Hello all. I am new to this site. My friend suggested I try it out and ask all questions I have. I currently live in Mandarin. I have been living at home getting myself in a position to buy a home and I am pretty much there. I am in love with Springfield. The homes, the people, the way of life. It is everything I am looking for and more.
I have really enjoyed the time I have spent there. I have also heard a lot of stories. Swat teams, break-ins, doors being kicked down and robbed. Was actually looking at a home when the alarm went off and 5 police officers responded. They said I should look somewhere else as they have a lot of problems on the block and that is why they come with reinforcements.
This all did change my mind about Springfield. I started looking in Murray Hill and Riverside. I just don't feel about them as I do Springfield. Springfield is calling to me. I have researched the crime stats on COJ.net and it is of concern. Everyone I meet says they have not had any problems. I am just curious as to who is having the problems?
I know this may seem trivial but I have two Chihuahua's and I love them so much. If I was at work, or out and someone broke in and took them I would be devastated. They are so tiny and scared and can't defend themselves. I am 99% sure Springfield is for me. I still have that 1% of "I don't know," what if something happens. Will that feeling go away? One of my friends that resides there told me it is all part of the process and they felt the same way and they LOVE it there.
This is will be my first home purchase. I want to make a smart one. I want to feel safe for me and my "family." I know fences and alarms help. Is that enough? Will they be safe?
Ironically, in Springfield it's not the burglars kicking your door down you really have to worry about.
It's those vipers at SPAR you need to watch out for, they'll tear your whole house down!
Quote from: ChriswUfGator on April 12, 2011, 08:35:23 AM
Ironically, in Springfield it's not the burglars kicking your door down you really have to worry about.
It's those vipers at SPAR you need to watch out for, they'll tear your whole house down!
Ha! I have been warned about them too!
Back to the topic. You have nothing to worry about! I have been in the neighborhood since 2005 and have not had anything like this happen to me. Some of these things are way over exaggerated. What block were you looking on?
You should buy two Rotties and have them fitted for a saddle for the Chihuahuas to ride on during the day.
Jagnole, I've been here, 7th & Liberty, for about 13 years now. I guess I have been pretty lucky in the area of my block. What block are you looking at?
This happens in Riverside, avondale and murray hill too, but you cant live your life scared of it, just take precautions. You can get a good surveillance camera system to monitor the outside of the home, they have majorly come down in price. This would definitely be a deterrent as well.
I blame FBC!
Most folks are afraid of the "ankle biters." I have 4 dogs, 2 LARGE, 2 tiny, including an albino chihuahua.
Additionally some of what you hear is urban legend, and told by non-residents who don't know the real Spfld. Bad things can happen in "good" neighborhoods too. Think about it.
Follow your heart. Come buy in Spfld!
and you may want to post any concerns at www.myspringfield.org
Yes, your dogs will be safe. We have several people near our house in Springfield that have small dogs.
Quote from: 02roadking on April 12, 2011, 09:18:00 AM
Jagnole, I've been here, 7th & Liberty, for about 13 years now. I guess I have been pretty lucky in the area of my block. What block are you looking at?
The one that I first loved was a bungalow on W 12th. I think it might just be a little too close to Hogan's Creek....
Thanks for the input everyone. It is really nice to hear everyone's opinion. I know things happen in suburbia too. We are no exempt from bad elements. :-) I just want to protect my kiddos. LOL.
I think I will just focus my search a little farther south in Springfield.
If you are researching Springfield I also recommend reading through myspringfield.org, sambajax.org, sparcouncil.org and springfieldwomansclub.org. Several months ago I remember reading a interesting piece about crime in Springfield on myspringfield. I move between properties but I have lived on and off in the neighborhood since 2003 and have observed postive changes. It's a nice place with nice people and still being gentrified. Welcome.
Your dogs may very well fear the giant feral cats known to roam the neighborhood... I know someone who swears he saw them take down a golden retriever on foggy night...
JagNole04, Welcome to MetroJacksonville!
I hope my suggestion to visit MetroJax proves fruitful and I'm sure you will get plenty of opinions about Springfield. It looks like all of them have been positive so far!
There are about half a dozen Chihuahuas within a block of where I live, and they are doing well. One of the owners lets them run wild at times (not that I agree with doing that) and thy don't appear to get harmed.
Just don't leave them alone on the porch over night, or SACARC may come and put them up for adoption :)
Seriously? What other neighborhood takes such good care of its pets? SACARC totally changed the life of the animals in this area.
Pets here are honored....& treated to their own dog park (with a special place for the little ones).
If they were serious about looking to buy in Springfield, then hearing wild stories and then hearing the truth, should have raised a red flag about the wild stories and any validity to them. Also, wouldn't this person, if serious, have read through the springfield threads and after doing so, realized that this is actually one of the safest neighborhoods?
Me thinks we were just being poked by a troll ::)
We've been here a year now and have not seen or heard any issues with roaming dogs in our area. Cats and chickens? Yeah, we have those in plenty but no problems with either!
and goats!
Born and raised in Mandarin, which by the way is pretty high up there as one of the most boring places in all of Jacksonville. I know that area very well, as my parents and a few friends still live there.
Crime in Mandarin has gotten exponentially worse in the past 5-10 years. A lot of it isn't major stuff that gets reported in the TU, but when I read the weekly Mandarin section, there is a LOT of crime there. Car breaks in, vandalism, fights, home break ins, etc. Crime will continue to get worse. Many of the smaller homes that were built in the 70's and 80's will soon be home to low income families if they aren't already. I'm talking about stuff in the Losco, Loretto, and St. Augustine Rd. area. Plus there are numerous apartment complexes that already are pretty crummy and will only get worse. Old Mandarin will always be nice and that area has enough money that there will always be a few nice stores and restaurants in the area. But in the next 5-10 years you will see a continued influx of lower income families and crime.
So onto Springfield....Like Livein32206, I'm a little skeptical that were are "being trolled" here, but here it goes.
Springfield is much, much safer than I anticipated when I moved here a year and a half ago. I hear of the occasional petty crime like a stolen bike, or stolen yard equipment. We also have an occasional break in too. But every neighborhood does. The break ins are always in the daytime, when the burglars know the victim is at work. I haven't once heard of a home invasion burglary.
I always crack up when people visit my home and are scared to leave their $5,000 car on the street. I then laugh and say, "I don't think you have to worry about your POS getting stolen when there are numerous luxury cars up and down the streets here."
I go riding my bike 2 or 3 times a week with a friend all throughout Springfield and it is completely safe. We even ride at night quite a bit and it is completely quiet.
We still have our share of homeless, day laborers, and transients occasionally wandering through the neighborhood and 8th Street needs to be "cleaned up", but for the most part Springfield is very safe. The neighborhood is very vigilant and criminals know that this area is closed for business.
Yes, we have poor people who live here, but just because one is poor doesn't mean he's a threat to anything.
Seems like the biggest problem right now is theft of plantings in front of 3 Layers. And this does happen everywhere. What does not happen everywhere is the circumstances around Yard Chicks and others who volunteer their time to plant-up the space in the first place making it a community effort and consequently, a community loss.
Around here, we are invested in our pets, our poor, our plantings, our chickens, you name it. We are all over it.
Jagnole,
Hi, I moved into springfield last may, so almost a year now. I moved in from Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill NC, which is a beautiful area, and moved into Springfield off of Pearl and 5th street. I can tell you that initially it was a HUGE change for me, but now I absolutely love the "hood." For the most part most of my neighbors are great and people watch out for eachother. I dont know of anyone that has had a problem in terms of their house being broken into etc.. although it does happen every now and then. I have had two issues since I moved in, I have a fenced in Back yard and fenced front and a pit bull/boxer and alarm system. The only two issues I have had were: 1. My weedeater was stolen off of my front porch (I went inside for 30 seconds to get my cell phone and when I came back out it was gone)... I believe this was just perfect opportunity that someone happened to walk/ride by at the ideal time and got a new present. The second issue I have had was, pearl street is a busy street, and it connects the downtown homeless shelters as well as bus stops to Shands Hospital and a few convenience stores so Pearl street gets a TON of foot traffic of people walking up and down the sidewalks.. I had one person that came from the bus stop and was going to Shands ask me for money, (which I dont mind), once I said no, he came in over the fence and threatened me with "something hidden in his pocket" I quickly went inside and call the police and he went on his way.
Those are the only issues. I can still say that I love Springfield, I love where it is going and my neighbors are great.
Make absolutely sure that when you find a house that you visit the house during the day time as well as the night time. Talk to the neighbors ask if they have any problems, get police reports on the area, talk to the police that are patrolling that area. Most people will be honest with you and tell you.
I personally dont think Historic Springfield is any dangerous then the other neighborhoods, (riverside, Murray Hill etc..) I would encourage you to do your research and definitely stay out of some of the bad pockets of springfield etc..
Let me know if you have any other questions/concerns.... and hopefully Welcome to the Neighborhood!
Quote from: Livein32206 on April 13, 2011, 07:43:01 AM
If they were serious about looking to buy in Springfield, then hearing wild stories and then hearing the truth, should have raised a red flag about the wild stories and any validity to them. Also, wouldn't this person, if serious, have read through the springfield threads and after doing so, realized that this is actually one of the safest neighborhoods?
Me thinks we were just being poked by a troll ::)
To the troll remarks.. JagNole is a friend of mine. He has been looking to move to one of the urban neighborhoods for a while now and has finally reached the point financially to where he can buy. He has always been a fan of springfield but expressed his concern with crime to me. I recommended MJ to him and advised him to start a thread asking residents for their honest opinion. He was not aware of this site/online community until this past sunday. I recommended the site because not only am I a daily reader but when I was looking to move out of the suburbs two years ago I posted a similar thread concerning Riverside and the members of MJ greatly influenced my decision to move to Riverside. And now I love where I live and I am hoping that MJ will be able to help JagNole out as much as it did me.
We need another Nole in Springfield!
Quote from: A-FinniusQuote from: Livein32206If they were serious about looking to buy in Springfield, then hearing wild stories and then hearing the truth, should have raised a red flag about the wild stories and any validity to them. Also, wouldn't this person, if serious, have read through the springfield threads and after doing so, realized that this is actually one of the safest neighborhoods?
Me thinks we were just being poked by a troll ::)
To the troll remarks.. JagNole is a friend of mine. He has been looking to move to one of the urban neighborhoods for a while now and has finally reached the point financially to where he can buy. He has always been a fan of springfield but expressed his concern with crime to me. I recommended MJ to him and advised him to start a thread asking residents for their honest opinion. He was not aware of this site/online community until this past sunday. I recommended the site because not only am I a daily reader but when I was looking to move out of the suburbs two years ago I posted a similar thread concerning Riverside and the members of MJ greatly influenced my decision to move to Riverside. And now I love where I live and I am hoping that MJ will be able to help JagNole out as much as it did me.
The person may be a friend, but with them making such a snap decision after only a few serious posts (as most on the first page were jokes between regulars) and nothing was negative....but yet they decided that this isn't the neighborhood for them....please....it's more than clear that they weren't serious, if they were, then there would still be dialog between them and the others here...but is there...nope..so what are those sincerely responding to think....which is the conclusion I came to as well
QuoteI hear of the occasional petty crime like a stolen bike, or stolen yard equipment.
My friend used to live on Silver between 7th and 8th. He had to chain everything in his backyard to the fence for fear of it walking off on its own. That is the only way he knew of keeping his stuff from being stolen. So yeah, that keeps crime down.
So glad I do not have to do this in Avondale.
LOL, mtrain. My buddy in Avondale had his door kicked down while he was at work yesterday. When he got home, his TVs and computers were gone. If he had little dogs, they could have been wandering the streets.
It happens everywhere.
Quote from: Jimmy on April 13, 2011, 05:35:15 PM
LOL, mtrain. My buddy in Avondale had his door kicked down while he was at work yesterday. When he got home, his TVs and computers were gone. If he had little dogs, they could have been wandering the streets.
It happens everywhere.
Seconded. My mom can't leave her garage doors open anymore since she's had so much taken out of there. And this is in a part of Avondale that barely even has pedestrian traffic.
I really wish all of the bandwagoners who have recently moved to Riverside/Avondale knew what it was like 10 or so years ago. I used to see dudes smoking crack when I was playing ball at Willow Branch Park. I once saw a guy get stabbed there over a basketball game. Once got trapped on a car roof by two stray Rottweilers for 10 minutes until someone could call the cops. Gas station on Park south of Edgewood was shady as hell. And this was just Avondale. I'm sure Riverside west of Park was much worse.
Its usually the bandwagoners in Riverside/Avondale that like to sometimes call out Springfield's negatives, because they weren't in Riverside/Avondale when it was still a little rough.
QuoteIts usually the bandwagoners in Riverside/Avondale that like to sometimes call out Springfield's negatives, because they weren't in Riverside/Avondale when it was still a little rough.
LOL! I purchased in Dec 1999. I know it was dreaded back then. Shops of Avondale were No where near the destination they are now, 5-points was a ghost town, the old Riverside Hospital was still standing and the Publix was not there yet. Back then, Avondale was not a destination it is now. Perhaps the success of the commercial and retail stores is part of the reason for the crime. More people, brings more opportunity.
If they people stealing my friends stuff on Silver lived in the alleys and back-streets of Avondale, I am sure we would have more of an issue here too. But just the same, the cops in Avondale can be real tools when you show up and don't look like you belong. I am sure they are sweet-hearts as well in Springfield, but my experience with cops in Avondale would rival some of the stories you may have in Springfield.
There are still parts of Riverside that rival Springfield. North Riverside is not a casual place to loiter after dark.
I've lived in Riverside, Avondale, Ortega, San Marco, and now Springfield.
Moved to Avondale in 1989, so have more history than mtrain. Owned a business in 5 points in the mid '90s. Riverside and Avondale never had the issues with homeless traffic and panhandling that parts of Springfield still have today, but crime was MUCH worse - both property and personal/violent crimes. And still is today, based on what my Avondale friends share with me.
I lived in Avondale proper, an area that never declined very far, and had bicycles stolen from my garage, power tools taken out of the yard, and people stopping to ask for money. My children's babysitter was attacked and raped in her home just a few blocks away. Several neighbors held up at gun point. Boyfriend's car stolen from in front of his home on Riverside Avenue.
In San Marco (just down the street from our mayor) my front door has been kicked in and all of my electronics stolen; lawn equipment regularly disappears; dozens of cars are broken into on a regular basis. Last week a neighbor who was jogging in front of our elementary school was flashed by a totally nude guy at 6:30 a.m. At Christmas all of our outdoor decorations were stolen from our front porch and lawn.
During 18 months of owning property in Springfield I have had no thefts and never felt threatened. Yes, occasionally someone stops and asks me for work. There IS a lot of questionable foot traffic and some related littering. But I have never lived anywhere with more interesting, caring neighbors and such incredible cameraderie.
Springfield is not for everyone. But it is no more dangerous than any other part of town.
To each his/her own. I guess I still believe Springfield to be dangerous, but there are people living in Mandarin who will not go downtown, because they fear for their lives. I've never had an issue in Avondale or Riverside and walk/run through them daily. Never an issue. I know crime exists, but, knock on wood, I have not see it in my neighborhood in Avondale, one of the original 4 streets of Avondale.
Springfield isn't dangerous. I have lived there since 2005. I grew up in the Murray Hill and Riverside areas. My grandparents lived on Ernest between King and Stockton, now that was dangerous. My uncle actually got shot (armed robbery) one evening walking home from the bus stop on Stockton St. Drug raids across the street were a common thing, the little store on the corner of Stockton and Ernest was robbed all the time. There was no "Brewery District" and Park and King was a dump. I guess it is all relative and what you are used too. I have had nothing bad happen to me, my property (ok stolen plants once), my animals or my neighbors since I moved to Springfield.
Quote from: mtraininjax on April 13, 2011, 06:53:09 PM
QuoteIts usually the bandwagoners in Riverside/Avondale that like to sometimes call out Springfield's negatives, because they weren't in Riverside/Avondale when it was still a little rough.
LOL! I purchased in Dec 1999. I know it was dreaded back then. Shops of Avondale were No where near the destination they are now, 5-points was a ghost town, the old Riverside Hospital was still standing and the Publix was not there yet. Back then, Avondale was not a destination it is now. Perhaps the success of the commercial and retail stores is part of the reason for the crime. More people, brings more opportunity.
If they people stealing my friends stuff on Silver lived in the alleys and back-streets of Avondale, I am sure we would have more of an issue here too. But just the same, the cops in Avondale can be real tools when you show up and don't look like you belong. I am sure they are sweet-hearts as well in Springfield, but my experience with cops in Avondale would rival some of the stories you may have in Springfield.
There are still parts of Riverside that rival Springfield. North Riverside is not a casual place to loiter after dark.
Still got ya by 3 years MTrain, ha. My post was more of a generalization though. I know quite a few people who live in Riverside now that think it is the greatest place on earth, yet would never come hang out there with me in the late 90's when we were in high school.
When did your friend live on Silver? Very few people live in alley's and back streets of Springfield, if any. Most of our issues come from people outside of the Historic District and people passing through. Just like much of Riverside/Avondale's issues come from the other side of Roosevelt.
Another thing I can add about the cops. The original poster probably dealt with cops that primarily focus outside of Springfield. I was once looking to buy someone's house that I know. They gave me their alarm code and key to check the place out. The alarm was on stay and it went off when I opened the door. A young cop came after 5 minutes and asked me and my wife, "why the hell are you looking to buy around here"? He went into a 5 minute tirade about how horrible the area is. Little did he know that I worked at SPAR. So I told the local Police Sgt. Turns out the young cop's area was north of 20th Street. Which doesn't even directly border Springfield. He was reprimanded by superiors and given an education.
Cops all think their area is the worst area on earth. They typically deal with the worst people in those areas. They can probably give juicy gossip to people, but they don't know what its like to live somewhere.
Rode bikes with 4 other guys from 10:30 to 12:30 last night in Springfield. We went up and down just about every street in the area, went in many alley's and even went up to the Warehouse District north of Springfield.
As it usually is, the neighborhood was quiet as can be. Other than the dudes at 8th and Liberty and 8th and Hubbard I think nobody else was even out.
Springfield is safe as can be. Especially in the daytime. Springfield is as safe as a suburban subdivision in the daytime. Unless of course you are scared of the occasional 62 year old homeless guy walking through who is 5'11 137 pounds.
Quote from: mtraininjax on April 13, 2011, 05:22:52 PM
QuoteI hear of the occasional petty crime like a stolen bike, or stolen yard equipment.
My friend used to live on Silver between 7th and 8th. He had to chain everything in his backyard to the fence for fear of it walking off on its own. That is the only way he knew of keeping his stuff from being stolen. So yeah, that keeps crime down.
So glad I do not have to do this in Avondale.
I probably know who your friend was.
I have lived on Silver between 7th & 8th for 12 years. It was like that many years back... Now not so much. I had a charcoal grill stolen out of the back yard with coals in it while we wee eating dinner.
I would chain my grill even if I lived in Ponte Vedra!
Quote from: fsujax on April 14, 2011, 04:27:07 PM
I would chain my grill even if I lived in Ponte Vedra!
Most of the HOA's only allow you to chain your personal chef to it. So be careful.
Quote from: CityLife on April 13, 2011, 05:50:28 PM
Quote from: Jimmy on April 13, 2011, 05:35:15 PM
LOL, mtrain. My buddy in Avondale had his door kicked down while he was at work yesterday. When he got home, his TVs and computers were gone. If he had little dogs, they could have been wandering the streets.
It happens everywhere.
Seconded. My mom can't leave her garage doors open anymore since she's had so much taken out of there. And this is in a part of Avondale that barely even has pedestrian traffic.
I really wish all of the bandwagoners who have recently moved to Riverside/Avondale knew what it was like 10 or so years ago. I used to see dudes smoking crack when I was playing ball at Willow Branch Park. I once saw a guy get stabbed there over a basketball game. Once got trapped on a car roof by two stray Rottweilers for 10 minutes until someone could call the cops. Gas station on Park south of Edgewood was shady as hell. And this was just Avondale. I'm sure Riverside west of Park was much worse.
Its usually the bandwagoners in Riverside/Avondale that like to sometimes call out Springfield's negatives, because they weren't in Riverside/Avondale when it was still a little rough.
I have lived in Riverside since since 2000. I bought my first property in Springfield in 2001. I know both neighborhoods.
QuoteI would chain my grill even if I lived in Ponte Vedra!
My grill remains unchained in Avondale, so if you really need it, have at it! :D
Quote from: Springfielder on April 13, 2011, 04:23:44 PM
Quote from: A-FinniusQuote from: Livein32206If they were serious about looking to buy in Springfield, then hearing wild stories and then hearing the truth, should have raised a red flag about the wild stories and any validity to them. Also, wouldn't this person, if serious, have read through the springfield threads and after doing so, realized that this is actually one of the safest neighborhoods?
Me thinks we were just being poked by a troll ::)
To the troll remarks.. JagNole is a friend of mine. He has been looking to move to one of the urban neighborhoods for a while now and has finally reached the point financially to where he can buy. He has always been a fan of springfield but expressed his concern with crime to me. I recommended MJ to him and advised him to start a thread asking residents for their honest opinion. He was not aware of this site/online community until this past sunday. I recommended the site because not only am I a daily reader but when I was looking to move out of the suburbs two years ago I posted a similar thread concerning Riverside and the members of MJ greatly influenced my decision to move to Riverside. And now I love where I live and I am hoping that MJ will be able to help JagNole out as much as it did me.
The person may be a friend, but with them making such a snap decision after only a few serious posts (as most on the first page were jokes between regulars) and nothing was negative....but yet they decided that this isn't the neighborhood for them....please....it's more than clear that they weren't serious, if they were, then there would still be dialog between them and the others here...but is there...nope..so what are those sincerely responding to think....which is the conclusion I came to as well
I am not a troll. I am sorry I did respond and interact as you thought I should. Thank you A-Finnius for being my friend and sticking up for me. I apologize too if I have offended anyone. It was not my intention and I had no ill meaning. I just want to hear from everyone before I make one of the biggest decisions of my life and that I make a well informed decision. There is no "snap" decision nor did I ever say it was not the place for me and that I am not interested. I am trying to make an informed decision.
I have never purchased a home before. I have never lived in a urban area. I live in Mandarin now and I have lived in several cities but always in the burbs. I agree it is boring and I cannot stand it and I need out and want to be in a real neighborhood. There is crime where I live to. It is however different for me to think of place like Springfield as I have never lived in a neighborhood like that. I fell in the love with the area and have enjoyed meeting all the people I have met.
I simply wanted to know the safety of my dogs while I was not home. Not about cats killing them and goats. I am concerned about the break-ins I see on the COJ website. It is an alarming number so I wanted to hear from more people in Springfield. While it may be trivial to some, my pets are my children and are treated as such. I am concerned for their safety and want to know they will be safe before I would purchase a home.
Thank you to everyone who shared their stories of their life in Springfield and explained to me how it was for them and how they got there. I really appreciate that and that helped me in many ways. It was the honest answers I was looking for.
Again I am sorry if I offended anyone or created drama. That was not my intention.
Quote from: jagnole04 on April 15, 2011, 10:14:31 AM
Quote from: Springfielder on April 13, 2011, 04:23:44 PM
Quote from: A-FinniusQuote from: Livein32206If they were serious about looking to buy in Springfield, then hearing wild stories and then hearing the truth, should have raised a red flag about the wild stories and any validity to them. Also, wouldn't this person, if serious, have read through the springfield threads and after doing so, realized that this is actually one of the safest neighborhoods?
Me thinks we were just being poked by a troll ::)
To the troll remarks.. JagNole is a friend of mine. He has been looking to move to one of the urban neighborhoods for a while now and has finally reached the point financially to where he can buy. He has always been a fan of springfield but expressed his concern with crime to me. I recommended MJ to him and advised him to start a thread asking residents for their honest opinion. He was not aware of this site/online community until this past sunday. I recommended the site because not only am I a daily reader but when I was looking to move out of the suburbs two years ago I posted a similar thread concerning Riverside and the members of MJ greatly influenced my decision to move to Riverside. And now I love where I live and I am hoping that MJ will be able to help JagNole out as much as it did me.
The person may be a friend, but with them making such a snap decision after only a few serious posts (as most on the first page were jokes between regulars) and nothing was negative....but yet they decided that this isn't the neighborhood for them....please....it's more than clear that they weren't serious, if they were, then there would still be dialog between them and the others here...but is there...nope..so what are those sincerely responding to think....which is the conclusion I came to as well
I am not a troll. I am sorry I did respond and interact as you thought I should. Thank you A-Finnius for being my friend and sticking up for me. I apologize too if I have offended anyone. It was not my intention and I had no ill meaning. I just want to hear from everyone before I make one of the biggest decisions of my life and that I make a well informed decision. There is no "snap" decision nor did I ever say it was not the place for me and that I am not interested. I am trying to make an informed decision.
I have never purchased a home before. I have never lived in a urban area. I live in Mandarin now and I have lived in several cities but always in the burbs. I agree it is boring and I cannot stand it and I need out and want to be in a real neighborhood. There is crime where I live to. It is however different for me to think of place like Springfield as I have never lived in a neighborhood like that. I fell in the love with the area and have enjoyed meeting all the people I have met.
I simply wanted to know the safety of my dogs while I was not home. Not about cats killing them and goats. I am concerned about the break-ins I see on the COJ website. It is an alarming number so I wanted to hear from more people in Springfield. While it may be trivial to some, my pets are my children and are treated as such. I am concerned for their safety and want to know they will be safe before I would purchase a home.
Thank you to everyone who shared their stories of their life in Springfield and explained to me how it was for them and how they got there. I really appreciate that and that helped me in many ways. It was the honest answers I was looking for.
Again I am sorry if I offended anyone or created drama. That was not my intention.
You might want to see this link. http://www.myspringfield.org/General/springfields-perception-vs-reality-part-1-of-3-crime.html (http://www.myspringfield.org/General/springfields-perception-vs-reality-part-1-of-3-crime.html)
It explains the statistics of Springfield and its crime.
-Josh
you didnt offend anyone. MJ loves drama! you should move to Springfield, it truly is a great place.
Quote from: fsujax on April 15, 2011, 10:49:21 AM
you didnt offend anyone. MJ loves drama! you should move to Springfield, it truly is a great place.
I can tell that it is. I have looked at other areas, but I don't get excited like I do in Springfield. I really like it there, but I was concerned about the crime (I think that is a valid concern), but I am getting a better feel for it and more comfortable. The first house I looked at I did fall in love with. I still think about it a lot. W 12th just has a different feel than the rest of Springfield. I think I would rather be in the mix.
Go Noles!
Gentrifiying neighborhoods breathe potential and excitement. It is palpable. Riverside and Springfield are exciting communities because they have not reached their potential and things are constantly changing.
jag, There are lots and lots of dogs in both places that are doing just fine. I think half the shops in Springfield and 5 Points have dogs in them too.
BTW, barking dogs are about the best security system you can have, even if they are small.
Come on in to the "urban center"! Life is just great here. All these neighborhoods are "no boredom" zones.
Quote from: John P on April 15, 2011, 02:46:18 PM
Gentrifiying neighborhoods breathe potential and excitement.
only if you're the gentry. everyöne else gets pushed around and told they don't matter.
Quote from: jagnole04 on April 15, 2011, 11:28:34 AMW 12th just has a different feel than the rest of Springfield. I think I would rather be in the mix.
I'm over on W. 12th a lot...between Main and Silver it's really pretty quiet. Having the school on the north side makes it almost like living across from a park. But the further west you go it can get a little dicey; there's a lot of interesting traffic on Pearl and Boulevard.
Quote from: jagnole04 on April 15, 2011, 10:14:31 AM
Quote from: Springfielder on April 13, 2011, 04:23:44 PM
Quote from: A-FinniusQuote from: Livein32206If they were serious about looking to buy in Springfield, then hearing wild stories and then hearing the truth, should have raised a red flag about the wild stories and any validity to them. Also, wouldn't this person, if serious, have read through the springfield threads and after doing so, realized that this is actually one of the safest neighborhoods?
Me thinks we were just being poked by a troll ::)
To the troll remarks.. JagNole is a friend of mine. He has been looking to move to one of the urban neighborhoods for a while now and has finally reached the point financially to where he can buy. He has always been a fan of springfield but expressed his concern with crime to me. I recommended MJ to him and advised him to start a thread asking residents for their honest opinion. He was not aware of this site/online community until this past sunday. I recommended the site because not only am I a daily reader but when I was looking to move out of the suburbs two years ago I posted a similar thread concerning Riverside and the members of MJ greatly influenced my decision to move to Riverside. And now I love where I live and I am hoping that MJ will be able to help JagNole out as much as it did me.
The person may be a friend, but with them making such a snap decision after only a few serious posts (as most on the first page were jokes between regulars) and nothing was negative....but yet they decided that this isn't the neighborhood for them....please....it's more than clear that they weren't serious, if they were, then there would still be dialog between them and the others here...but is there...nope..so what are those sincerely responding to think....which is the conclusion I came to as well
I am not a troll. I am sorry I did respond and interact as you thought I should. Thank you A-Finnius for being my friend and sticking up for me. I apologize too if I have offended anyone. It was not my intention and I had no ill meaning. I just want to hear from everyone before I make one of the biggest decisions of my life and that I make a well informed decision. There is no "snap" decision nor did I ever say it was not the place for me and that I am not interested. I am trying to make an informed decision.
I have never purchased a home before. I have never lived in a urban area. I live in Mandarin now and I have lived in several cities but always in the burbs. I agree it is boring and I cannot stand it and I need out and want to be in a real neighborhood. There is crime where I live to. It is however different for me to think of place like Springfield as I have never lived in a neighborhood like that. I fell in the love with the area and have enjoyed meeting all the people I have met.
I simply wanted to know the safety of my dogs while I was not home. Not about cats killing them and goats. I am concerned about the break-ins I see on the COJ website. It is an alarming number so I wanted to hear from more people in Springfield. While it may be trivial to some, my pets are my children and are treated as such. I am concerned for their safety and want to know they will be safe before I would purchase a home.
Thank you to everyone who shared their stories of their life in Springfield and explained to me how it was for them and how they got there. I really appreciate that and that helped me in many ways. It was the honest answers I was looking for.
Again I am sorry if I offended anyone or created drama. That was not my intention.
The thing is, you say that you wanted to hear from us, but then made the statement after just a few responses, that you were going to look elsewhere...which wasn't even time for most of us to respond. Had you not been so quick to toss in that statement, I would've offered my two cents, given that I've lived in the neighborhood for many, many years.
There's no safe neighborhood, crime happens everywhere...however, what happens within our 1 square mile of Historic Springfield, is in fact, a great deal less than most other neighborhoods. There's a few break ins now and then, there's been a few robberies...but as a whole, we're pretty darned safe. Hell, even the gated communities have crime.
I don't know why you would think that your dogs wouldn't be safe within your home, when you're not there. To be honest, I've never heard anyone ask that before. My dog is perfectly safe, as are my neighbors dogs.
Quote from: hooplady on April 15, 2011, 03:32:20 PM
Quote from: jagnole04 on April 15, 2011, 11:28:34 AMW 12th just has a different feel than the rest of Springfield. I think I would rather be in the mix.
I'm over on W. 12th a lot...between Main and Silver it's really pretty quiet. Having the school on the north side makes it almost like living across from a park. But the further west you go it can get a little dicey; there's a lot of interesting traffic on Pearl and Boulevard.
I was out on W 12th Saturday and met a couple neighbors by the house I like. They said it was quiet too and they don't have any problems. I have been on the street time and time again at different hours and it is always quiet. The school also is nice because people are around during the day. The neighbors told me that the problems on the other side of the tracks pretty much stays over there. I love the house and it is the one I go back to time and time again.
Quote from: Springfielder on April 15, 2011, 08:30:46 PM
Quote from: jagnole04 on April 15, 2011, 10:14:31 AM
Quote from: Springfielder on April 13, 2011, 04:23:44 PM
Quote from: A-FinniusQuote from: Livein32206If they were serious about looking to buy in Springfield, then hearing wild stories and then hearing the truth, should have raised a red flag about the wild stories and any validity to them. Also, wouldn't this person, if serious, have read through the springfield threads and after doing so, realized that this is actually one of the safest neighborhoods?
Me thinks we were just being poked by a troll ::)
To the troll remarks.. JagNole is a friend of mine. He has been looking to move to one of the urban neighborhoods for a while now and has finally reached the point financially to where he can buy. He has always been a fan of springfield but expressed his concern with crime to me. I recommended MJ to him and advised him to start a thread asking residents for their honest opinion. He was not aware of this site/online community until this past sunday. I recommended the site because not only am I a daily reader but when I was looking to move out of the suburbs two years ago I posted a similar thread concerning Riverside and the members of MJ greatly influenced my decision to move to Riverside. And now I love where I live and I am hoping that MJ will be able to help JagNole out as much as it did me.
The person may be a friend, but with them making such a snap decision after only a few serious posts (as most on the first page were jokes between regulars) and nothing was negative....but yet they decided that this isn't the neighborhood for them....please....it's more than clear that they weren't serious, if they were, then there would still be dialog between them and the others here...but is there...nope..so what are those sincerely responding to think....which is the conclusion I came to as well
I am not a troll. I am sorry I did respond and interact as you thought I should. Thank you A-Finnius for being my friend and sticking up for me. I apologize too if I have offended anyone. It was not my intention and I had no ill meaning. I just want to hear from everyone before I make one of the biggest decisions of my life and that I make a well informed decision. There is no "snap" decision nor did I ever say it was not the place for me and that I am not interested. I am trying to make an informed decision.
I have never purchased a home before. I have never lived in a urban area. I live in Mandarin now and I have lived in several cities but always in the burbs. I agree it is boring and I cannot stand it and I need out and want to be in a real neighborhood. There is crime where I live to. It is however different for me to think of place like Springfield as I have never lived in a neighborhood like that. I fell in the love with the area and have enjoyed meeting all the people I have met.
I simply wanted to know the safety of my dogs while I was not home. Not about cats killing them and goats. I am concerned about the break-ins I see on the COJ website. It is an alarming number so I wanted to hear from more people in Springfield. While it may be trivial to some, my pets are my children and are treated as such. I am concerned for their safety and want to know they will be safe before I would purchase a home.
Thank you to everyone who shared their stories of their life in Springfield and explained to me how it was for them and how they got there. I really appreciate that and that helped me in many ways. It was the honest answers I was looking for.
Again I am sorry if I offended anyone or created drama. That was not my intention.
The thing is, you say that you wanted to hear from us, but then made the statement after just a few responses, that you were going to look elsewhere...which wasn't even time for most of us to respond. Had you not been so quick to toss in that statement, I would've offered my two cents, given that I've lived in the neighborhood for many, many years.
There's no safe neighborhood, crime happens everywhere...however, what happens within our 1 square mile of Historic Springfield, is in fact, a great deal less than most other neighborhoods. There's a few break ins now and then, there's been a few robberies...but as a whole, we're pretty darned safe. Hell, even the gated communities have crime.
I don't know why you would think that your dogs wouldn't be safe within your home, when you're not there. To be honest, I've never heard anyone ask that before. My dog is perfectly safe, as are my neighbors dogs.
This is very strange. I think you just assumed and judged me instantly. If you look back at my post it said I was looking on W 12 street. I responded and I said, you can go look, that I would focus my search farther south in SPRINGFIELD. Why that caused such alarm to you and backlash I am not sure. I am sorry if you are that sensitive that I cannot discuss blocks. Perhaps you are just an uninviting person. I am not sure as I get a VERY negative tone from all your responses. It is actually more of a turn off to Springfield than the crime. I don't want to live around people like that as misery loves company and negative people love to spread it.
To answer about my dog question once again, which I have previously made clear, is that they are my children. They weigh 10 pounds together and could hurt no one or protect themselves. I worry someone could break-in, hurt them, or even take them. It is my job as a parent to protect them. So I want to know everything I can about the area before I move there and hear from other people.
Most responses have been wonderful and I am very much appreciative and thankful. I can over look a few bad apples.
Hmmm...I think your bigger issue is that you don't have the minimum animal poundage to be allowed to live in Sp'fld. Ten pounds isn't nearly enough. But don't worry, you can supplement with fosters and porch cats. W. 12th has a rather happy colony of community cats, I'm sure they'd be willing to stray your way for the right kibble. ;D
The school is a minor inconvenience at drop-off and pick-up times; other than that it's great.
My error for not seeing where you mentioned a little further south, in Springfield...so I do apologize for that.
As for this being a safe neighborhood or not, it is and it's in fact, one of the safest. I've had pets ever since moving here, and have never, ever had a problem. Mind you, I don't leave them outside all of the time, like my neighbors do, and I have seen people walk by and tease those dogs. There have been break ins, but have never heard of anyones pets being injured...so I would say that your dogs would be safe. Most times, people will not break into a place, where there's dogs inside, those jerks want as little attention as possible.
There's just no better place than Springfield, great neighbors and a real sense of community.
Have you touched base with a local Realtor? We have SEVERAL folks who live in Springfield who can help you that are licensed agents. Now that you know your dogs will be just fine, time to find the right house, 12th Street or not!
Hooplady was too kind about the poundage: plan on a new child once you move in. SACARC will gladly adopt a very special baby into your family. ;-)
I agree with using a local Realtor. A bunch of us live and work here and you can't go wrong with any one here. And the inventory of homes is the best I've seen in months, at all prices and all over the neighborhood. Many of them are selling quickly so work with someone who will keep their eyes open for you. This is the best neighborhood EVER and we'd love to have a new neighbor! ::)
JagNole, if you keep going back to that house on W. 12th, it may be the one for you. Often times, in Springfield, our old houses choose you instead of the other way around. I'm not kidding. You can always be "in the mix" by attending neighborhood parties and events. There are LOTS of them. Plus, walk your dogs. Take them to the dog park. You can meet lots of people that way.
On the other hand, if having your neighbors right there and all around you is important to you, as Chicken said, there are other options where you will have neighbors on all sides.
No matter which house you choose, you will love Springfield.
Here's the URL to the Springfield Resident Realtor's page on MySpringfield. All of them know their stuff. As Springfield Chicken said (one of them) you can't go wrong with any of these people.
http://www.myspringfield.org/springfields-resident-realtors.html
I have this funny idea that the distance between the houses in Riverside/Avondale and Springfield are an element that makes them "real" neighborhoods, not just clusters of houses. That and the closeness of the houses to the sidewalks and the front porches.
My friends who live in the suburbs frequently don't know who their neighbors are and just wave at them as they come out of their driveways.
Maybe it's more about the physical layout than the kind of people who live in the different places.
In our old neighborhoods, you WILL get to know your neighbors. I love it!
Walk your dogs and you will get to know everybody within several blocks.
My neighbors and I wash our dishes at about the same time every night and we are able to look across; and chat if we have the windows open.
The dangers of Springfield are greatly exaggerated.
I'm sure a couple of Chihuahuas safely shut up in a house will be just fine, if I can take long, rambling walks in the middle of the night without anybody bothering me. In fact, the few loonies, druggies and homeless people I run into greet me by (nick)name and solicitously inquire about my health and general well-being. I am not making this up.