Southside-University

"I have lived in this neighborhood since since elementary school and now I am living here with my own child. It’s convenient in its distance from downtown, SCSU, and parks, but that comes at a very high cost: vandalism, violence, drug use, loud parties, properties sliding into disrepair... it’s a long list of cons. It’s not uncommon to call the police several times each week to report crime within sight or earshot of our home. A common example of this area: most parents let their kids play outside in the yard when the weather is nice, but in this neighborhood that also means outdoor parties or (at the very least) loud people roaming from house to house. With bass blasting, public urination (all the time), and all kinds of offensive, vulgar, profane language being yelled or screamed at any point (day or night), it is really stressful to let children play outside even in a fenced yard. I truly love some of the older homes in the neighborhood but the student housing makes it very difficult for a family to live safely or comfortably. "