Any "bad" areas to avoid in Cedar Rapids? (Oakland: apartment complexes, leasing)

[Oldrustycars]

Moving to Cedar Rapids soon. Don't know a soul there. I'll just be renting an apartment, I doubt I'll ever buy a house. Are there any bad areas to avoid? I just want peace and quiet. I don't care about being close to shopping or restaurants, or schools. Looks like the whole town is 20 minutes away from anywhere else in town, so that doesn't seem to be an issue. Suggestions? Job is located in the southwest part of town, near Hawkeye Downs.

[paulap70]

I would suggest that you avoid the SE side of town as that quadrant seems to have more trouble.

[mustang84]

Not all of the SE side is bad...in fact, most of it is fine. The parts of the SE side you need to avoid are Wellington Heights and areas of Oakhill Jackson (all west of 19th Street SE). Wellington Heights is roughly bounded by 19th Street on the east, 7th Ave. on the south, 10th Street on the west, and 1st Ave. on the north. Some of the nicest neighborhoods in Cedar Rapids are on the SE side, especially the one centered on Knollwood Dr. and areas out toward East Post Rd.

The NW and NE sides are both good. There are some rougher areas on Oakland Rd. NE south of 42nd Street NE, but it's really not bad.

The SW side has some sketchy apartments along 16th Ave. SW that I would recommend avoiding. Most of the SW side is fairly decent, but avoid apartment complexes like Raintree, Arrowhead, and Gateway Gardens.

Some good apartment complexes I know of: Windsor on the River (NW), The Pointe at Cedar Rapids (NE), Forest Ridge (NE), St. Andrews (NE). I've heard Pheasant Run is ok (SW side), but haven't been there myself. Cedar River Tower downtown is ok, but a little pricey. Avoid Cedarwood Hills Apartments off Glass Rd (NE).

[Oldrustycars]

Looking at a place near 21st st. and Wiley. Input?

[JMsioux]

I'm fairly new to CR but the area around 21st & Wiley seems to be a decent area. I just don't get out to that area enough to give you an educated summary. I live in the St. Andrews area (NE in the Council St. / Blairs Ferry Road area) and NOTHING and I mean NOTHING happens out here.

[mustang84]

Originally Posted by Oldrustycars

Looking at a place near 21st st. and Wiley. Input?

Hmm...if I remember right something happened recently in that area that made the news. I think it was a police chase or something that originated from an apartment in that area, right off 21st Ave. Place. I don't personally know the area, although this neighborhood is close to Raintree / Arrowhead. When I first moved to CR, I looked into Raintree and sitting near the leasing office was a van with the entire windshield smashed in, like someone had taken a baseball bat to it. A relative of mine moved out of there recently. That complex has frequent vandalism, noise issues, and has had a stabbing and a home invasion. I don't know if any of this activity carries over to the 21st & Wiley area or not, but be aware it is in close proximity to complexes with a bad reputation.