Hello All Good to Meet You,
I have been following the posts on this site for a couple of weeks now because I am considering moving from the southside to Riverside.
I've lived in Jacksonville for around eight years now but i've always resided around the 32256 zip code. Over the past year I took a new job in downtown Jax and I am on the verge of putting an offer on my first home that is located in riverside just north of the Publix/Als Pizza shopping area.
I really enjoy the area but I am kind of hesitant to make an offer on the house after I researched some the crime Stats for the area. Then I read the posting about the river-side break in that occurred on the block of Ernest and Margarette. That is right in the area that I am looking to purchase.
I am an avid jogger and enjoy being outside a lot with my Dog (he's not a watchdog). Is this area getting safer or is the crime increasing. I love the historical value of the neighborhood and would like to be a part of that community. I would love to hear comments from any of the residents of Riverside.
Thanks and I look forward to being a regular member of these forums.
Welcome to the site... I predict you will get quite a number of opinions regarding the Riverside area...
Riverside is a great area. Remember 32204/32205 covers a large area, so don't be too scared of the crime stats. I live in Springfield and believe me it isn't nearly as bad as some would make it out to be. I grew up in Riverside, graduated from Lee HS. I know the area like the back of my hand. I have seen so many changes take place all for the positive. You have so many restaurants, grocery store, coffee shops pretty much within a 2 mile radius. You will never know until you try it!
I have lived in Riverside for four years and I have never felt unsafe in the area. My suggestion is to come over and jog in that area in the times you would be jogging. Take different streets to get a view of what is around, and see if you are comfortable with it. This will give you a better feel of what will be around you than just driving through. My girlfriend and I jog around several times a week, on many different roads, and have never ran into a problem.
Riverside is safe. I lived most oif my life there, my mom & dad still live there (on Myra). It's a great neighborhood and is as safe as any other "normal" neighborhood. I wouldn't be overly concerned about crime AT ALL. That said, you always have to be aware and take appropriate precautions....but nothing out of the ordinary.
To your larger questions.....Riverside 15 years ago was very similar to how Springfield is now, perhaps not even as nice. It's improved 100% and rapidly the last 5 years - with much more to come. It will eventually be like Avondale.
It depends on how easy of a target your house is I believe. I lived off Myra & Stockton for a year and never had any problems over that way. I regularly walked up to five points at all hours and never felt in dangered. Overall, I would say there's not usually violent crime in the area, the last year or two has had some freak occurances which both made national headlines (the jaguars player, the dj incident) so that might be skewing some's perception of Riverside since it got so much media attention.
I've been more of a patron of Riverside my whole life than a long time resident, i'm sure the old schoolers can give you more details.You'll hear people complain more about panhandling than anything else though.
I love Riverside...buts its walking distance from some pretty bad areas. There have been some disquieting incidents of late. For example, in March the ice cream shop next to Al's was robbed at gunpoint, just after sunset. I would not let it deter you from moving...it is a vibrant walkable neighborhood...but if I were to walk around there at night, I would carry a gun.
seriously? A Gun?!? Im not really a gun-toting type of guy so that post kind of bothers me.
There will be transients and kids passing through scoping things out. As with all areas of Jax you will be a victim if you leave any nicer bicycles out or flaunt your wealth. A wrap around fence will help secure things.
The Folks around here are friendly and neighbors try to watch each others property when they can.
I walk from the bars at Five Points on a regular basis and have never carried a weapon. I also have walked and biked around the area at night and have never had an issue. Carrying a gun is not necessary. However you do need to be aware of your surroundings just like any other city neighborhood in the core. Everyone's comfort level is different though, so you really need to spend some time over there to get a feel of what you are comfortable with.
A-Finnius - I live in Riverside with my wife, and we are EXTREMELY happy. We were cautioned by her mom (which was really due to the fact that she was a social worked for 20 years, and 20 years ago it really was kind of a shady neighborhood - part of the reason that Springfield has struggled a bit; long time mindset). Now, keep in mind that where you live in Riverside makes a HUGE difference. North Riverside (north of 10) is a night and day difference - and I wouldn't recommend that, mainly because I don't see an upside to the neighborhood.
Crime as a whole is DEFINITELY decreasing in the neighborhood. Also, one thing to remember about crime stats: the urban neighborhoods ALWAYS look worse on a stats map, because it doesn't reflect the fact that the neighborhood is significantly more dense than one on the southside (think about the amount of land that 100 people live in off of Southside Blvd, then compare that to Riverside).
Anyway, I've talked long enough. If you have any specific questions/details that you would rather not share online, PM me or email me (my email address is public)
Steve
I lived in Riverside most of my life and come from a family of avid runners. There is no better place to live and have an active lifestyle. It doesn't matter if it is 5:30 AM or 10:00PM you always see people running, walking dogs or riding bikes through the neighborhood. I lived of Gateparkway for a short period and felt less secure running on the southside, not enough foot traffic.
(ha) i think whoever said they would carry a gun is completely crazy.
in fact, it's laughable.
and ridiculous.
you don't anything more than your eyes, ears, and brain to be safe ANYWHERE, least Riverside.
(what have people become if they think Riverside is somewhere you need to carry a gun around in!.....good gravy that's just ridiculous).
I see Wayne Weaver jog down Stockton in the evenings when it's getting dark, he doesn't have a gun. =) (ha).
Weaver has a bodyguard trailing him in a bulletproof Maybach
I live in Avondale and ride my bike to 5 Points several times a week. The neighborhood is great and I wouldn't worry about crime anymore than anyone should in Jax Beach, Southside, Mandarin, etc. You will love this side of town if you enjoy a more cosmopolitan, diverse feel. Just pic the street that feels right for you. Some are a little shabbier, some are immaculate. It's great for walking around, looking at architecture, there are lots of restaurants and bars for socializing. Welcome to the neighborhood!
Your neighbors here in Near 5 Points Riverside will include: The Superintendent of Public Schools, his psychologist wife, a Senior Vice-President of JEA, various City of Jax Administrators, business owners, a handful of lawyers and realtors, some retired folk, lots of working folks and many of the servers, cooks, etc. who work in all of the restaurants in the area.
There have been lots of conversions from rentals to owner-occupied in the last several years. Sounds like you might be one of them.
You will also have lots of interesting neighbors from other places. I have counted at least a dozen languages spoken in this area.....13, I forgot Japanese. You will also see people outside jogging, biking, walking their dogs, working on the yards or just sitting on one their front porches, one of the great amenities of Riverside houses.
Park your car. There are four or five bus lines that run through this neighborhood and take ten minutes to get downtown. Ride your bike to work down the Northbank Riverwalk. Walk to the 5 Points theater. There are at least a dozen restaurants within walking distance.
^Riverside is also home to an NFL Owner, don't forget :)
Thanks for all the great reponses to my post. Most of the information shared was very positive and I am feeling better about the area. It appears that most of the neighbors try to watch out for each other.
I've driven through the area several times and i've noticed that not many of the houses east of stockton and north or park are for sale. I take it as a good sign that not many people are trying move out of the area. I did see a lot of houses for rent though.
Since I work downtown I frequent five points often for lunch but I would like to check out the neighborhood night life. Can anyone suggest a neighborhood bar that I could check out this weekend? Maybe something outside of five points?
Walkers or Kickbacks on King St are probably your best bet. Wakers is at Post St, and Kickbacks is at College St.
BTW, you will always see a lot of houses for rent, since many of them are rentals. Remember: a good mix of rent vs own is a good mix for a neighborhood. It adds diversity to a neighborhood, and IMO, they are the ones that spend more money at the neighborhood bars and restaraunts.
QuoteRiverside is also home to an NFL Owner, don't forget
So nice to see them behind the gates of Villa Riva.
I have sat next to Wayne Weaver while getting our haircut, so he does leave the gates.
Quote from: fsujax on July 10, 2009, 08:34:57 AM
I have sat next to Wayne Weaver while getting our haircut, so he does leave the gates.
That begs the question, what hair salon is the
Official Haircutter of the Jacksonville Jaguars?
I have seen him in Great Clips and Al's Pizza. He doesn't act reclusive and is very approachable.
QuoteSince I work downtown I frequent five points often for lunch but I would like to check out the neighborhood night life. Can anyone suggest a neighborhood bar that I could check out this weekend? Maybe something outside of five points?
O"Brothers Irish Pub is great with live music most nights
Starlite is a decent dive bar with a rock-a-billy feel.
Whalebone has good eats & draft beers
Wall-Street is basically a smokey hallway and has mostly a middle aged crowd.
QuoteWhalebone has good eats & draft beers
This is Ragtime now isnt it?
If you want some places outside of the 5 points area you can try WestInn Cantina/Monty's, Casbah or The Brick in the Avondale Shopping area.
Quote from: BridgeTroll on July 10, 2009, 10:18:33 AM
QuoteWhalebone has good eats & draft beers
This is Ragtime now isnt it?
You are correct... good call BT
I Love their eggplant fries... :D
Quote from: Lucasjj on July 10, 2009, 09:55:00 AM
I have seen him in Great Clips and Al's Pizza. He doesn't act reclusive and is very approachable.
Yeah, he was walking through the Riverside Publix just before last football season started and talked to everyone that went up to him about the upcoming season.
Quote from: Shwaz on July 10, 2009, 09:55:48 AM
O"Brothers Irish Pub is great with live music most nights
Starlite is a decent dive bar with a rock-a-billy feel.
Whalebone has good eats & draft beers
Wall-Street is basically a smokey hallway and has mostly a middle aged crowd.
Yep Yep Raglands used to be called Whalebone. And one thing about Wall St: It's middle aged up until a certain time. Usually around 10pm it becomes hipster f**k central, which is a good thing because it looks rough if you go there straight after work.
Quote from: David on July 10, 2009, 03:54:34 PM
Quote from: Shwaz on July 10, 2009, 09:55:48 AM
O"Brothers Irish Pub is great with live music most nights
Starlite is a decent dive bar with a rock-a-billy feel.
Whalebone has good eats & draft beers
Wall-Street is basically a smokey hallway and has mostly a middle aged crowd.
Yep Yep Raglands used to be called Whalebone. And one thing about Wall St: It's middle aged up until a certain time. Usually around 10pm it becomes hipster f**k central, which is a good thing because it looks rough if you go there straight after work.
Agreed. It's also funny to hear the transition of juke box selctions as the night starts to turn
Don't forget Bold City Brewery Tap Room on Friday and Saturday nights. It's on Rosselle Street west of Stockton one block. Another quiet, comfortable place is the bar at the Row Restaurant on Riverside. Good drinks and appetizers. There is a style of nightlife for everyone.
In the heart of Five Points is also Riverside Wine and Liquor which has a small, intimate full bar and wine bar in the back. Lots of good conversation and the smoke control is excellent.
A lot of the rental signs are not for houses, but for the garage apartments behind some of the houses. All of Riverside also has a lot of purpose built (not divided houses) duplexes. Most of them are the "up and down" style rather than the newer side by side style so look like single family houses. These less expensive rentals keep the neighborhood a good mix and provide a place for the young restaurant workers to stay close to their work. Check the number of bicycles around the restaurants.
I didn't realize there were that many bars in the riverside area... All I really knew of was Mos Fire, O'brothers and the alibi in Murray Hill. Maybe i'll head into riverside tonight! Thanks for all the information everybody!