What are these areas of Phoenix like? (Tempe: school, university)

[Valley Native]

Originally Posted by seank

What are these neighborhoods like? Are they safe? Are they good for a 22 year old just out of college, and working in Tempe?

Around W. Glendale Ave. and N. 27th Ave.

Older neighborhood showing its age. Lots of apartments to choose from I think.

Originally Posted by seank

Around E. Thomas Rd. and N. 14th St.

Another older area with some historic neighborhoods close by. Cornoado and Cheery Lynn areas offer some well kept homes that are definitely better constructed than the newer cookie cutter ones.

Originally Posted by seank

Around W. Indian School Road and N. 27th Ave.

This is the Alhambra district, which has a fair share of crime and seedy places. Mostly a blue collar/industrial area. I wouldn't recomment it for living.

[Robert A]

Originally Posted by seank

what is Mesa like?

I think Mesa is a giant drag.

Of the choices you listed, 14th/Thomas is the best and you might actualy find yourself on a good block. But you really should find an apartment or roomate in Tempe.

[Lowdown 2 Connection]

Mesa is a great place to live. So is Phoenix for the price you want to spend. Tempe is and has always been overpriced in their rents and that is because they usually have no problem renting apts to the ASU students.

[fcorrales80]

450 a month...with out a roommate you'd be out of luck unless you don't mind one of those weekly places that rent for 450-500 a month...but then those places look seedy! Get a roommate for sure until you can afford rent in the 650-900 range yourself.

[TRTFSHR]

At all costs, avoid both locations on 27th Avenue. I went to a private school in the 80's on 27th Avenue when it was a nice neighborhood. Starting in about 1995, 27th Avenue became the new Van Buren, i.e. hooker central. It is very crime ridden now. I loved the area growing up, but avoid it now. I have heard the police bust hookers somewhat frequently now in the parking lot of the Catholic church where I went to school.

[fcorrales80]

Originally Posted by TRTFSHR

At all costs, avoid both locations on 27th Avenue. I went to a private school in the 80's on 27th Avenue when it was a nice neighborhood. Starting in about 1995, 27th Avenue became the new Van Buren, i.e. hooker central. It is very crime ridden now. I loved the area growing up, but avoid it now. I have heard the police bust hookers somewhat frequently now in the parking lot of the Catholic church where I went to school.

I believe this is the Alhambra Village. Although it isn't the ideal neighborhood it isn't crime ridden. My bf is a cop and his precinct lies withing these boundaries for this assignment and it is much better than Maryvale. Cops consider areas of Indian School or McDowell in the "Vale" to be the "new" Van Bam" a.k.a. Van Buren. Alhambra isn't Arcadia but it also isn't Maryvale and has many mixed neighborhoods. Still, 27th and Glendale is probably an area most would avoid if looking for a very nice, walkable neighborhood, LOL!

[Magnum Mike]

SeanK - 27th Ave & Glendale is probably your best choice, although I would choose apartments away from that exact intersection, like further west on Glendale, or north of 27th. There are some good apartments also around 27th Ave north of Bethany Home. The problem however might be the commute to Tempe. If your work hours are regular 9 to 5, then prepare to deal with long commutes and constant stop & go, until you go through the downtown area on I-10, then traffic should become lighter, and the same applies in the afternoon/evening rush hour, except the traffic will become heavier on I-10 when you get past the downtown area.

If I were you, I'd find a place in Tempe, or as close to Tempe as possible.

[Magnum Mike]

Originally Posted by TRTFSHR

At all costs, avoid both locations on 27th Avenue. I went to a private school in the 80's on 27th Avenue when it was a nice neighborhood. Starting in about 1995, 27th Avenue became the new Van Buren, i.e. hooker central. It is very crime ridden now. I loved the area growing up, but avoid it now. I have heard the police bust hookers somewhat frequently now in the parking lot of the Catholic church where I went to school.

My parents bought a house around 29th Ave & Rose Lane (North of Bethany Home) back in 1973, I was 16 back then and that area was still rural back then, and it was nice. But like you said, in the 1990's, 27th Ave, from Indian School Rd, all the way to Northern, became like Van Buren, with hookers and drug dealers were a common sight. Back then whenever I drove down 27th Ave to go to my parents' house, it was common to see 2 or 3 prostitutes walking, depending on the time of the day. However, that has changed in recent years, and 27th Ave has seen some improvements, and in the last 6 years or so, whenever I drove to my parents' house, seeing a prostitute walking on 27th is not as common as it used to be. Apparently, many of the residents in the neighborhoods (including my parents) along 27th Ave have helped kick prostitutes and many drug dealers out.

[asufan]

If he/she is willing to go all the way to Glendale/27th Avenue, I have to assume that there is a budget for the extra gas or transportation costs. Take that budget, and put it towards a higher monthly rent at a decent place 3-4 miles away in West Mesa for ~$550-$600/Month.

I would rent it out for only 3 months, all the while scouring listings for people needing roommates for houses or apartments in Tempe. I would bet I could easily find 10 people right now that would take a roommate at $450-500/month.

[krock1dk]

Originally Posted by seank

What are these neighborhoods like? Are they safe? Are they good for a 22 year old just out of college, and working in Tempe?

Around W. Glendale Ave. and N. 27th Ave.
Around E. Thomas Rd. and N. 14th St.
Around W. Indian School Road and N. 27th Ave.

Neither one of these areas are in a good neighborhood or Tempe. It would be in your best interest to live as close to Tempe as you can. But south Scottsdale or west Mesa would suffice.