Increasing Violent Crime Rates (Indianapolis, Lawrence: buying, live in, prices)

[MaxLMG]

Seems like it's just a one-off situation. The areas where I would legitimately consider 'bad' is the east side like 56th and Shadeland which is run down, and the west side around 38th, highschool road, and lafayette road. There has been many shootings at Lafayette Square Mall which is really not a mall anymore, it's more like a urban shop inside the mall.


The apartment complexes around 38th and up to about Eagle Creek are not that great. Avon is fine, and Eagle Creek isn't an unsafe park, but in general that whole westside area within the 465 loop is unsafe. The first police officer who was killed this year was shot on the westside near Eagle Creek. I find abandoned malls interesting, and if you are looking for something to check out, Lafayette Square Mall used to be a booming mall from what I understand back several decades ago, but is now completely run down. I went there last winter to get some food. There's an asian restaurant called Fujan Cafe that gives a lot of food for cheap. There's also a good Indian restaurant across (but not inside) called Spice Nation, that I recommend to people.

The shootings at Broad Ripple does not make it a 'bad area'. In fact, I'm sure the people who did the shooting probably don't even live there. It's just where the violence happened to occur. The spots like on the west side, east side, and edges of inner city downtown arer legitimate lower income people.

I've never really felt unsafe unless I was at the east side or west side locations. I think if you just use your head you will be fine. Sometimes people are in the wrong place at the wrong time, that's all.

[MaxLMG]

It's funny bc I met a realtor here and she knew I was from Indianapolis and she was harping about how cheap a house was off 38th on the westside not far from highschool rd. just inside the 465 loop and that Indianapolis has "cheap houses" aka Marion County. I told her most people work in Marion County, but live outside "Indianapolis". I told her as a single female, if she wants to buy it and live in it at the location knock yourself out...........lol.

[Toxic Toast]

Originally Posted by MaxLMG

The areas where I would legitimately consider 'bad' is the east side like 56th and Shadeland which is run down

If the area by Lawrence Central scares you, then........wow.

[MaxLMG]

I looked near that area when I first moved, then decided to go to Castleton instead. Lawrence is ok, but I wouldn't consider it great or anything. I'd live in Plainfield before Lawrence.

[ruascott]

56th and shadelend? That doesn't even really exist, shadeland merges into 465 for a while in that area. And it's not a bad area. Rough areas of town are like post rd between I 70 and Pendleton pike. Also jut about anything between 38th and roughly 20th on the east side or north side. West side in similar size pockets is really rough as well.

[MaxLMG]

Around 56th/Shadeland, not the literal area. I agree with Post Rd/I-70, Pendleton Pike.

Westside is from Rockville, up to 56th near Eagle Creek near the 465 loop I'd consider a bad area as well. It's worn down and primarly lower income.

[ischyros]

The only thing scary about 56th and Shadeland is the new homes Lawrence has built that are tiny and right on top of each other with driveways barely long enough to hold a single car. Fishers has too many of those neighborhoods, too.

[Serious Conversation]

Originally Posted by MaxLMG

Seems like it's just a one-off situation. The areas where I would legitimately consider 'bad' is the east side like 56th and Shadeland which is run down, and the west side around 38th, highschool road, and lafayette road. There has been many shootings at Lafayette Square Mall which is really not a mall anymore, it's more like a urban shop inside the mall.


The apartment complexes around 38th and up to about Eagle Creek are not that great. Avon is fine, and Eagle Creek isn't an unsafe park, but in general that whole westside area within the 465 loop is unsafe. The first police officer who was killed this year was shot on the westside near Eagle Creek. I find abandoned malls interesting, and if you are looking for something to check out, Lafayette Square Mall used to be a booming mall from what I understand back several decades ago, but is now completely run down. I went there last winter to get some food. There's an asian restaurant called Fujan Cafe that gives a lot of food for cheap. There's also a good Indian restaurant across (but not inside) called Spice Nation, that I recommend to people.

The shootings at Broad Ripple does not make it a 'bad area'. In fact, I'm sure the people who did the shooting probably don't even live there. It's just where the violence happened to occur. The spots like on the west side, east side, and edges of inner city downtown arer legitimate lower income people.

I've never really felt unsafe unless I was at the east side or west side locations. I think if you just use your head you will be fine. Sometimes people are in the wrong place at the wrong time, that's all.

The worst thing about the BR shootings, IMO, is that they are random. People were just shot on the street. If only a few neighborhoods or streets are bad, you know to stay out of those places, but when there is a large amount of random violence, that's terrorism.

[Concerned Aunt 936]

I'm the OP.... I've been sitting back and watching this thread and reading everyone's various opinions. As I've said earlier, I was shot at twice in Sept 2012 and held at gunpoint twice, once in April 2013 and again in May 2013. I've been noticing throughout the thread one particular opinion that keeps coming up and that's low income people. I may not be the most educated person (which has also been mentioned), I'm also Caucasian (which race has also been mentioned). I'm a single mother supporting 2 children. Times are rough throughout the year, especially Christmas time. I don't go waving a gun around and threating/ killing people because of desperation. Honestly, I've never even touched one.

Everyone has a choice in life on what road to follow. That is THEIR choice. I was raised in poverty, with the single mom on welfare. I was abused mentally and physically growing up. Once I reached a certain age, I CHOSE TO BE DIFFERENT THAN THOSE AROUND ME. Do I consider myself "better" than anyone, NO I don't. I choose to work two jobs, I choose not to be on welfare, I choose not to follow in the same steps that were laid before me. I am however the minority, I always will be, and therefore will always be "judged" as "part of the problem" because of my education, upbringing, and income level.

This thread has, IMO, become off topic.

[Concerned Aunt 936]

With that said, back to the original topic "How do you feel we can decrease the increasing crime rates in Indy?"