Introducing “My NoCo Neighborhood”
Shannon Howard | Jul 29, 2010 | Comments 7
Let's jumpstart the North County real estate market! Tell me about the people and places that make your NOCO neighborhood great!
As the bad news about foreclosures continues to roll in, and I watch helplessly as my own neighborhood fills up with vacant houses, I can’t help but wonder, “Isn’t there something we can do?” Most of us played no role in creating this mortgage mess, but that doesn’t mean we have to sit by and just let it devour our communities.
Yes, it’s true that North County has been deeply impacted by foreclosures, more so than any other area in the state. And yes, we’ve been cast aside and kicked around like countless other inner-ring suburbs across the nation, all victims of middle-class exodus. But as I drive around NoCo and see so many absolutely gorgeous homes and neighborhoods, I am simply baffled by the fact that many St. Louisans would willingly allow such a beautiful place to rot and die.
They just don’t know the whole story, I tell myself. And some, undoubtedly, base the bulk of their assumptions on race and other nonsense. So I’m here to set the record straight…and I need your help.
It’s my philosophy that you don’t just buy a house, you buy a community. And when buyers are able to meet their potential neighbors and get an insider’s view of the neighborhood, it can be very powerful. In other words, YOU are the best ambassador for your little neck of the woods!
That’s why I’ve decided to launch a new feature called My NoCo Neighborhood, a simple Q&A that will allow you to “pitch” your neighborhood to NOCO readers. I want to know what you love about where you live, and who the people are that make your home so special – all the things that a real estate agent could never know. If I’m house-hunting in North County, why should I move near you?
You can talk about local parks or your awesome neighborhood association or great architecture or anything else that you think makes your neighborhood unique. I’d also like to hear about your wonderful neighbors and, of course, I want photos!
Along with your answers to the questions below, send me 5-10 digital pics that capture the flavor of your neighborhood and the people who live there. If you’ve got video instead of photos, we can probably swing that too. Just let me know. You’re also free to talk about your individual block or street instead of the entire neighborhood – whatever says “home” to you. Just email your submission to shannon@NOCOstl.com and together maybe we can attract some new NoCo residents! Thank you!
What is the name of your neighborhood and where is it located?
How long have you lived there?
What’s the age & style of most of the homes?
What do you like most about your neighborhood?
Does your neighborhood have an active neighborhood association and/or a strong sense of community spirit?
What kind of people live in your neighborhood – families, retirees, artists, gardeners, bankers, etc? (Good neighbor stories welcome here too.)
Is there one special house in your neighborhood that’s currently for sale?
Filed Under: Community • Real Estate
Are you getting ready for the big day? NOCO is a proud sponsor of the 3rd annual Live Well Ferguson 5K
As soon as I get a spare moment I have some boasting to do!
We were actually just looking at homes in the bellefontaine neighborhood and was wondering if this is a bad part of town..the homes are so cheap and like you said so beautiful! We are from s. illinois and would like to move closer to the city. We have two small children and would like to move into a nice quiet neighborhood with other 30/40 yr olds with kids.
We are continually searching for the perfect home but no nothing of the less expensive neighborhoods.
Rhonda, get online and check out the school ratings if you have small kids. I live in Spanish Lake and haven’t regretted raising 2 boys that are now college aged. We live in a very quiet neighborhood right up Bellefontaine rd, north of Bellefontaine Neighbors. Hazelwood School District just won an award, “What Parent’s Want” along with Ferguson Florissant and some other metro area schools. We moved to north county because you do get so much more for you money! We haven’t had any problems other than an occasional car issue. But mostly common sense will protect you wherever you live! Good luck in your search!
I live in Florissant – in Old Towne Estates, just off of Florissant Road by Bangert Park. I’ve lived in Florissant most of my life and here for 17 years.
Why, you ask! Well… here’s my list:
1. Great house at a great price!
2. Close to everything! We are 5 minutes from 270 and 170 which get you anywhere you want to go.
3. The community of Florissant is fantastic. I love the conveniences like the fact that I can walk across the street to get a loaf of bread or gallon of milk, or expand my waistline by getting a custard at Doozles practically in my backyard, etc. etc.
4. Great place to raise my kids. My kids have been lucky to attend local schools, both parochial and public. And, we’ve liked all of them. And, they can walk anywhere. They walk to the park, to the pool, to the ice cream store, to friend’s houses, to the donut store, to the bowling alley, to the library. Few other suburbs provide that type of community.
5. There is more more more… but you need to experience it yourself.
There is a house on our street for sale… next door to me. So, come on down to Reighley Place (1/4 mile from 270, just behind Doozles) and check it out.
I live in the Old Ferguson West (OFW) Neighborhood of historic Ferguson. Having lived here for more than 13 years, I have learned so much about the history of this rich in culture neighborhood.
The homes are historic and area all unique in style. I am not an archtiectural expert in the styles of each home but I can say that if you are looking for a certain home, you can definitely find it in Ferguson. No two homes are alike – that is a style in itself.
Hmmm, I like my neighborhood because it is walkable, livable and friendly. Yes, we have the bad parts like everyone else but the good keeps me there. My neighbors are the best!
The neighborhood association is one of nine that is active in Ferguson. The associations are a strong part of the foundation that keeps Ferguson moving and growing.
We have all sorts of people that live in OFW. WE have the retirees, the young families, the single parents, the artists, the musicians, the engineers & lawyers, the chefs, the entrepreneurs, and the bloggers!
We have some good homes for sale .. unfortunately more than one but that gives the buyer an option of which great home they want.
Love to read about all these great neighborhoods! Now be sure to send in some photos!
St Ann is great, I grew up there! I now live in Hazelwood & love it here too. Coachlight subdivison between Lindberg & Howdershell is wonderful. It’s quiet pretty much all the time. Great parks, even a water park, frisbee golf & the St…. Stanislaus Conservation area. You can go down to the bottoms & feel like you’re far away from the city – that’s my favorite part I think. Everything we need is very close by.
The greatest pharmacy in the area, Gifts, Scripts & More where the pharmacist knows you & you’re not a number to her. Great local restaurants, any ethnic food you could want, plus the old stand by fast food places. We have the Mills Mall, easy access to highways 170, 270, 370 & a short hop to 70.
Very little crime, same as anywhere. We’ve lived here 21 years & nary a problem. The Ford plant is ready for redevelopment. It’s also great to live just a few miles from work at the large employers here, my husband says he’s spoiled. Sure don’t use a lot of gas that way & insurance is cheaper as well. Low property taxes. People here are friendly & the houses maintained. Flowers in yards aren’t a rarity.
Just up Howdershell is the 3 Riverwood subdivisions, Trails, Place & Estates with houses from nicer starter homes to $300K+ backing to woods. Gorgeous places to live! Lots of old trees, the St. Stanislaus Museum & the old seminary that looms along Howdershell gives it a great feel of history as well.
Where else can you take a drive from the ‘city’ to ‘farm’ in less than 5 minutes? I drive by just to see the cows, horses, shetland ponies & can stop at the old Civic Center & see the many animals including llamas, goats & heaven knows what else! The house at the entrance keeps these animals, which you can easily see by parking & walking to their fence. The little ones love it!
We still have real farms & driving on Aubuchon Rd. past the rows of corn, the Schroeder sod farm, which is very picturesque (and is featured in a Midwest Photo Book), not to mention just looking at all the trees, the bluffs & even the flat bottomland decked out in its green glory, brings a feeling of nostalgia like no other place around. Stop at Prouhitt Farm, just into Bridgeton (Mo. Bottom to the farm road) for fresh from the farm produce.
If you’re a concert goer, just take the bottom road all the way down until it turns into Earth City Expwy. We’re home in 10 minutes once past the Hwy 70 back up. We’ve counted 2 cars going our way one night, another night 3 cars. That’s my kind of traffic! During the day, you may encounter a tractor or other farm machine out driving the mud from the tires. Reminds me of camping trips of my youth.
If you love the outdoors, this is the place to live! All the comforts of the city, with an easy escape to the country. If they allowed camping at the Conservation Area, I’d be in hog heaven! Hike back to the river for some great fishing. Hike up the bluff & try your hand at ghost hunting, it’s rumored to be haunted at the site of the old ‘summer house’ the monks used. While you’re up there, take in the river views. Talk about serenity!
Take the nature trail at Truman Park, it’s fantastic! In the spring, the wildflowers are out in force! I love that walk! There are pavilions, a playground & a pond for fishing. We’ve caught some nice fish over the years. In the winter, it’s a good place to take kids for sledding.
The police make us feel safe & are always on the job. The city services are great. Our streets are cleaned of snow promptly. It’s never a hassle to get out to the main roads or the highways.
Oh dear, but I do go on! Sorry Shannon, but you did ask!