Junction Ave, Maplewood

Moved away from this area when I finished college a few years ago, but my mother and her husband are still here. Lots of decent older retired or semi-retired people, much fewer younger couples with children. Some issues with speeders due to the straight road, and the people from the dead end like to floor it down the road to English quite a lot...but that has been cut down now that the Junction-Atlantic intersection is, once again, a four-way stop.

A few of the houses in the area are becoming run-down rental properties, and it is affecting the value of nearby houses and the flavor of the neighborhood. Particularly troublesome is a corner rental with at least 4 adults renting that do not clean the yard, maintain the house, have a barking dog, and park on the street overnight-blocking the plows during the winter and narrowing the intersection with English considerably.

Recent city improvement projects have resulted in the loss of a large number of the shade trees in the neighborhood-it would be nice if the city were to offer to replace damaged or removed trees with new ones, as the neighborhood looks very bare compared to just 10 years ago.

The area is quiet enough, though you can hear traffic on Highway 36. The access to big-box grocery and department stores, banks, and services is very good. The Gateway trail system and the Spoon Lake chain can be enjoyed nearby, though because of the proximity to the Phalen neighborhood and associated criminal elements, it is best to enjoy your outdoor recreation in groups, or with appropriate personal protection (taser, mace, carry weapon, dog, etc.). Better safe than sorry.

Overall, this is still a decent place to live, despite the city of Maplewood cranking the taxes up on citizens for their improvement projects.