data on this site Bowie is safer than Fairfax.