Questions on a couple of Shreveport apartment complexes (Bossier City, Reserve: rent, crime)

[LadyBeBop]

My daughter starts her new job at Barksdale AFB in late August and is looking for an apartment in the Shreveport/Bossier City area.

Right now, she's looking at two places. I think both are in Shreveport.

What are your impressions of the Willows and Spring Ridge Apartment complexes? Are they in good neighborhoods? Are they within easy commuting distance to the AFB?

As always, TIA.

[hdwell]

I can tell you about the Willows-they seem nice quiet secluded; however, there was a murder sometime in the last few years. I don't remmember the circumstances. I couldn't tell you anything about Spring Ridge because I've never heard of that one.

Go on down to the Champion Lake or Island park apts for a better place. Avoid the Pier/Landing. It looks ok from the outside but it isn't.

[urbanexplorer2009]

Yeah the Pier/Landing was the site of a drug-related "hit" a few years ago where 4 men were murdered in two different apartments during the daytime.

If your daughter will be working on the base, then she need look no further than Lexington Place Apartments, which are located literally right off the North Gate of the base. She could walk right over to the North Gate checkpoint if she wanted, and to the 8th Air Force Museum from her apartment. They are only 4-5 years old, very nice, and priced within the price range of most other newer apartment complexes in this area.

[hdwell]

Originally Posted by urbanexplorer2009

Yeah the Pier/Landing was the site of a drug-related "hit" a few years ago where 4 men were murdered in two different apartments during the daytime.

If your daughter will be working on the base, then she need look no further than Lexington Place Apartments, which are located literally right off the North Gate of the base. She could walk right over to the North Gate checkpoint if she wanted, and to the 8th Air Force Museum from her apartment. They are only 4-5 years old, very nice, and priced within the price range of most other newer apartment complexes in this area.

Yeah, I forgot about that complex. Good advice, Urbanexplorer!

[ILUVMAINE]

Spring Ridge is a new complex on the south side. I think the comute would get old going back and forth to the base. We just moved from the Reserve Apartments. They were nice at first but then it hit the fan. The management allowed undesirables to move in AND when we complained they said they would take care of it, but never did.

[CountryGrl_n_SBC]

My fiance has lived at The Willows for about 8 months, and I loved it so much I just rented a place there too. They are located in Shreve City about a mile from BAFB - right across the S'port/Barksdale bridge probably 2 or 3 minute commute; in fact, many tenants are military. Very nice community in a small neighborhood, quiet, good mix of younger and older folks. 2 pools, gym, walking trails, located on a dead end road so not a lot of traffic, and it's less than a mile from Wal-Mart and a lot of restaurants. It has a bayou on one side and a meadow / forest on the other. I have the bayou view and I love seeing all the ducks and squirrels playing. My fiance has the meadow view and it's nice and relaxing. The managers are super friendly and maintenance has been good. Groundkeepers comes once a week and pest control comes once a month. There was a murder/suicide earlier this year, but it was a domestic issue. I haven't heard of any crime here at all. I'm a young female so safety was my number one requirement, and I feel very safe here.

Residences at Springridge just opened a couple months ago. They are really nice from what I saw in the brochure, but they are a bit out of town. Typical commute would be about 25-30 minutes.

Before the Willows, I lived in Island Park Apts for about 10 months. They are located on Clyde Fant Parkway right across the river from the base, probably a 5 minute commute. More up-scale than The Willows, only a couple years old, very nice and incredible maintenance staff. Has a gate that rarely works but I still felt safe there. It's really crowded, very busy, and pricey. Lots of young people, lots of kids...loud, loud kids.

I looked at Lexington Place during my hunt. It's really nice also and seems very well-kept. It's gated so that's a nice safety feature. Very close to the base. I think rent is higher and you get less square feet than at Willows but they are closer to the base than Willows.

I just went through apt hunting a couple months back so if you have any other questions or want a young female's viewpoint, feel free to ask.