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OT: Cedar Rapids

bawbie said:
1) kids will do stupid things, it doesn't matter where they are

2) what happened to those people who "wound up in the wrong part of town"? I drive through that part of town every day and go on walks in that part of town at night. Nothing bad has ever come close to happening to me.

some people in CR treat that part of town like it's the bad part of a big city. I've been in bad parts of Chicago. It isn't ANYTHING like that. It's still Iowa and it's still safe a vast majority of the time.
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It might not be as bad as the worst parts of Chicago, but there are some really bad parts near the beaver park area. Its amazing how you can walk 4 blocks and walk from a decent area to an area you don't want to be in. My sister-in-law found out the hard way and bougth a place on 15th Ave.
They've had house windows shot out, car windows and tail lights shot out, I've been shot with a bb gun walking back to my car, and my brother-in-law got a gun pulled on him because he was letting the dog out while there was a drug deal going on in the alley next to his house. Plus there have been several shootings in that area, so even if its NOTHING like Chicago its no place you want to live.
 
I would say that location of where you work is a huge factor when buying a home in CR. If you work on the NE side of CR then you don't want to buy a home in the SW side(did this for 1 year). CR isn't the biggest city, but the traffic can get pretty bad for rush hour on collins and 380, especially if there is an accedent or it is during winter months.
 
to2extreme said:
I would say that location of where you work is a huge factor when buying a home in CR. If you work on the NE side of CR then you don't want to buy a home in the SW side(did this for 1 year). CR isn't the biggest city, but the traffic can get pretty bad for rush hour on collins and 380, especially if there is an accedent or it is during winter months.
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Living in CR for 20ish years ive learned many shortcuts that avoid collins of blairs ferry for that matter at times. back streets are amazing
 
bawbie said:
some people in CR treat that part of town like it's the bad part of a big city. I've been in bad parts of Chicago. It isn't ANYTHING like that. It's still Iowa and it's still safe a vast majority of the time.
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That's because it is the "bad part of town".

The "bad part" of Walker isn't NEARLY as bad as the bad part of Cedar Rapids.
 
Bobber said:
Small towns have their problems too.
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just pointing out that the bad part of CR doesn't have to be Chicago-esque to still be the bad part.

I'll walk anywhere anytime in Cedar Rapids or anytown in Iowa for that matter. But I'm male & 6'4". It's not that bad - but it is higher crime / lower home values - so its not that good either.
 
IN GENERAL the neighborhoods west of 19th on the SE side are more run-down, low-income neighborhoods. I drive through these every day, and while there are certain houses here and there that are nice, most of them are shabby and unkempt.

There are quite a few houses for sale on the SE side right now, especially on Bever Ave and the surrounding streets. Many of them are older homes that have been kept up very well. We very much enjoy living in this area of CR and like the easy walks to Bever Park and Brucemore.

It can be confusing/annoying to get around CR, but once you learn the back roads, it doesn't take long to get from one side of the city to the other.
 
I"ve lived in CR my whole life, been on the SW, SE, and currently on the NE. All parts have great areas, all have so-so areas. I would definately stay away from the river. Of course who would have thought 10 blocks was too close last summer. There are lots of good homes for sale in town, but I would prob look in surrounding areas. Fairfax, Walford, Robins, Ely, Marion. Like someone said earlier, avoiding Collins, 380, and Blairs Ferry around rush hour is a must. We used to live on 30th st by Bever Park and enjoyed it. The farther you go towards downtown from Bever, the worse it gets. We never had any problems though. Actually had a few more prob by our NE home.
 
I lived on the north side and really disliked it. Moved to the SW side. SW side is very quiet; very easy to get around; less traffic than the North side. Fairfax would be good too. Stay away from the river. Stay on the "SW side" of the SW side.
 
dbodeenisudm said:
I lived on the north side and really disliked it. Moved to the SW side. SW side is very quiet; very easy to get around; less traffic than the North side. Fairfax would be good too. Stay away from the river. Stay on the "SW side" of the SW side.
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Yeah, that's probably the most confusing part. Get a map of the city that shows exactly what areas they are reffering to as NE,NW,SE,SW... nothing like dividing the city with a curvy road and curvy river to create mass confusion for newbies.
 
dbodeenisudm said:
I lived on the north side and really disliked it. Moved to the SW side. SW side is very quiet; very easy to get around; less traffic than the North side. Fairfax would be good too. Stay away from the river. Stay on the "SW side" of the SW side.
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The SW side is very quiet, but there is also little over there. If you want to go shopping or do anything you have to drive to the NE side.

There are a few things on the SW side, but the majority is on the NE side.
 
rebecacy said:
Can you be more specific -- what should we look out for???? Wife likes remodeled older homes -- she said something about bever or beaver park area???
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There will be people who will disagree, but I would not live near Bever Park if the house was free. I grew up on the NW side of town but now live in north Marion. We love the homes, neighborhood and the Linn-Mar schools are outstanding.
 
duff_in_hiding said:
There will be people who will disagree, but I would not live near Bever Park if the house was free. I grew up on the NW side of town but now live in north Marion. We love the homes, neighborhood and the Linn-Mar schools are outstanding.
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L-M schools are very good...but you pay for that! Property taxes in the L-M district are sky-high! I believe they are the highest bonded school district in the state...they struggle to keep pace with the growth in their boundaries.
 
I have lived in CR for my entire life and nothing beats the SE side. I first lived off of 5th Ave and Forest Dr on Upland Dr. This is very close to Bever Ave and Bever Park. A lot of people are hesitant of this area because it is within blocks of "Wellington Heights" but the Bever and Grande Ave neighborhoods are probably the most storied and beautiful in the entire CR metro. Big, old homes, with actual backyards and trees that have kept their value and stood the test of time.

After reading this thread I can't believe more people haven't pimped the SE area! I'm surprised with all the positive responses for the NE and Marion? I don't get it, its all cookie-cutter 80-90's homes with no trees or big properties. Bowman Woods may be the worst neighborhood because it looks like the same contractor has been doing that area for the last 20 years. You will literally see 2 or 3 houses that will look the exact same. No offense to any of the schools in the area, but if you want your kids going to a school where everyone is from the exact same background with the same level of income then Linn-Mar is your winner. The best school in the metro area and arguably the state is my very own Washington High School. National Blue Ribbon School 3 times and usually scores the highest for public schools.

My second home, my family moved out by Green Valley but on the other side of East Post Rd. My road Andover Ln is what the cookie cutter neighborhoods of the NE and Marion try to emulate but it is a beautiful 1980's home with old trees and .75 acres which is way more than you would get with your Linn Mar area or Kennedy area home. My home would probably go for a little under half a million.

Based on my experiences, I wouldn't even give the west side a look, everything happens on the east side and all the business on the west side is dying while the east side has been growing. All in all, SE side is probably the best side of town. It is diverse, beautiful and has the best school in the metro area.
 
cyfanatic said:
L-M schools are very good...but you pay for that! Property taxes in the L-M district are sky-high! I believe they are the highest bonded school district in the state...they struggle to keep pace with the growth in their boundaries.
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We are not crazy about the new big houses that are all garage in the front -- do have a new born.
 
clones_jer said:
just pointing out that the bad part of CR doesn't have to be Chicago-esque to still be the bad part.

I'll walk anywhere anytime in Cedar Rapids or anytown in Iowa for that matter. But I'm male & 6'4". It's not that bad - but it is higher crime / lower home values - so its not that good either.
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gun > 6'4"
 
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