Your feelings on Lakeland

[Elysium]

I tried to get my children into the charter schools, I was told its done by lottery, there were over 300 applicants ahead of my child, and it may be possible that one child gets into a charter, and one child may not. Believe me, I tried every school in the area that had a decent school digger rating/great schools rating, the public school we pulled them from was our last resort. I even tried a virtual school, but sadly you have to be a resident for a year before you are eligible. If education is important to you, I would look else where to live.

[mels]

Disclaimer: I have not technically lived in Lakeland but have spent much (too much!) time there on business where I know it well.

The downtown area (around the green) is very nice. Fine. Go a couple blocks away and it looks somewhat dilapidated. You'll find dumpy areas that appear out of nowhere. Certain blocks and pockets are nice, then you'll travel through a craphole, just to come across a nice neighborhood again. Strange place. If you are buying, then know the neighborhood you are looking at very well. If you are dead set on moving there, do yourself a huge favor and rent first, get to know the area and what your potential target neighborhood is.

[amax41]

Originally Posted by wheels-a-rolling

We currently live in NC and are looking to move to Lakeland where my sister lives. We spent 2 weeks there and liked it. It is a good location because it's roughly half way between Orlando and Tampa.

Please share your feeling and experiences with this area from schooling, homes, things to do, IT jobs, renting (which we'll be doing), etc...

I'm willing to travel 40miles roughly in either east / west direction.

We just finished looking at Lakeland and for us it is a NOWAY. For you it may be different. We didn't like the nice downtown surrounded by yuck, the flow and transition was just a but discomforting - sort of like there was no planning in this area. North of I-4 it's not bad, sort of like stepping through a field of landmines.

for you the worst part - IT Jobs - if you aren't 'national' or and 'IT God' forget it. I'm national and I'm fine, my buddy was laid off and had to go local. After what he went through I'd go find a different career or get out of this state. For my level of IT it stinks here.

Be careful. This can be a great place to live - IF -

it's the 'IF' that gets you