Communities in decline

Changing economic and social circumstances mean that communites thrive and then decline over time. Visiting somewhere you knew and loved and finding it less than as you remembered it is a sad experience that a number of StreetAdvisor community members have commented on.

At NE 135th Street, Miami, Florida, United States (StreetScore 17.64), resident rockstar49 says:

"This was once a middle class Miami neighborhood and the home of North Miami High School. The neighborhood has changed since the 1960's. I went to high school there and now when I visit, it is virtually unrecognizable. The houses are run down and the school has bars and fences. It is sad for me to see how deteriorated this area, which I once loved, has become. They are re-building the school and hopefully the neighborhood will also begin to make improvements."

At  Troy, New York, United States (CityScore 47.69), resident MadScience says that:

"I lived in Troy, NY for five years while attending college. This city has a lot of history and some truly beautiful architecture - old buildings with stained glass and carvings, impressive churches, and some nice examples of public sculpture including a large statue of Uncle Sam. Unfortunately, Troy has fallen out of luck during the Great Depression, and its economy has not recovered. The town is filled with unemployed people, and crime (especially drug-related activity) is frequent. Caution should be used when walking around at night, especially in the southern section of the city. Many of the once-beautiful buildings are now abandoned and falling apart, and many downtown businesses are closed.

Despite these shortcomings, Troy does provide a very affordable place to live, especially for college students. The parts of town surrounding Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Russell Sage college are better lit and safer. Some stores downtown are thriving despite the overall gloomy atmosphere, including a few antique and jewelry shops. Restaurant, bar, and nightclub choices are quite limited at this time, and many students venture out to nearby Albany for these attractions. Overall, while I can recommend Troy as a cheap place to rent an apartment temporarily for students, families and professionals would be advised to stay away."

Photo of Troy, NY by The One True b!X - Creative Commons license

At Oak Ridge, Tennessee, United States (CityScore 71.05), resident sparkleandfade tells us that:

"Oak Ridge is, by all accounts, a good place to raise kids. It's scenic, with beautiful mountains surrounding the city, it has great schools, homes aren't expensive and thanks to the laboratory there are plenty of jobs. Despite this, however, the town is aging, and you won't find the young families that existed in its heyday, when the population exceeded 75,000. Now at 30,000 or less, it's no longer the vibrant community it once was. Which isn't to say it is without attractions.

It's close to Knoxville (Knoxvegas) which offers still more jobs, night life, restaurants, culture and the like, but is decidedly cheaper than moving there. And there are plenty of events to keep people of all ages interested in city life- from the Mayfest to various local orchestras to travelling bands and author signings. If you're looking for a nice little place to settle down, but don't want to give up access to the bigger cities, this might be the place for you."

Is your community thriving or declining? How good are the employment opportunities and housing options? Tell us what you think about your neighborhood on StreetAdvisor.com.