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So... as my moniker implies, I left and came back to Sacramento... And now, I must leave again. There is little employment in my field here. This will continue for at least 5-6 years. So... I have the potential to head to the Fresno, Madera, Visalia area (or out of state again).
I was hoping to get honest opinions of some locals (or recent locals).
Say a top list of Pros and Cons of living in the area.
I was there recently so I saw a bit... I am amazed how much growth has occurred north of Herndon avenue, but I am also stunned at how rundown central Fresno is. Clovis seems the same as it always has been. Are there nice satelite communities? (other than Woodward park/lake). I've heard a rumor that Southwest maybe coming? Any insight would be very helpful.
I'm not sure what you are looking for or how much you explored so let me give you a little run down on a couple of areas in case you missed them. Many of the projects have slowed the last 2 or 3 years but are slowly seeing things start up again.
Sunnyside (southeast Fresno) has been seeing a lot of new growth east on Kings Canyon and south on Clovis Ave (it stagnated in the late 1970s but is growing again). Breaking ground early next year is phase 1 of the new Fancher Creek mixed-use shopping/residential area near Clovis Ave and Tulare St. About 700 apts/condos and 1 million feet of commercial/office. Fancher Creek
While the Fulton Mall area is still stagnant, just north along Fulton Street between downtown and the Tower are several new loft apt buildings, a few galleries, and a little nightlife. Iron Bird Cafe in the Iron Bird Lofts is doing great coffee and food (they buy the coffee from Barefoot Roasters). The area is called usually the Mural District or Uptown, still small but growing. The Mural District: Art is Now, This is Neighborhood The Iron Bird Cafe | Facebook Home | Fulton Street Project
You mentioned Woodward Lake but did you find the Dominion area? Say north of Shepherd southeast of the actual Woodward Lake (streets like Champlain, Ft Washington, etc)
Out in Clovis, Harland Ranch (168 near Shepherd) is developing. Currently single family housing but they are planning other housing and now leasing for phase 1 of retail that will be walkable from the housing.
If you give a little more info about what you are looking for in terms of housing,etc we can guide you more.
Thank you very much for the info. While I appreciate "downtown" living (did that for many years, loved it...), I now have young children, and am looking for upscale single family homes in SAFE areas (maybe even somewhat rural: I saw Bonadelle Ranchos online). Price will take a distant back seat to newer SAFE developments. From what I saw on-line, Clovis has a great high school. The new Water Park was rather nice, and surprising (I seem to remember a drive-in near there...). Actually, since you obviously know the area, what happened to Fresno. I had not previously been there since the late seventies/early eighties. What catalyzed the growth? What corporations came to town? Actually, I was kind of sad to see some of the citrus groves gone. Oh, and as I obviously referred to, where is crime the worst?
Sorry, I had a busy few days. Sounds like you moved out of this area about the same time that I moved here in the early 80s for a job.
I don't think any one large new employer sparked growth, it has been general growth across the board. Other than the hospitals, there are only 4 or 5 private employers in the county with more than 1000 employees.
There has been lots of job growth in small to midsized operations of all types, both local and national corporations. Ag is a much smaller, but of course still significant, percentage of the job base.
I assume you have or are already looking at a job in the area so I won't refer you to employment resources.
You saw one of the waterparks (the one next to 99). There is also another on Shaw east of Clovis. This other one is a large tree covered park with a wave pool, slides, etc. Here are the links to both. Wild Water Adventures Clovis, California islandwaterpark
In terms of crime I think the newer areas are fine almost anywhere in the Fresno/Clovis area as are some of the older areas. There are bad areas in some of the older neighborhoods but driving or looking on Google streetview makes them show up right away.
Since you are coming out of Sacramento, a couple of comparisons for you to try to give you reference points (I don't know what research you have already done).
CQPress ranks cities over 75,000, the last ranking was in November 2009 using the 2008 FBI crime data.
58. Sacramento
161. Fresno
207. Citrus Heights
298. Elk Grove
314. Roseville
317. Clovis http://os.cqpress.com/citycrime/2009...9_Rank_Rev.pdf
I don't know the ages of your kids but yes, in general, Clovis Unified Schools are the strongest in the area (CUSD now has 5 high schools). Attendance boundaries for CUSD are not just the city of Clovis, but areas in the city of Fresno north of Herndon all the way west to Van Ness plus the east side of Clovis Ave down to Kings Canyon Blvd. http://www.cusd.com/parents/DistrictMap2009_10.pdf
Also, Fresno Unified has some very good schools (particularly in the north) but you have to research each school. Individual schools reflect the demographics of their students in FUSD.
For example, the top area HS and middle schools on this thread https://www.city-data.com/forum/calif...ols-based.html
are both Fresno Unified affiliated schools. And its magnet elementary schools score well on state tests, like Fresno's Manchester GATE with scores over 900, or Bullard Talent just under 900. So in that district you do your research about the neighborhood school or apply to one of the magnet schools.
A few more links to housing areas for you to explore.
Copper River is a new planned community/golf course area on Friant Road north of Woodward Lake. Copper River Ranch
Harlan Ranch off Highway 168 I mentioned, but there are newer homes just west of it also along both Temperance and Shepherd Aves. Welcome To Harlan Ranch
Quail Lake is on Shaw Avenue east of Clovis (they have a charter school for the neighborhood) Welcome to Quail Lake: Custom Homes, Fresno
If you are thinking rural lifestyle, the Ranchos are OK although I'm not as fond of the area. I know people who live out there and like it but others who did not.
For rural areas, I'd look north and east of Clovis. Go out highway 168 toward the foothills and you'll start seeing houses on acreage near Academy. Then also go out Shaw Ave east or take Herndon Avenue east of the Clovis Hospital at Temperance Ave (still orange groves around the hospital ). All of these areas seem more upscale rural to me vs. the Ranchos.
Also FYI, Childrens Hospital moved from the old Shields Ave location to a riverside location. Great new facility and services. Children's Hospital Central California
I prefer Visalia to the 3 but think you'll have difficulty finding good schools. Probably best you stay near Woodward Park (Fresno) or northeast Clovis. I'd avoid Madera altogether. I hadn't heard anything about a resurgeance (in the Southwest of Fresno) but it will be too far from desired amenities and you'll have to drive through all the crap to get into town. If you like older and established, Fig Garden has been kept up very well. You'll just need to do your homework on schools, etc.
Thanks for the info! If I can pester a bit more... I am going to bring the family down for a day and was wondering if you could give me a list of sights to see (parks, mall, restaurants, etc). I have fond memories of Clovis, but I want to sell the area to my hoard... so to speak.
OK, probably you want sites and things they will do on a regular basis. If there is a specific type of activity or restaurant/shop they want to see just ask.
For shopping and dining you will probably want to swing by the larger areas (although there are many smaller ones) including:
RiverPark and Villagio near Friant and Highway 41
Welcome to River Park - Map (http://www.shopriverpark.com/map.html - broken link)
Fashion Fair (the old Weinstocks/Gottschalks building was purchased by Forever 21 which supposedly plans its largest store in that space) Fashion Fair | Interactive Map -
Fig Garden Village Fig Garden Village - Directory of Specialty Stores, Services & Restaurants
Sierra Vista in Clovis (both Kohls and the revived Gottschalk will open there this year) Sierra Vista Mall Clovis California
Parks? Woodward Park is nice and the Japanese Gardens there are great, but both have an entrance fee. Woodward has a new large BMX facility hosting national events. There is also Shakespeare in the Park at Woodward in summer.
Spring area frame 2 (http://www.shinzenjapanesegarden.org/seasons.html - broken link) Woodward Woodward Shakespeare Festival
Then the San Joaquin River Parkway is preserving miles of the river with bike/hike trails, picnic areas, canoeing, etc.
San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust (http://www.riverparkway.org/eduRec.asp - broken link)
Speaking of trails, Fresno and Clovis are investing millions in new bike/walking trails. Pages - ClovisOldTownTrail
Concerts/shows are at several locations, mainly at 16,500 seat SaveMart Center at Fresno State (about the same size as Arco). Last night it hosted Tim McGraw and this weekend it hosts Cirque du Soleil. Save Mart Center - Home
Also concerts and shows are at Selland Arena and Saroyan Theater in downtown. National touring companies of Spamalot, Beauty and the Beast, and other Broadway shows are coming there soon. The national tour of Wicked will play 14 shows at the Saroyan next year. There is also ice hockey, a new arena football team, etc at Selland.
Welcome to Fresno Convention Center (http://www.fresnoconventioncenter.com/index2.asp - broken link)
Then there are shows at smaller spots around town and at the 3 or 4 area casinos.
Chukchansi Park is home to Grizzlies baseball (they can always go root for the RiverCats when they play there ) and other events. Chukchansi Park
If you are around Fresno State swing past the football/baseball/softball stadiums. Very nice facilities and games are a fun time. Fresno State Official Athletic Site
The zoo is still a nice spot if you have time. Voters approved a sales tax to expand it a few years ago and they will start construction this year on a new exhibit for seals/sea lions, check out the artist renditions of the exhibit on the first page. Fresno Chaffee Zoo Homepage
Old Town Clovis does a great Friday night Farmers Market, similiar to SLOs with music, food, etc. There are also Farmers Markets other days of the week in other spots like The Vineyard on Wed/Sat east of Fashion Fair at Shaw and Blackstone. http://www.clovisoldtown.com/ http://www.vineyardfarmersmarket.com/
And don't forget Kings Canyon is only a 1 hour drive east of Fresno, Yosemite Valley is 2 hours. There are several fishing/boating lakes nearby.
Then there are new boutique wineries, athletic leagues, events like ArcHop, etc.
FresnoFacts makes me feel puny. Might as well avoid Fashion Fair. It's now the hood, minus a few newer, nice restaurants on the periphery, but that's my opinion. River Park is where your shopping is and it's loaded with restaurants.
Fig Garden is the 'older money' area and quite nice.
Visiting the campus at Fresno State is worthwhile... you can basically take 10 minutes to drive around it... plus the SaveMart Center and new student activities center along Shaw Avenue. As FF noted, Tim McGraw was here last night and, for a younger crowd, Chris Daughtry and Carrie Underwood were just here. It hosts legitimate acts.
The baseball stadium (Chuckchansi Park) is indeed nice but, again, surrounded by crap. Fresno just hasn't done a good job with downtown.
The zoo is nice but surrounding areas are ghetto. I'd avoid it unless you want to scare the kids. FF is right in pointing out we actually have a zoo but you head directly to it and directly out.
Definitely out to Woodward park and see the schools and home that encircle the lake. Lots of high end stuff. From there you could simply drive east to the Copper River area and even further east towards Clovis. Both North High in Clovis and Buchanan High School have academic complexes that rival many colleges.
If you're looking at a single day trip, that's my advice.
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). All of these areas seem more upscale rural to me vs. the Ranchos.
) and other events.
