Crime stats seem kinda high?

[nvrenuf]

Personal opinion, the neighborhood can only revert back if we the residents allow it to happen. We have to remain vigilant, passionate and vocal.

There was a time when SPR was the city's "dumping ground" and people accepted that. The residents no longer accept that and get really ticked off with city officials when they try it. That is one way we keep it from reverting.

[CS Foltz]

LucasJJ.............consider renting with an option to buy maybe. Crime is Springfield is no worse than other parts of Jacksonville and having a Neighborhood Watch does help! We have that in my world and have allready diverted some criminals to the local pokey!

[Dan B]

Personal opinion, the neighborhood can only revert back if we the residents allow it to happen. We have to remain vigilant, passionate and vocal.

There was a time when SPR was the city's "dumping ground" and people accepted that. The residents no longer accept that and get really ticked off with city officials when they try it. That is one way we keep it from reverting.

What ^ said.

[Sportmotor]

Man, I'm getting old...all this new terminology. Back when I was 20, if we wanted to call someone a butthead we just called them a butthead. Those were the good ole' days...

Ahem

Whatever happend to the good ol days where you just beat the utter piss out of each other, then stand up, wipe off, and share a beer with the guy you(in my case) just beat the hell out of and became friends becuase you got over your BS?

[Sportmotor]

I think you are far to full of yourself for your own good.
Clearly.

[peestandingup]

I think you are far to full of yourself for your own good.
Clearly.

No offense dude, but can you like, GTF outta here & take it somewhere else? What exactly is your purpose in this thread, besides insults & sloppy grammar (that's "too" not "to" there, chief)?? Those SJ public schools you like to brag on aren't looking too good my man. Just saying.

Back on topic, kinda major setback for the wife. The past couple days, she's got some really negative feedback from totally different & random sources. One was her reality friend here in town (that actually specializes in the downtown/urban areas) pretty much confirming our "back & forth" issues with Springfield. Citing that the "Springfield rebirth" has been ongoing for many many years now. Going back & researching this myself (reading old blogs, newspaper articles, forums, etc) this seems to be pretty accurate unfortunately. The area seems to be on the uptick again, but for how long & to what degree is anyone's guess. Will it actually "make it" this time & continue to grow without reverting back? Only time will tell I suppose. I'd like to think it will though.

Another setback, and this was totally random, was we met a woman the other day around our age, who moved down here from NYC, in a park around the Avondale area. Her & my wife started talking about living in Jax & our plans to buy in a more urban area. The woman said (unprovoked mind you) that she & her husband were seriously considering buying in Springfield 2 years ago. Their realtor was even hip to the idea too, took 'em around there & everything, but they learned of one of their friends (or maybe a friend of a friend) who lived there & was shot in an attempted robbery while the person was just taking out the trash at night. After that, they kinda decided it wasnt quite worth the risk. They have a young child too.

Its really upsetting. I desperately want to live there & help out in the community, but I can kind of see my wife's point about the dangers & our child. If it were just us, I think we'd just say "F it" & go, but that's not the case anymore.

Plus, like I said earlier, I'm personally more concerned with the future of the area. I think if I knew for a fact that this was THEE time that Springfield was finally gonna break away & continue to grow & that in a couple years it would "be there" finally, I'd do it in a heartbeat right now & just stay vigilant in the meantime, knowing that things WERE gonna get better & better. But of course, no one knows that for sure & it's speculation on what will actually happen. And this crazy economy & housing market just makes it even more difficult to guess. So at this point, I think it would be a HUGE leap of faith for us to buy there right now. It could be a gamble that turns out really really good, but it might not too. I think that's how a lot of people feel right now about the area, those who dont live there & those who do, even if they wont admit it.

Its really frustrating because this area IMO has absolutely THEE most character in all of northern Florida hands down. I wish the locals & the city in general would get behind this place 100% instead of what seems like half-assed efforts & empty promises from the non-residents. I don't think the people of Jax quite know what they have here & what an opportunity it is. If this place were in the Northeast part of the country, it would have been gentrified a decade ago. They would have turned this place out in 5 years flat.

So I'm not sure what we're gonna do now. It's not totally out of the question, but in ain't looking so good.  

[Springfield Girl]

Peestandingup, I am hosting the Springfield First Friday Party on February 5th at 15 W. 3rd St. This is a great opportunity to come out and meet the residents of the neighborhood. We get started at 7  but it usually starts kicking around 8. There will be food and drink, lots of neighbors, a roaring fire pit and good conversation. There is alcohol consumed so it's mostly adults in attendance but there are usually a few kids tagging along, especially early, so if you don't have a sitter they are always welcome. I think coming out to a neighborhood function such as this, is one of the best ways to really learn about Springfield and it's inhabitants. I hope you will join us, we are a fun and friendly bunch.

[Springfielder]

If you know anything at all about Historic Springfield, then you'd know that it's been on the upward move for the past 10+ years. At no point, even with the decline in real estate and the market, it's still been moving upward. As or crime, it's everywhere...and this neighborhood is no exception...even though there's less here than most other areas. Much of what's reported doesn't happen in the historic section.

If your wife is so afraid of living in an area where there's little crime actually taking place, then Springfield isn't the neighborhood for you. All of this, I heard this and heard that, is just that....either come and meet some of the neighbors and find out the truth, or don't. Participate in a neighborhood function, and find out for yourselves what this neighborhood is really like and what it's all about. It's family oriented and neighbor friendly.

[peestandingup]

Oh, Im not giving up by any means.   We're going back over there this weekend actually. My wife's idea. There's hope yet folks.

Yeah, a lot of it is indeed "he said this & she said that" kinda stuff. I have no doubt there is some truth to it, but thats gonna be the reality of ANY urban neighborhood & both me & my wife know this. Like I said, we've been there done that.

And the thing is, Riverside pound for pound probably has more crime & general f'ed up things happening than Springfield & it doesnt keep us from going over there, or even talking about living over there. I guess it seems "safer" because there's more people walking the streets, more retail shops, more residents, etc. But in reality, there's no basis for the safer feeling.

Wife: "Wanna go to Three Layers today? I really like that place."
Me: "Ah, so you're a fan now eh. It only took me a year to get you to go with me."
Wife: "Well, I guess I had the wrong idea just from driving by that one time."
Me: "Maybe you also have the wrong idea about the area in general until you get to know it??"

[cindi]

peestandinging up, regarding the person shot taking out the garbage, we usually keep track of all of "our" notable crimes and that one doesn't ring a bell.  we have found over time that if it happens and it is bad it certainly happened in springfield - NOT.  thanks to the news and some others not knowing what the actual boundaries are here we get a whole lot of credit for crap that happens that isn't ours.  Oddly, a lot of the people that live here that have been the actual victims of violent crimes still live here (hoop lady tells it very well).  
many have looked in springfield but have shitty ass realtors that will throw out the "urban legends" because frankly they have no idea about springfield either.  you didn't say where the realtor's primary area was.  we have several here that are awesome that live here and actually know springfield. did she also discourage you from moving to mandarin - there was a grandmother there that was horribly, brutally killed not too terribly long ago - if they kill grandmothers there what chance do the children stand.  you might want to ask that realtor where he/she lives AND if they can actually name (really name) at least 50% of the people that live within 1 square mile of them AND if something happens (a shooting) could she pick up the phone, make a call, and have half of the neighborhood there in a matter of minutes?  if her dog got out and was seen eating a nice spread of chicken bones (NOT the confederate park chickens) a couple of blocks from their house, would one of the square mile neighbors be able to easily identify the dog, know where to return it to, be able to call them to let them know you have put their dog back in their yard.  
springfield is far from perfect, but we are transparent.  It is what it is.  It is not for the faint of heart for many reasons.  you have got to have a lot of patience with not only the "outsiders" but if you buy an old house it comes with it's own set of challenges.  
many people love to visit springfield, look around, poke fun at, and go back. yet they continue to come back again and again and again.  a lot of people that don't live here can tell you all it's faults and give a list of reasons they don't live here - blah blah blah.  most of it is hood envy.  they don't have what it takes to move here and be part of something really great.  
if you have small children and are having this much doubt, i think someone has said it before - get a short term lease, if you don't like it, no harm no foul.  i you and your wife are looking in jacksonville for a crime free area, you will NOT find it.  kids are abducted, people steal, unfortunately people shoot people - the question is, if it happens to you, will your neighbors be there for you?

[Springfield Girl]

Such good points Cindi. I have gotten calls from neighbors anytime they saw one of my kids doing something a little unsafe. My favorite was when my daughter was pulling my son on his skateboard with her car and it's always great to see the look on the girls faces when I say, "I heard you were at Shanty last Thurs." (they are of age). My SACARC rescue pug is a little escape artist and has managed to get out through the back gate a couple times. I was distraught both times but within minutes word spread and neighbors from all over Springfield were walking, biking and driving around looking for her. Today a neighbor came around collecting money for David William's funeral service. I have never lived in a neighborhood full of such caring people. Sometimes we disagree amongst ourselves on issues within the neighborhood but we are always able to raise a glass together afterwards. We operate like a family, we can argue and still be friends but I pity the outsider that tries to take one of us down.

[FLDrifter]

Don't move to Springfield if you can't stand up outside of the bathroom with someone holding your ... for you. Springfield is not for all.

[peestandingup]

Don't move to Springfield if you can't stand up outside of the bathroom with someone holding your ... for you. Springfield is not for all.

Try reading the thread next time. Its not me that's worried, its the wife for our kid (not for herself).

And trust me dude. Ive lived in rougher areas. Go try the bad areas of the U Street corridor in DC & get back to me on if you think I can hack Springfield or not. 

[CS Foltz]

peestandingup.......I have been to "U" street area and reminds me of a combat zone! Not a good place for one to raise a family........Springfield I think is better in that respect but there are plenty of area's here in Jacksonville that may appeal to you! You just might have to roam around and look for yourself!

[nvrenuf]

Good God, DC? Yah, Springfield is a breeze by comparison. Just wanted to chime in on the "shooting while taking out garbage" - we've lived here for approx 8 years and have not heard about this one. As Cindi said, we are all very aware of the scary stuff that has happened and I've not heard of this or anything resembling it. I am also not aware of any crimes against children in our area. The largest percentage of break-ins have been when people are not home, there have been exceptions, I've heard of 1 where the homeowner was there. And dogs tend to keep the bad guys away.

If you decide to move here, Springfield Animal Care and Rescue (SACARC) will be happy to help you with a dog.