Fort Wayne here I come! (Indianapolis: neighborhoods, high school, living in) - (IN) - Page 2 - City-Data Forum

wh15395 · 09-01-2010, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbprincess

I am 20 yrs old and my husband is 27 and we have a 3 year old. we are thinking about moveing from california to fort wayne to start a new life. we are both very adventrous and willing to relocate if we like it here. i mean how is it to live here? how is the crime rate? are there lots of gangs etc.

It depends on where you live. Fort Wayne in general is so affordable that you would probably be able to avoid the high crime areas of the city. Other than the Southeast Side Fort Wayne is pretty safe. My personal opinion is to tell you that Indianapolis may be a better option. From experience growing up in Fort Wayne, I can tell you that your child will probably be bored in Fort Wayne when they grow up and constantly talking about wishing they would live elsewhere. Is there a specific reason you are looking at Fort Wayne?

whatsthebigdeal · 09-01-2010, 04:51 PM

where is this SE crime ridden area of Fort Wayne? I have friends who live on Pettit and Anthony, as well as S. Fairfield, all in the Southgate area, and I have not experienced any uneasy feeling about the people around me. My friends who live there have never had any issues either.

hart4july · 09-01-2010, 05:45 PM

There are parts of SE Ft Wayne that continue to be desirable for people who like older homes and proximity to Foster Park and downtown. This area is Southwood Park, Rudisill Ave near Foster Pk and the area SE? of Calhoun ( sorry can't recall the name of this neighborhood) is somewhat less desirable but also nicer. This is not a gang area, but its proximity to the low income crime heavy areas make for a bit more crime that Forest Park ( Northside)area, at least that is the perception.

Lots of hardworking, watchful people live there. I used to live in this area and would again. I felt safer in SW Allen, and the schools are better. But its a very charming area of town, a nice option for families who like West Central but want amore family oriented feel.

MoheJohe · 09-01-2010, 07:53 PM

I have lived in Ohio, Michigan, and now Indiana... I LOVE Fort Wayne. It is great for raising a family. We keep very busy with classes, parks, shopping, and eating out. Our kids really like it here and prefer it over the last school they attended which was in a college town and known for its diversity but my children never really felt like they fit in there and were often over looked because they were so very normal they simply got lost in the system. They prefer the slower family pace here and have no problems at all with bullying etc. The schools have been fantastic. I live in NWAC but have driven all over Fort Wayne and even the stereotyped bad areas are not as bad as what I some of what I witnessed in the other states. ( I have lived near gang areas been stopped in the street by teenagers with colors etc.. I know all about areas you do not drive in after dark.. I personally have not seen that here) I have not seen a gang sign yet in the 8 months we have been here. I live in a nice middle class sub and really enjoy it. I feel very safe walking my dog after dark and that was not something I would have attempted else where. My husband and I are not big on the club scene but there are a few that are advertised ( I read about a comedy club, there are concerts and a theater down town that hosts occasional big names etc) I am also impressed with the public parks with the water play areas for my kids. I would suggest NWAC and SWAC for schools but the best information you can get is experience.. take a week and visit Fort Wayne look around and see the different areas. Fort Wayne to me represents the small town feel in the city. My family could not be happier. Good Luck!!

whatsthebigdeal · 09-02-2010, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hart4july

Lots of hardworking, watchful people live there. I used to live in this area and would again. I felt safer in SW Allen, and the schools are better. But its a very charming area of town, a nice option for families who like West Central but want amore family oriented feel.

I see. I guess it all comes down to perception because I am used to living in neighborhoods that aren't necessarily bad, they just are somewhat close to bad areas, and I mean areas where shots are fired every night and someone usually gets injured or killed. I really don't think any of Fort Wayne has that. Some of my very sheltered friends won't take walks with me down Calhoun when it gets close to Creighton or Pontiac, but I love that area of Fort Wayne, it actually feels like a city there. It seems that alot of folks in Fort Wayne would just ignore the working class and working poor in Fort Wayne and justify it by saying they live in a dangerous area, when the crime is probably only slightly higher, if it is at all.

Also, just out of curiosity, how does West Central not have a family feel? If I were to raise a family in Fort Wayne, I would almost certainly want to do it in the West Central neighborhood.

wh15395 · 09-02-2010, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whatsthebigdeal

I see. I guess it all comes down to perception because I am used to living in neighborhoods that aren't necessarily bad, they just are somewhat close to bad areas, and I mean areas where shots are fired every night and someone usually gets injured or killed. I really don't think any of Fort Wayne has that. Some of my very sheltered friends won't take walks with me down Calhoun when it gets close to Creighton or Pontiac, but I love that area of Fort Wayne, it actually feels like a city there. It seems that alot of folks in Fort Wayne would just ignore the working class and working poor in Fort Wayne and justify it by saying they live in a dangerous area, when the crime is probably only slightly higher, if it is at all.

I agree with you completly. It is the one part of Fort Wayne that really has a nice city vibe. I think the city should get to redeveloping that area with restaurants and bars instead of focusing solely on downtown.

edwardianlady · 09-02-2010, 01:15 PM

I was going to make a reply but then I noticed that the thread is a year old .

cdr18 · 09-03-2010, 08:23 PM

That area is getting redeveloped, slightly. But let's be honest, who wants to own a business/restaurant when there is a crowd there that will most likely cause trouble. Security has to be in best condition or your business is at risk. Stereotypical? Yes. Truth? Yes.

hart4july · 09-03-2010, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whatsthebigdeal

I see. I guess it all comes down to perception because I am used to living in neighborhoods that aren't necessarily bad, they just are somewhat close to bad areas, and I mean areas where shots are fired every night and someone usually gets injured or killed. I really don't think any of Fort Wayne has that. Some of my very sheltered friends won't take walks with me down Calhoun when it gets close to Creighton or Pontiac, but I love that area of Fort Wayne, it actually feels like a city there. It seems that alot of folks in Fort Wayne would just ignore the working class and working poor in Fort Wayne and justify it by saying they live in a dangerous area, when the crime is probably only slightly higher, if it is at all.

Also, just out of curiosity, how does West Central not have a family feel? If I were to raise a family in Fort Wayne, I would almost certainly want to do it in the West Central neighborhood.

I know what you mean about people being sheltered and avoiding areas of Ft Wayne that are perfectly safe for daylight outings. Its too bad because there are so many great areas of Ft Wayne.

I have lived in both West Central and Southwood Park, granted its been a awhile. I just think that Southwood Park is MORE family oriented by comparison. A park you can walk to on a quiet street, more kids, further from dowtown but close enough to get there.That does not mean that raising a family in West Central can't be an excellent choice. I offer my opinions for people who are unfamiliar w/ an area as a staring point for popular opinion . Popular opinion is somthing you can further examine for yourself. But I think tht's what many people want when they are looking at where to settle in a strange town.

Also, in response to the poster who declared that kids would get bored as they grew older, my children like living in Phoenix but they really miss the Fort. They would move back tomorrow! Its a great place to raise a family amenities to good schools to grounded people.

whatsthebigdeal · 09-04-2010, 12:20 AM

I understand Hart4July. I was not trying to be snide or anything in your evaluation, but I am actually thinking about such issues after recently getting married and knowing that my job is going to keep me in the Fort for longer than it usually does. I guess when I think of West Central, I think of kids playing at that Christian school of Jefferson, wakling through Moody Park, taking my dogs for walks in the abandoned GE parking lot, as well as the rest of the great walker and bike-friendly ways. To me, West Central is every bit as family centered as the upper middle class neighborhoods of Chicago such as Lincoln Park and Beverly on the southside. I do believe that Southwood is very family centered, though you and I seem to be in the minority on these boards on that one.