What do you like most, and what do you like least about Alexandria (Baton Rouge: low income)

[alamosakid]

After buying the Places Rated Almanac, taking the 72-question questionnaire, and going through all 400 pages, Alexandria, LA, appears to be my best match with respect to housing, ambiance, recreation, and climate, the four most important factors personally. I'm a college student originally from Detroit, MI, studying in CO and trying to figure out where I would best fit in before going on a prepaid, cross-country roadtrip in the spring in order to check places out. I expect to work in the administrative field ($15-25k/year), seeing as that's what I'm doing now, most likely as an admin. assistant or secretary, or working for a non-profit if I decide to enter Americorps Vista.

So I'm curious, for those of you who live there, what do you like best about Alexandria, Louisiana, and what do you like least? Please answer with respect to each of the following arenas:

Recreation:
Landscape:
Housing:
Cost of Living:
Politics:
People:
Overall:

Thanks.

[SacalaitWhisperer]

The best thing about that area are the pies.

[Vermando]

Recreation: not a lot going on for a young person. Mostly chain restaurants, few local charming ones. A couple of good bars, no good bar-district. But, great hunting and fishing - that's what folks do around here! And, festivals. Near Cajun country so lots of things to do qua festivals, juke joints, etc., if you're willing to drive to them. Otherwise, it's a place for folks with kids, etc., and others who don't need a great downtown.
Landscape & Housing: Want a yard? I hope so. How about living on a bayou - that's beautiful, right? In other words, beautiful rural and / or suburban living, but apartment not so much.
Cost of Living: Dirt effing cheap compared to almost any other place in the country. Hooray!
Politics: Democratic mayor, conservative state.
People: friendly as hell. It's why I like the place - great folks here. But, not sophisticated, especially educated, etc. So, if you're looking for San Francisco ... yeah, move there.
Overall: Wonderful place if you're suited for it. But, if you're suite for some place else, go there instead.

[mhounit]

I'll admit that it's been nearly ten years since my last trip to Alex. , but I remember those stupid traffic circles and the crumby streets in general .

[CookieSkoon]

Alexandria is certainly a better place for the quiet type than Baton Rouge!

[brother's keeper]

Originally Posted by alamosakid

After buying the Places Rated Almanac, taking the 72-question questionnaire, and going through all 400 pages, Alexandria, LA, appears to be my best match with respect to housing, ambiance, recreation, and climate, the four most important factors personally. I'm a college student originally from Detroit, MI, studying in CO and trying to figure out where I would best fit in before going on a prepaid, cross-country roadtrip in the spring in order to check places out. I expect to work in the administrative field ($15-25k/year), seeing as that's what I'm doing now, most likely as an admin. assistant or secretary, or working for a non-profit if I decide to enter Americorps Vista.

So I'm curious, for those of you who live there, what do you like best about Alexandria, Louisiana, and what do you like least? Please answer with respect to each of the following arenas:

Recreation:
Landscape:
Housing:
Cost of Living:
Politics:
People:
Overall:

Thanks.

I'm probably not the most qualified but i'll give it a try since I am from there

Recreation: There is much to be desired in this area but there are several hip hop and more grown and mature Afro American oriented clubs for the more sophisticated crowd throughout the city(I see you are from Detroit and assumed you probably were AA)There are also sports bars, bowling alleys, movie theaters, a skating rink museums, several parks, and the zoo,etc

Landscape: I would the say the city is very green more than anything...You would notice alot of trees coverage in almost all neighborhoods and I think there is a forest or something immediately right outside city limits...Oh yeah Alexandria also sits on the Red River.

Housing: Depends on what you looking for but the housing but you would have better variety of options the higher your income...I've noticed most low income areas have alot of shotguns and smaller homes in general...Middle class sections of the city have alot of brick and wood homes that are bigger and usually in better condition...Uppers scale sections of the city have alot big Antebellum Southern Plantation looking homes or like your typical higher income suburban area...There are also alot of apartment options in all classes.

Cost of Living: Again depends on what area you live in but I guess you can say it's cheap relatively speaking and I would definitely think it would be cheaper than Detroit.

Polotics: This has been a Democratic stronghold for a while I think.


People: The people are okay I guess..There is the stereotypical Southern hospitality aspect in that many people generally speak to you just for looking there direction..I tend to hang in the African American community of the city though I've ran across to my surprise people from all over the world hear and excluding a few bad incidents most have been cool

Overall: I would say Alexandria is alight place to live depending on your financial stability and the relationships you make...But I guess you could say that about anywhere.

[brother's keeper]

Originally Posted by Vermando

Recreation: not a lot going on for a young person. Mostly chain restaurants, few local charming ones. A couple of good bars, no good bar-district. But, great hunting and fishing - that's what folks do around here! And, festivals. Near Cajun country so lots of things to do qua festivals, juke joints, etc., if you're willing to drive to them. Otherwise, it's a place for folks with kids, etc., and others who don't need a great downtown.
Landscape & Housing: Want a yard? I hope so. How about living on a bayou - that's beautiful, right? In other words, beautiful rural and / or suburban living, but apartment not so much.
Cost of Living: Dirt effing cheap compared to almost any other place in the country. Hooray!
Politics: Democratic mayor, conservative state.
People: friendly as hell. It's why I like the place - great folks here. But, not sophisticated, especially educated, etc. So, if you're looking for San Francisco ... yeah, move there.
Overall: Wonderful place if you're suited for it. But, if you're suite for some place else, go there instead.

Obviously you haven't spent much time in Alexandria...The city has most basic entertainment amenities of other cities...There is no bayou anywhere near here...I've never gotten a rural feel within city limits..There are numerous apartments all over town..Although many lack education in the city just as many have some degree of college education(myself included)...Don't get me wrong..Alexandria is no Atlanta but it's no no hick town either(although we do have our share of rednecks)

[RGeorgeRLTOR]

The best of Alexandria.....For me I enjoy the slow pace of the Alexandria and Pineville area. The only places that are ever extremely busy are the restaurants. Alexandria doesn't feel like it's ever going to grow to it's potential. And by potential I mean utilizing it's location in the middle of the state with only an hour or two away from Shreveport, Lafayette, Lake Charles, and Baton Rouge. So if your looking for a slow pace in life with very minimal to do then Alexandria is for you.

Dislikes would follow alongside what I like about the city. It's to slow for me. Very minimal business growth with the mentality of people wanting to maintain the historic preservation of the city. I find it sad and upsetting that opening a new restaurant is about the most anticipation people will get all year. Only to have it close a few years later....(Copeland's, Cabo Rio.)
The people are friendly. The traffic conditions only get congested around 8am and 5pm. and thats usually clear 45 minutes after.
Cost of Living is average. The average home price for our area is around 142,000 with one standard deviation above being 189,000 and one below being 89,000. There are plenty of houses sitting on the market in the $220+. Sitting because of previous comments about lack of business being brought to Alexandria.
Overall I would rate the city as a 4 out of 10 for anyone under 40. And a 7 out of 10 for any above 40.