Boca vs. Delray (Fort Lauderdale, Mission Bay: fit in, real estate, apartments)

[compelled to reply]

How come the western areas of Broward County are actually more "ethnic" than most of the east side? East Broward is pretty much just white and black, but the west end has more Hispanics and Asians, still has plenty of few blacks and is more integrated. I really would like to hear your opinion since I have heard so many.

[Desdemona25]

Originally Posted by fishwiz

Definitely do Boca. The schools are much better!!! like a previous poster mentioned, there are not many "bad" areas in Boca. GREAT parks too. Delray has a better downtown and cheaper beaches. The schools are not great, with the one exception being the High school, they have an IB program. (Atlantic HS)

The other exception would be Morikami Park Elementary. It's the elementary host to the IB program and doesn't have a set attendance boundary--admission by lottery only. I was trying to get my daughter in here as a second grader, but she wasn't accepted. Fortunately, she ended up testing into the gifted program.

[FL Beaches]

LOL! I have to laugh since I disagree with a few opinions here and am a bit the opposite. As a single parent, the gated communities definitely attracted me. Also, Palm Beach Community College's campus in Boca is great. Now at 4.5 years since leaving, I still keep in contact with about four of the professors I had. Also, count me in as one who would only buy property WEST of 95.

[joanie55]

Well I can certainly understand why this is confusing to you. PBC boy is right on target with his comments. Boca's a safer area with better schools than Delray. The only interesting part of Delray is east along Atlantic Ave but the area is spotty - there is no zoning - you can be living in a very nice renovated home and next door is a boarded up crack house. But, as has been said, Boca is not only snooty, but the people can be very rude as well and people are very superficial. Right now I'm living in Boynton (have lived in both east Boca, central Boca and Delray) and I can say that even though it is high crime (I live on the intracoastal) I can handle the people here better than those in Boca. Personally, I'm planning to leave Florida for either Atlanta or Charleston, SC. People here are just too unfriendly for my taste. But, bottom line, considering you have kids, go to Boca. The schools are better - Spanish River High is the best, plus they have an excellent private school, Pinecrest, if you can afford it -it's very pricey. Good luck to you!

[Sharkey514]

What do you all think are the best family gated-communities in Boca...and best investments....Sorry, we can't afford anything East or on the inercoastal. We found a great house in Highland Beach, but can't afford the insurance. We are looking in Boca - even though we said that we wouldn't live there -- we have to move out of Coral Springs. School is no issue, as our kids go to faith-based school already.

[lori2626]

Not able to comment on schools in either area, but personally would not want to raise them around the vultures in Boca. While it's a beautiful area, the people are not exactly friendly, in fact most are flat out rude. It is definitely a clique-y place and about as plastic as you can get...it's like the "East Coast LA". As a single female, I couldn't stand living there and moved on a fully paid year lease before it was up.

[john-staten island]

Originally Posted by lori2626

Not able to comment on schools in either area, but personally would not want to raise them around the vultures in Boca. While it's a beautiful area, the people are not exactly friendly, in fact most are flat out rude. It is definitely a clique-y place and about as plastic as you can get...it's like the "East Coast LA". As a single female, I couldn't stand living there and moved on a fully paid year lease before it was up.

I've been a part time resident of Boca since 2003, to me it's the cleanest,safest,small city in SE FL. I live East of 95,walk to everything,library is great,beach is a treasure,Publix,etc close by. Barnes/Noble,Mall, movie theater,10 minute drive. Schools are very good,violent crime is rare,property crime,car break-ins,do happen a bit.It is no doubt an affluent area which I find as a positive. Great shopping,clean streets,low tolerance for crime, quiet,respectfull neighbors. Delray Beach is also a nice little town, great beach,busy street or two downtown and thats about it. I wouldn't let rude/arrogant people deter me from living in Boca, just learn to laugh at characters like that.They take themselves way to serious,you don't have to.

[justNancy]

People say Naples is very unfriendly too, but you can meet good & bad people anywhere. I can't imagine a town being snobbier than Naples. Still, there's an advantage to living in a community where people are affluent as John stated above. Boca is a very pretty, upscale city. I hate to admit this, but there's a lot I like about gated communities. I grew up in a quiet neighborhood in MA where people felt safe enough to keep their doors unlocked, but it's a different world now. I also like the idea of deed restrictions. Imagine buying a nice house and having a neighbor who doesn't mow his lawn or keeps an unsightly trailer in his driveway. Then there's that never ending issue of barking dogs. I love dogs, but who wants to hear them barking at 2 in the morning? Before I moved to Florida 14 years ago, I never in my life imagined I'd be saying this! But sometimes rules can make life a little easier.

My Dad lived in Delray Beach for many years. I thought it was one of the most boring places I've ever visited. My Dad was in his 90s, so maybe I'm passing judgment on Delray Beach too harshly, since I mainly saw very old people at King's Point where he lived. The beach area was nice, although it was crowded. I guess most of Palm Beach County is congested, but it was July when my Dad passed away and some relatives stayed at the Marriott on Delray Beach. I was surprised at how difficult it was to find a parking space in the summer.

Originally Posted by joanie55

there is no zoning - you can be living in a very nice renovated home and next door is a boarded up crack house.

I didn't read this post until after I made my comment. Yes, this is one example of what I meant when I mentioned deed restrictions. I guess another word I was searching for in my head was "zoning." In some cities, you can move into a beautiful new home and discover your neighbor is raising chickens.

[Tungsten_Udder]

Originally Posted by justNancy

I also like the idea of deed restrictions. Imagine buying a nice house and having a neighbor who doesn't mow his lawn or keeps an unsightly trailer in his driveway . . .

It's much more difficult for me to imagine having the opinion that a trailer, or a work truck, or a boat, or a house painted a particular color, or particular kinds of landscaping, etc. is "unsightly". I can't imagine the kinds of things I'd have to think to have that opinion.

[justNancy]

Originally Posted by Tungsten_Udder

It's much more difficult for me to imagine having the opinion that a trailer, or a work truck, or a boat, or a house painted a particular color, or particular kinds of landscaping, etc. is "unsightly". I can't imagine the kinds of things I'd have to think to have that opinion.

Strange that you have that reaction to my post. I lived in a singlewide for several years which I've mentioned many times on this board. We also had to keep our lawns mowed and were not allowed to have rusted old trailer hitches or unsightly garbage in our yards. I don't think my post was snobby at all. You are reading way too much into it, that is, unless you don't feel that pride of ownership is important.