Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Sure it's old. But you have old victorians that fetch near $1 million, even in today's market, and you have a bunch of small old shabby looking houses.
1. I have seen the "poor" (people obviously from the ghetto) steadily move into my neighborhood in recent years. Crime, litter and noise are up, while property values stay low, unaffected by the spike in home prices just outside my subdivision. The acclaimed local schools are now struggling to deal with a bunch of inner-urban kids who are just not with the program, and whose parents don't seem to care.
2. Section 8 has brought nothing but crime and blight to every area it's been allowed. I love the reward the poor, punish the tax-payer mentality. It's awesome.
3. All it takes is one section 8 hood and your town is dust.
4. Section 8 housing has really hurt my township. It was supposedly one of the safer larger cities in the U.S. 10 years ago but with all the low rent and section 8 housing it has changed dramatically.
5. The neighborhood I live in was a nice quiet area for 50 years. They built government housing nearby a little over a decade ago. My house lost half of it's value within a year. The area went from 99% white to about 1% white. The crime rate skyrocketed. If I could sell my house, I would in a heartbeat.
6. By the way, race/color has nothing to do with it. Most of the Section 8 in my town are Caucasian, they steal, the have a lot of traffic, the smoke various drugs and drink all night. They have wild parties, and un-leashed dogs. Not a racial issue, it is a un-educated, non domesticated, unemployed looking for a fast buck issue.
7. Section 8 is ruining nice areas. Social engineering to force the workers to live next to the lazy breeders who commit crime and destroy schools.
8. No Blacks or Hispanics in my area, but I have White Trash and Roma Gypsys in my hood. The gypsys are tramps and thieves. The white trash do all the B & E's. get drunk do drugs& molest children.
now, don't come back and tell me I am a racist etc. I don't give a flying flock about someone's skin color. I worried about my neighborhood to be safe and pleasant for my kids and their school should maintain a good standard. And I don't feel like things are going in that direction.
I just started reading this forum a couple days ago but once I read this post I had to sign up. First of all the area of the Wal Mart the OP is talking about is not technically in Ballwin I believe it is Manchester and yes right across the street are a few apartment complexes.
I have lived right down 141 in Valley Park since 2004 and haven't noticed any change and as a matter of fact we have put a contract on a new house in Unincorporated Ballwin.
I just started reading this forum a couple days ago but once I read this post I had to sign up. First of all the area of the Wal Mart the OP is talking about is not technically in Ballwin I believe it is Manchester and yes right across the street are a few apartment complexes.
I have lived right down 141 in Valley Park since 2004 and haven't noticed any change and as a matter of fact we have put a contract on a new house in Unincorporated Ballwin.
I also come here and just sorta look around to see if there are any news from my hometown.
Yes, You are right, the Wal Mart is not exactly in Ballwin; however, Ballwin and Manchester are usually put together in the same breadth.
It's nice to have a difference of opinion in a healthy environment where we can share our experiences. I have lived in those apartment complexes (Both in Park Meadows and Orchard Village) in late 90's, and I guess I have the first hand experience of witnessing the changes.
Yes, both these apartments are still quite appealing when you sign up a 2 Bed apartment lease in New York for $3100.00 A MONTH. I am eagerly waiting to finish my project and move back to Ballwin where I bought a home in 2002. My mortgage for a 5 bedroom 3½ bath is $1500.00 a month.
The news report I posted above also confirms my experience. Poverty is hitting the suburbs all across the United States, and we know that once a city goes down to dust it takes several decades to get it up and running again (if it gets lucky). This is why I raised my concern in an effort to find out the cause and see if there is anything we can do helping our cities stop getting on a slippery slope.
I do my fair share of helping charities and I happily live in a well diversified city but frankly speaking I don't wanna be a victim of "reward the lazy and punish the tax payer" approach. I don't want our schools to lose their acclamation and I don't wanna see drug trade in our streets.
Unincorporated Ballwin, yes, if you are going Southwest towards Kiefer Creek Rd then it's a different story altogether.
I've been following this thread carefully because my family is thinking about moving to Ballwin or Valley Park. I would like feedback on the two main areas we're considering.
Area 1, East & South of Bluebird Park: bordered approx. by Manchester to the N, Ries to the E, Big Bend to the S, and Kiefer Creek to the W.
Area 2: bordered approx. by Big Bend to the N, 141 to the E, the Meramec River to the S, and Kiefer Creek to the W.
ll0OoO0ll has me worried now that I shouldn't be too close to Kiefer Creek Road! We're considering these areas because we want to be closer to I-44 than I-64, and it would be nice to be near Castlewood. We prefer a house less than 25 years old, and our price limit is under $300k. We've been checking the area a lot over the last few months (we're not ready to buy yet), and have found several nice homes in our price range. The problem is, are the looks of the neighborhoods deceiving? Every subdivision I've been in (in regards to the 2 areas I mentioned) looks very nice.
You probably haven't driven far enough down Kiefer Creek Road, and explored some of the streets that branch off from KC. Some of the areas are very ran down and backwoodsy. You can just hear the dueling banjos.
Good lord, I seriously can't believe some of these posters. Ballwin is a perfectly safe and still a very nice place to live. It's probably one of my least favorite places, but only because I really dislike anything outside of 270.
I've been following this thread carefully because my family is thinking about moving to Ballwin or Valley Park. I would like feedback on the two main areas we're considering.
Area 1, East & South of Bluebird Park: bordered approx. by Manchester to the N, Ries to the E, Big Bend to the S, and Kiefer Creek to the W.
Area 2: bordered approx. by Big Bend to the N, 141 to the E, the Meramec River to the S, and Kiefer Creek to the W.
ll0OoO0ll has me worried now that I shouldn't be too close to Kiefer Creek Road! We're considering these areas because we want to be closer to I-44 than I-64, and it would be nice to be near Castlewood. We prefer a house less than 25 years old, and our price limit is under $300k. We've been checking the area a lot over the last few months (we're not ready to buy yet), and have found several nice homes in our price range. The problem is, are the looks of the neighborhoods deceiving? Every subdivision I've been in (in regards to the 2 areas I mentioned) looks very nice.
What are you talking about? Kiefer Creek Rd/Arbor Chase subdivisions are the top areas of Ballwin, or at least they used to be when I left in 2009/10.
Matter of fact, a couple of months ago I had my eyes set on this house but I couldn't proceed due to a 2 years extension in my job contract in NYC. I really loved this house.
The only thing I would perhaps try to avoid is get too South off of Kiefer Creek. Those hills have pretty curvy roads that may potentially be slippery in snow, so I would perhaps avoid getting on too much of an elevation.
The other minor thing I wonder is that some of the area South of Kiefer Creek is unincorporated Ballwin (or whatever) so how good are the city services? Salt and snow removal, street lights etc?
But then how come I was the only one manged to get you worried? Some local folks tend to agree with my observation about Ballwin (mostly North Eastern part).
Quote:
Originally Posted by sbapasto
I live in Chesterfield bordering Ballwin. I have noticed a lot of issues on Manchester too in terms of payday loan sites and vacant strip malls. THe area was affected hard by the decline in real estate, just like everywhere else but IVe seen a lot of small businesses leave or go BK. As a real estate Broker, Ive watched it closely. I cant say I dont agree with your comments. MY kids are in their 20's and unless you are willing and able to pay over $900 per month for an apartment, it gets a bit sketchy and yes, several are QUIETLY accepting partial section 8 and or sliding scale housing according to income. Its disheartening but alot of areas were hit very hard.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MUTGR
The economy stinks. The official statistics really understate it in my opinion. Sure, unemployment is officially at 7 something percent, but the real unemployment rate is at least double that. Our population has grown yet 8.5 million people have left the workforce since January 2009. I've noticed the same thing about Olive west of the 170 and many parts of Lindbergh. Parts of Highway 94 in St. Charles looks pretty seedy. I speht several days in Springfield Mo last summer and never saw more pawn stores and tattoo parlors.
Many changes going on.
I am visiting Ballwin again in the first week of August and will provide with more specific details as what has changed over the last 3 odd years.
I am a native NYer and I still live in NY but am interested in the St Louis area because I think over the next decade the city of St Louis and the surrounding area will see a surge in growth and opportunity.
The OP mentions NY's diversity, but until recent years since the price of rents and sales in NYC are way beyond what the average NYer can afford the city of NY was very segregated, and still is for the most part except probably in Manhattan. This is mainly because people live anywhere in Manhattan as long as they can afford the rent. However the rents are so high now that many people of all races are living near each other in other boroughs as long as the subway is in walking distance.
In NYC area the taxes and cost of commute (it is almost impossible to find parking in Manhattan and public transportation cost from city to suburb is expensive)prevent most people from living in the suburbs and when they do make the sacrifice to live there it is usually to raise children, and they earn a very good salary.
I notice looking at STL real estate that home prices are kind of high in your good neighborhoods and taxes are kind of low like NYC, in relative comparison. The suburbs seem to be more expensive and the taxes are higher. How would lower income people be able to move from the city to suburbs and maintain economically there?
One poster mentioned poor non-White, non-Christian immigrants. In NYC these things are connected with wealth, because most of the people with this description will come to the US with wealth and advanced education. They usually look at areas in a different way than the average native of an area. They look for conveniences, and proximity to work only. They have no preconceived notions. They will also look for real estate availability for relatives and friends. Many areas in NYC have turned around for the better because of people with this description. Many places that were upscale have remained that way after others moved out because these people were able to come in and keep it going. Is the STL area against this? BTW you can't tell a person's religion by their dress if they dress in the way they are accustomed to. Some could very well be Christian but choose to dress in their native clothing.
The OP also ask how to prevent the STL area from going downhill. I think your area is not promoted enough. You have a lovely city and beautiful suburbs. Many people come NYC for job experience and leave the first chance they get, because it is so expensive. Your area is attracting many businesses and entreprenuers for those that know about it. Some areas of the country want growth, some don't. How does STL area feel about growth?
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
