by By Pettiford, Alonzo Jr.
In pursuit of an opportunity, I moved away from O Fallon, Illinois, in 2013.
Twenty minutes from St. Louis’s downtown is the little military town of O Fallon. I was ready for a change after spending years there.
I got a call from Texas. especially Fort Worth, which promises inexpensive homes and jobs. I decided that an apartment off of McCart Avenue and Interstate 20 would be a nice place to start.
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But Fort Worth didn’t feel like home until 2018.
I like reading the news once more.
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I had been going through Zillow, primarily in Dallas. I sensed something was off. Concrete slabs, cramped homes, and little lots devoid of personality.
Then I saw an ad for a home in Forest Hill, one of North Texas’s fastest-growing neighborhoods, that was built in 1936.
The neighborhood’s friendly vibe and affordability drew me in.
I drove out to view it on a whim. I could get downtown in roughly ten minutes from the neighborhood, which has a small-town feel to it.
Art, entertainment, and food are all accessible.
I thought about it for seven days before making an offer.
It felt natural.
I was greeted by Forest Hill in a surprising manner.
People came and went in O Fallon. It always seemed a bit fleeting.
It’s different here. Generations of families have lived on the same block. Individuals are acquainted. More significantly, they watch out for one another.
Although I haven’t witnessed many block parties yet, neighbors gather all year long to celebrate in meaningful ways.
I now associate home with tranquility. The occasional symphony of crowing roosters or barking dogs adds to the peaceful serenity.
I assume everything is alright as long as they are creating noise.
I’ve watched Forest Hill transform over the last seven years. The city invests in the neighborhood. Schools have grown and improved their technology, a new YMCA has opened, and Renaissance Square has attracted new people and companies.
The energy seems to be increasing.
Property values are rising, more homes are being constructed, and like many of my neighbors, I have made improvements to my home and seen its equity increase. The neighborhood is reviving, and it’s not just about new businesses or construction.
A part of me still fears, though. A significant number of the elderly inhabitants, who have been here for decades, are on fixed incomes. Taxes increase in tandem with rising property values.
Improvements and growth are wonderful, but not if they push out the people who created them.
I’ve learned the significance of connection from living here. With the city only a short drive away, Forest Hill offers me the best of both worlds. Although there aren’t as many eateries as I would want, I am aware that more will be added soon.
The tranquility of my house, the sound of my neighbors’ animals, and the sense of community that comes with living in a neighborhood that seems like family are all things I have in the meantime.
I belong here.
At Clear Scope Media, Alonzo Pettiford Jr. holds the position of senior project manager.
Forest Hill
14,238 people in total
Male: 48% | Female: 51%
Age
- 0-9: 14%
- 10-19: 14%
- 20-29: 12%
- 30-39: 11%
- 40-49: 11%
- 50-59: 12%
- 60-69: 7%
- 70-79: 16%
Learning
- No degree: 28%
- High school: 28%
- Some college: 20%
- Bachelor s degree: 7%
- Post-graduate: 4%
Race
Black: 47%, Hispanic: 39%, White: 11%, and two or more: 1%
To see the Texas Education Agency ratings for the schools, click on the links:
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Harlean Beal Elementary
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David K. Sellars Elementary
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Uplift Ascend Preparatory
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Hommel Elementary School
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Roger E. Souder Elementary School
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J.W. Bishop Elementary School
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