Is Lake Worth a Ghetto? (Palm Beach: homes, school, live in)

[Van Greco]

Yes, Lake Worth is rough in some parts. I live in Downtown West Palm and I feel far safer here than in Lake Worth. That said, I have never actually had any problems there. I really like Lake Avenue on a Friday/Saturday night. It has an old small Florida charm to it. I know better than to go walking off the main street though.

[Manny561]

Originally Posted by notpro

Where did you get your facts? Thats not even possible. POVERTY STRICKEN?! Wrong. I was in lake worth saturday night, and lake worth is far from being 75 to 90 % poverty stricken. Pahokee is 30% poverty stricken, and its WAAAAAAAAY more dangerous, delapitated, and ignored by the county. Moderator cut: link removed, linking to competitors sites is not allowed

Check your facts. Pahokee is nothing compared to lake worth. Belle Glade Maybe but there is typically one or two murders if that in pahokee a year. People get shot everyday in lake worth. Why do think the sheriffs took over the police department? Lake worth is unique because it is not a ghetto of just african americans. There are white ghettos, haitian ghettos, hispanic ghettos. Like i said there are 2 or 3 good neighborhoods(college park, the neighborhood east of federal, and the neighborhood west of A st. North of 10th ave north.) otherwise it is a city of cracked sidewalks, potholes, crackheads, crack dealers, gangs, guns, and violence. and yes the worst areas are on the southside 6th ave south all the way to lantana. but the northside is just as bad, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th ave north. G st. H st. horrible neighborhoods.

[caligirl0310]

I live in the Lake Osborne area by the Finnish Church. I have had no problems. I have no idea why someone advised people to stay away from Lake Osborne. It is super quiet and a nice neighborhood. I love downtown Lake Worth on Lake Ave. It is really funky and artsy. I love it actually and think it is much more fun than any neighborhood where I lived in San Diego. It is just so artsy and quaint, in a way it reminds me of a smaller version of the French Quarter in New Orleans.I have heard that there are bad areas near downtown and I don't venture into those areas. As for the homeless people, there are homeless people begging for change off the freeway but there are in any metropolitian area. I lived in a nice neighborhood in San Diego and it was like that there too. You just have to keep your car doors locked and don't make eye contact.If you aren't a city person, you may not like Lake Worth as it may be too rough around the edges for suburban or country types. However, I am a city person and I love it because it is very unique and I live only 4 miles from the beach. I couldn't do that in California, it just costs too much there.

[KAILANI]

Originally Posted by chiisai

It has some "still nice" areas. I was born in Good Sam in 66, and we have owned a home in Lake Worth for over 40 years. It is like all towns, areas go through highs and lows. Right now it is going through changes, with the economy the way is is now, it will take quite a while to come back.

As a kid there were many more "open spaces". Military Trail was only a two lane road, and pretty much was the town limit. There was nothing much beyond the Trail, other than scrub brush. Rt 441 was considered the boonies, and NO ONE wanted to live as far out as Wellington.

While things have changed drastically, there are more changes to come. It may seem like a depressed area right now, it should come back again.

AHHH the memories!! I totally remember that!!!

[KAILANI]

I did one of those, "let's drive by my old house" with my husband a few years back.

I could barely find the place. everything had changed BIG TIME. There was so many more strip malls, traffic lights, townhome developments, etc. I didn't recognize a thing... I was sad. Those were the good ol days...
I did notice how the deveopers were draining out the everglades, by placing tons of mini lakes and canals, so they could build MORE communities..... Drive down the turnpike, what a damn shame.. It used to be ALL TREES...
And poor Lake Worth, I had family there, what a tragedy...

[Team KH]

What about an area in Lake Worth called Vernon Heights? It looks rather nice from Google street view, but I believe it is close to some unsavory areas. Is it safe? The prices on homes are quite low.

[PBCboy]

Originally Posted by Team KH

What about an area in Lake Worth called Vernon Heights? It looks rather nice from Google street view, but I believe it is close to some unsavory areas. Is it safe? The prices on homes are quite low.

That is a newer neighborhood built alongside I-95. There was some land available there so it is directly near the old school Lake Worth section. The neighborhood itself likes nice but there are some issues on the letter streets east of it. 17th Ave N also has some of the newer style homes in that area if you're looking for that, and is even safer if you live in that section but west of the highway. Then again, the homes will also cost you more too...

[Manny561]

vernon heights borders a rough area to the east. 17th ave north is not a nice street if your east of A St. same with 18th and 19th and 16th and 15th and the rest of lake worth

[Team KH]

One more LW question: what about the areas around Lake Osborne? There are some nice older homes there, but the schools for that neighborhood are among the worst in PBC. What is the story?

[caligirl0310]

I live in Lake Osborne, and love it. It is a nice neighborhood. I have heard from my neighbor next door that the schools are bad, but my friend is a teacher and said that they are changing the districts and she might get laid off. So perhaps the district will change soon...I'm not sure. I don't know to much all my children have fur so they don't go to school. lol. Just some things I heard....