Is Orlando (east) safe enough to jog around?

[compelled to reply]

I predicted that all of that development in east Orlando would be a crime disaster just like Metrowest. Those neighborhoods along E. 50 were NEVER nice, EVER. It was always better than west of I-4 but still never good. All of the nice areas that are going to stay that way are in Seminole County because they are a good distance from anything bad. I would still jog around most of Waterford Lakes but not the majority of east Orlando (including the UCF area), and never would either.

[surfer boy]

Yup, the UCF area is definitely NOT a place to jog ladies.

[Wilshire81182]

Originally Posted by compelled to reply

I predicted that all of that development in east Orlando would be a crime disaster just like Metrowest. Those neighborhoods along E. 50 were NEVER nice, EVER. It was always better than west of I-4 but still never good. All of the nice areas that are going to stay that way are in Seminole County because they are a good distance from anything bad. I would still jog around most of Waterford Lakes but not the majority of east Orlando (including the UCF area), and never would either.

I agree with you whole heartedly about the east side. When I first moved here and was learning the different parts of town, I thought the same thing about Waterford and a lot of the areas of east Orange County. I just did not see it sustaining how nice it is over time for some reason. Almost like it was a fake nice instead of really nice like other parts of town. Part of it was the home prices, the other was how nasty the Union Park area is and how it is so close to 32828.

I just disagree that the only places that will stay nice are in Seminole County, even though a lot of them will be. I think there are a lof of places in SW, SE and Central Orange County that will stay nicer and other areas getting nicer. With the price of gas I think there is going to be a lot of gentrification within a 5 mile radius of downtown and a lot of the riffraff is going to be pushed into areas West and East. I see areas like Waterford, Ocoee, and Clermont deteriorating over time more than the older parts of town. I have read a lot of articles on it and examples of how this is happening in a lot of cities in California and elsewhere. For right now though, I think you have to be careful but not necessarily lock yourself in the house and sacrifice your fitness. You may want to jog with a friend or carry pepper spray, etc. as a first step. If you start to see suspicious activity or certain areas deteriorate, make the appropriate adjustments to your jogging path and plan of action.

[DailyJournalist]

Originally Posted by Wilshire81182

I agree with you whole heartedly about the east side. When I first moved here and was learning the different parts of town, I thought the same thing about Waterford and a lot of the areas of east Orange County. I just did not see it sustaining how nice it is over time for some reason. Almost like it was a fake nice instead of really nice like other parts of town. Part of it was the home prices, the other was how nasty the Union Park area is and how it is so close to 32828.

I just disagree that the only places that will stay nice are in Seminole County, even though a lot of them will be. I think there are a lof of places in SW, SE and Central Orange County that will stay nicer and other areas getting nicer. With the price of gas I think there is going to be a lot of gentrification within a 5 mile radius of downtown and a lot of the riffraff is going to be pushed into areas West and East. I see areas like Waterford, Ocoee, and Clermont deteriorating over time more than the older parts of town. I have read a lot of articles on it and examples of how this is happening in a lot of cities in California and elsewhere. For right now though, I think you have to be careful but not necessarily lock yourself in the house and sacrifice your fitness. You may want to jog with a friend or carry pepper spray, etc. as a first step. If you start to see suspicious activity or certain areas deteriorate, make the appropriate adjustments to your jogging path and plan of action.

The problem that Orlando faces is that their Downtown is not world-class and does not employ a major portion of its residents as other cities do. I do not predict that there will be a major uprooting of people from the greater Orlando area moving to downtown. Their are just not enough jobs Downtown. Neighborhoods like Waterford Lakes provide convienient commutes for people that work in places like Research Park. However, in the Waterford Lakes area's defense, I feel these areas will deteriorate at a much slower pace than places on the west-side like Metro West that have a closer proximity to historically violent areas such as Pine Hills.

[surfer boy]

"I see areas like Waterford, Ocoee, and Clermont deteriorating over time more than the older parts of town. I have read a lot of articles on it and examples of how this is happening in a lot of cities in California and elsewhere."


Dont know too much about Ocoee, but I live in 32828, and was wondering why you think Waterford will deteriate a bit...

[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by surfer boy

"I see areas like Waterford, Ocoee, and Clermont deteriorating over time more than the older parts of town. I have read a lot of articles on it and examples of how this is happening in a lot of cities in California and elsewhere."


Dont know too much about Ocoee, but I live in 32828, and was wondering why you think Waterford will deteriate a bit...

All I know is I saw Waterford Lakes when it was basically a cypress swamp and there was no big Alafaya Trail or 408. As soon as I saw those houses go up (and saw how low the quality was), I just couldn't picture that area ever being something nice. It just seemed like a bunch of random, quickly built homes without much planned for the school system or roads or anything else. And he's right, it reminds me EXACTLY of parts of California, I have said it in the past about Ocoee and Clermont especially. Very, very Inland Empire.