Best/Worst Neighborhoods? (Roanoke, Salem, Franklin: transplants, high crime, houses)

[meskito]

I am curious about the neighborhoods in Roanoke. Can anyone please tell me about living near downtown, or living out in the more rural areas? What do you like/dis-like about certain areas?
Thanks!

[j1n]

Originally Posted by meskito

I am curious about the neighborhoods in Roanoke. Can anyone please tell me about living near downtown, or living out in the more rural areas? What do you like/dis-like about certain areas?
Thanks!

Any particular areas that you had in mind?
I would say that living somewhere in Roanoke city would be great because of your proximity to...well, to everything. You also have closer neighbors, and it may be less peaceful or quiet. Living out in the more rural areas would hopefully give you the peace and quiet, maybe some privacy, and space between you and your neighbors.
The city of Roanoke might seem to offer more of a mix of folks...natives and transplants. And there is a decent mix of folks there. However, there are more and more transplants moving into areas like SML and Franklin County as well. There is a certain "redneck factor" that you may find you are ok with...or that you may end up loathing. But if you are the type that does not do well with that factor, ending up in certain rural areas (even some of the smaller towns around) might be a bad idea!

[joelpac]

Can anyone tell me about the Vinton area? Saw some houses that appealed to us in our price range but a couple of people I know in Roanoke told me to stay away from Vinton. What gives?

[meskito]

I am not opposed to living near/in the city, but I would not mind having a couple of acres around my house either. I am just curious if there are any "bad" neighborhoods or places that I would want to avoid... like the previous poster who heard not to live in Vinton.
I know there is a historic Victorian neighborhood right in downtown. That may be more pricey due to proximity to everything. Just looking for general info on the neighborhoods. Thanks

[j1n]

Originally Posted by joelpac

Can anyone tell me about the Vinton area? Saw some houses that appealed to us in our price range but a couple of people I know in Roanoke told me to stay away from Vinton. What gives?

You should drive through these areas, if you haven't already. To me, Vinton can exude a lot more of a "redneck" vibe than areas in Roanoke 5 or 10 minutes away. Or even 5 or 10 minutes away...out in the country...Bedford, Botetourt, etc. And when I say "redneck", I don't mean "country". "Country" is good.
There's also some sort of a double tax issue in Vinton. I still haven't gotten to the bottom of that yet. Anyone...?

[j1n]

Originally Posted by meskito

I am not opposed to living near/in the city, but I would not mind having a couple of acres around my house either. I am just curious if there are any "bad" neighborhoods or places that I would want to avoid... like the previous poster who heard not to live in Vinton.
I know there is a historic Victorian neighborhood right in downtown. That may be more pricey due to proximity to everything. Just looking for general info on the neighborhoods. Thanks

Roanoke is sort of unique in that...rather than widespread bad "areas", it can be alternatingly good and bad - street by street. For intance, we were driving through an older, more run-down area and looking around. There would be a nice section of the street. Then further down (or on the other side of the street?!) it would be not so good.
There is a "historic" area off of Salem Ave in southwest. There's a rescue mission two blocks away. Does "historic" = "old", "bad", or "rundown"? Not necessarily. It can be and has been dicey, but there is revitalization going on as well. "Good" and "not-so-good" often occupy the same street in Roanoke.
That historic Victorian area you mentioned? Probably Grandin, Raleigh Ct area? It's really sought after. It has cool houses, tree-lined streets, nice neighborhoods, kids playing, upper middle class. And it's also easy walking distance to streets/areas that are pretty shady.

[roanoker 4]

Roanoke has a neighborhood for just about any age. Roanoke Citys' "Old SW" is full of restored Victorian-era homes and is an historic district. It is walkable to downtown and easy access to stores, businesses. The Wasena/Grandin Village area is like a village with its own movie theatre, grocery, coffee shops with outdoor dining, restaurants, bars, etc. Its an older area and a perfect place for either a young professional, single or retired people who like the 1950's era architecture and the livable surroundings. To me Vinton is the most boring place in the region. It has improved its downtown area with a few new shops, restaurants and a new market but I think it needs a major
new design to attract people there. Have you ever been to a town that there is no other word for it but boring? Salem is getting that way too I'm afraid but it still has some way to go!!

[PaperTrail]

Originally Posted by j1n

You should drive through these areas, if you haven't already. To me, Vinton can exude a lot more of a "redneck" vibe than areas in Roanoke 5 or 10 minutes away. Or even 5 or 10 minutes away...out in the country...Bedford, Botetourt, etc. And when I say "redneck", I don't mean "country". "Country" is good.
There's also some sort of a double tax issue in Vinton. I still haven't gotten to the bottom of that yet. Anyone...?

j1n,
What gives you that "redneck" feel? I don't see Vinton that way at all.

The worst part about Vinton is that you can't get from there to Roanoke without going through run-down Roanoke neighborhoods -- and that includes routes along Elm, U.S 460 or the train yard.

Vinton really seems to me to be a miniature Roanoke in that it's got some nice local places (The Barbeque Grill, Frank's Pizza, New York Pizza), but then the downtown also has a couple of empty storefronts that just make you sad that a business cant/doesn't succeed there. Vinton has a cool little Farmer's Market (Town of Vinton, Virginia | Vinton Farmers' Market Photos (http://www.vintonva.gov/departments_pages/farmers_market_photos.htm - broken link)). It's a small town, and with a lot of the larger amenities, you'll have to go into Roanoke city or parts of Roanoke County to find them. That's just the breaks of a small-town atmosphere.

I don't live in Vinton, but I do a lot of business there and drive through it every day, twice a day. There are lots of bigger, nice houses near William Byrd HS and around the BR Parkway. But most of the housing downtown is smaller, similar-style brick houses that were built half a century ago -- but built to last. And they do last; but they also do show their age. Much of it is very working-class, but also friendly.

If you see houses that appeal to you in Vinton, definitely check them out. Vinton doesn't have high crime, and it's an overall nice little place to be.

[j1n]

Originally Posted by PaperTrail

j1n,
What gives you that "redneck" feel? I don't see Vinton that way at all.

kinda hard to put my finger on, or to explain. I'll try...
We have some friends in Vinton. If we go 460 from the Civic Center, and up Gus Nicks onto Mountainview, it basically feels fine...like any other town. However...if we take 220/581 to Elm and up that way into Vinton, it just has this sort of depressed and neglected feel. Sort of like if it were more rural, folks would have a bunch of old cars up on cinderblocks in their yards, or a fridge on the porch, etc.

[Ryleigh]

Originally Posted by j1n

kinda hard to put my finger on, or to explain. I'll try...
We have some friends in Vinton. If we go 460 from the Civic Center, and up Gus Nicks onto Mountainview, it basically feels fine...like any other town. However...if we take 220/581 to Elm and up that way into Vinton, it just has this sort of depressed and neglected feel. Sort of like if it were more rural, folks would have a bunch of old cars up on cinderblocks in their yards, or a fridge on the porch, etc.

That, my dear, is still Roanoke -- not Vinton. Common misconception.