downtown orlando safe? (Pine Hills, Ocoee, Windermere: crime, university, place to live)

[backtofla]

i have heard all about downtown orlando, and all the wanna be model males walking around with their abercrombie and fitch outfits... but i wanna know if it's safe? i know which parts of orlando to avoid, and just curious if downtown is one of them... not during the day. but at night...

[d070033]

Originally Posted by backtofla

i have heard all about downtown orlando, and all the wanna be model males walking around with their abercrombie and fitch outfits... but i wanna know if it's safe? i know which parts of orlando to avoid, and just curious if downtown is one of them... not during the day. but at night...

Agree with MikeB above, focus this type of question in the Orlando forum. But while I am here I can say from experience that downtown Orlando is like any other city, some good and some bad. The former Church Street area with all the clubs and bars is relatively safe with the only real issues coming from drunk bar patrons (tons of them). Gotta remember that there is a major university not too far from downtown as well as several smaller colleges along with a very active population and tourists. That amounts to a lot of people wanting to have a good time. Also, the Police while earnest in their desire to do a good job, and for the most part they do, can be a little aggressive at times.

As for the wanna be male models, LOL, yeap that is partially true. Quite frankly it can entertaining watching these guys try to out do each other while others stand around and make fun of them. Shallow on the outside means shallow on the inside, just ignore them.

[lizprof]

It's fine, lovely in fact. We live here and take walks at night around Lake Davis and Lake Eola.

[FloGrownGrl]

You would have to drive around and make judgement for yourself. Downtown is Downtown, no matter where in the USA. Every downtown has it's good parts that get heavily trafficked by the general public, but then there are avenues that will take you around the corner to the part of town you don't want to be.
If you're looking to move..I would recommend the Thorton Park area. It's not IN downtown Orlando, but it's very close to it, more upscale (considering the general area), and probably a little safer.

[AONE]

It is nice, but i guess if you were the one person in the year that got mugged then your perception may be different. Crime can happen anywhere any time. Be prudent and you will likely avoid issues.

[Orlando Nigerian]

Once again, I will repeat my General Unspoken Downtown Orlando Rule:

Once you passed west under I-4, you have now reached "the hood". Please proceed cautiously, ESPECIALLY around Parramore Ave. and Orange Blossom Trail.

Orlando's hood is pretty much in the following zone: south of Amelia St., west of I-4 OR Division Ave. OR Parramore Ave., and stops just north of Sand Lake Rd. I'm not too sure about it's western boundary. Although all of this area is not residential, it can be dangerous. Although now, cops DEFINITELY do not play games on Orange Blossom Trail. This is the west and southwestern side of town. However, other dangerous areas include Pine Hills and other areas east of Ocoee and Windermere at about midtown west.

If you're talking about the business district of downtown Orlando where all the tall buildings and nightclubs are, that area is actually pretty safe. It's patrolled by cops regularly and I've actually felt comfortable spending the night outside when I've been stuck downtown (Orlando has a HORRIBLE bus system and my car no longer works). There are a few homeless people in south downtown, but not really a threat. They just have no place to live. In the business district, at nights on the weekends, the cops mean business. They do have a presence to take care of club-drunks and fights. Still, even during the week they regularly patrol the Orange Ave. area.

I think crime is a bit overrated in Orlando. Floridians, particularly Orlando residents and suburbanites may just not be used to being around it. What has simply happened is the city has grown much faster than the police force and budget could keep up with. And now, adding to that are tough economic times combined with the relatively low pay of several Florida jobs.

[beckycat]

I think downtown at night is fine. The only thing I agree about are dealing with drunk ppl coming from the clubs.

[Ghenges]

Like Nigerian said, as long as you don't venture west of I-4 (which actually runs North - South through downtown (go figure)) you should be okay. But there really isn't any reason to be on that side anyway if you are going bar/club hopping.

There are cops everywhere, the area is pretty well lit so as long as you don't venture too far from Orange, it's safe.

[GloryB]

Originally Posted by Orlando Nigerian

Once again, I will repeat my General Unspoken Downtown Orlando Rule:

Once you passed west under I-4, you have now reached "the hood". Please proceed cautiously, ESPECIALLY around Parramore Ave. and Orange Blossom Trail.

Great advice I would suggest anyone to listen to!

Other than that, I work on the other side of I-4 downtown. I often work until 9 pm and have to walk to the parking lot across the road where I park my car. I have never felt unsafe as a female walking alone. The same rules of caution apply downtown Orlando as anywhere else, but it certainly isn't riddled with crime or anything.