Riverside Woman Raped by 3 Men. Cops Looking for Leads.

[mtraininjax]

Over 600 hundred persons attending special crime meeting in Ortega.

That was at the Ortega Methodist Church, and the JSO did a great job of comforting and soothing all in attendance. The fact that ladies on Ortega Blvd were followed home from the Publix Shopping center by thugs who have now been caught, seems to have resolved "that" issue.

You mention that Avondale and Riverside are not safe, sorry to be a stickler, but you opened this can of worms and we're all mature adults here, I'm sure others who live in the confines of RAP would like to know the truth about our "once wonderful neighborhoods".

The fact of the matter is you don't know what you are talking about and you have no numbers to back up your talk.

[mtraininjax]

have a dog in this fight

I can assure you my dog would have a big piece of you at my house if you broke into it.

[happical]

Well, I hope the men are caught if they haven't been already (for the San Marco case). I hope they get life for what they've done.

[riverside_mail]

 At 8.30 at night in five points somebody saw something but didn't care/didn't want to be involved.  

Not necessarily. That particular block is surrounded by businesses which would be closed. The only residential unit within sight would be the garage apt. beside the Heth real estate office, and I'm not sure it's even occupied. The closest residential would be the Chelsea lofts and quite a few of those are empty. The best you could hope for would be someone driving through and unless it was happening in the middle of the street, most likely it was not even witnessed.

[north miami]

Dear stephendare & bridgetroll:

Thank you for the vote of confidence.I'll stick around!
Normally I would have resisted from discourse between two person audience in such a forum.

I too love Avondale/Riverside and have been engaged on many fronts,including the restoration of the southerly boundary of RAP and the location of my home-Fishweir Creek.

Indeed the North Miami experience has granted many insights and predictive capability.
See my posts todat re:Shands bridge.

I was honored with the coveted City of Jacksonville Mimi & Lee Adams award in 2002.

Onward-
Mike

[soviette]

I work downstairs from the realtor who was attacked by a hammer in her office at the beach. I'm originally from SLC, Utah, and the crime rate there is SO incredibly low.

I'm honestly quite unsure if I have developed any decent 'spidey sense' like abilities so I just try not to go anywhere at night (in 5pts, where I am) without someone with me. I also carry pepper spray with me all the time. I don't want to be ignorant and end up in danger. What are other good tips to stay safe?

[A-Finnius]

I was really excited about closing on a house off Gilmore St. the first week in November.  Then I read this post... Sucks..

[JaxBorn1962]

I was really excited about closing on a house off Gilmore St. the first week in November.  Then I read this post... Sucks..

You can't put your Head in the sand move on and Move in. If you don't Crime wins and we don't want that just be Safe.

[A-Finnius]

^Agreed, Still planning on moving in and becoming active in the neighborhood. 

Isn't there an organized neighborhood watch for Riverside?

[Abhishek]

What advice does JSO have for people? Should they carry mace? Should streets be better lit? Some streets of Riverside get real dark.

[north miami]

Speaking of the JSO -

It's great to be on a first name basis with local law enforcement officers.

It is also telling to see where they move to when they retire.

[CrysG]

I know I'm gonna get a lot of crap from the pro Duval side of the room.

This is one of the times I'm glad I don't live in Jacksonville. I've never once not felt safe in my area in Oakleaf or when we lived in Fleming Island. We have families out with their kids at that time of the night here. While I understand that these crimes can happen anywhere, it just seems like they happen a lot more in Duval. 

[north miami]

Regarding Oakleaf-

Indeed the area seems to have gone from wood lot to 'bad' in a short time.No doubt this will be taken as too negative,with calls for 'proof.

I had an associate who moved to Jacksonville from Ohio to be in the boat/marine business.He bought a place in Mandarin,and later moved Oakleaf.he had a 'for sale' sign back up before he had finished moving in........

Oakleaf came on line in a perfect storm-the age of 'no doc' loans.

Interesting perhaps to some to note that the Oakleaf devlopment,although ushered through a lengthy "environmentally sensitive" "growth management" process really represents classic sprawl that takes the luster away from designated "inner town" areas such as 103rd street.
And- most of the property was once held by the Trust For Public Lands,the former Gulfstream project property and smack dab in the middle of our regional water recharge area.
The 1900 acre Trust option lands could have played a more positive role for the region however only about 500 acres conveyed to the state Game Commission Brannon/Chaffee mitigation park....the Trust encouraged to release their grasp,the remaining lands swinging to local 'in the know" types who will be forever indebted to King/Horne/Thrasher and a legislative star alignment allowing for Brannon/Chaffee funding efforts,which in fact had been held up for good reasons by our very own previous, more curious and responsible Pajcic era Duval Delegation.
This is the short version.

[stephElf]

I know I'm gonna get a lot of crap from the pro Duval side of the room.

This is one of the times I'm glad I don't live in Jacksonville. I've never once not felt safe in my area in Oakleaf or when we lived in Fleming Island. We have families out with their kids at that time of the night here. While I understand that these crimes can happen anywhere, it just seems like they happen a lot more in Duval. 

If overall you feel safer why would someone knock that? I moved from Emerson to a gated condo community in Mandarin b/c the price was right... sure sometimes I miss being closer to the Urban Core but I get there several times a week anyway... anyhow, I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel safer where I am now. That being said, I used to live in Riverside and Sunbeam is about comparable to park & stockton in my mind.. I still have to have street smarts, it isn't crime-free.

I have family out in Fruit Cove in a nice urban sprawl community ... and well you do feel safer there. It makes sense that people want to move to areas they deem nicer... especially with children. 

I am not in anyway disputing the value in grid-style, city, walkable living... I can say if I had little children, which I don't... I would feel way more comfortable with them biking around in the evening over in Ortega and Julington Creek plantation then I would in some other areas of town...

Right or wrong that's my perception. 

[stephElf]

Regarding Oakleaf-

Indeed the area seems to have gone from wood lot to 'bad' in a short time.No doubt this will be taken as too negative,with calls for 'proof.

Huh? And, pretty much.