32nd street and Shea (Paradise Valley: middle-class, apartments, crime)

[reesiesteve]

Looking at buying a house in that area but not really sure about if it is declining or not. it looks like a quiet and slightly boring neighborhood. We originally wanted something in north east sunnyslope but all the houses we make offers on go to auction. So we found a house near 32nd and shea in our price range and i just want to get an idea that we won't be bored there. we're a married couple with a dog and no kids.

[redjan1225]

I lived in that area in the apartments on the northwest corner of 32nd Street and Shea, and my recommendation would be to stay away from those apartments. I left due to a lot of drug activity and what looked to me like prostitution going on there. Personally, I'd stay south of Shea, my favorite area being where 32nd Street dead-ends into the preserve. You may also hear about a shooting that occurred at the Mexican restaurant by the bowling alley. That happened several years ago and I don't hear about crime in that area these days. I'd say overall, it is a nice quiet area, certainly one I personally would choose over Sunnyslope.

[HT2010]

Regarding Shea a good rule of thumb is to stay east of 40th street. The neighborhoods go from great to really bad in a hurry.

You are still close to some great shopping areas at Shea/Tatum, and Kierland is not terribly far.

[reesiesteve]

bad in what sense and what direction. we are looking south of shea near 32nd near shadow mountain high not far from the mountain. the homes look decently cared for. we've visited the area at different times of day and see practically no one milling around so it's been hard to assess the place

[homlish560]

Originally Posted by reesiesteve

Looking at buying a house in that area but not really sure about if it is declining or not. it looks like a quiet and slightly boring neighborhood. We originally wanted something in north east sunnyslope but all the houses we make offers on go to auction. So we found a house near 32nd and shea in our price range and i just want to get an idea that we won't be bored there. we're a married couple with a dog and no kids.

That's the Paradise Valley area - not the town itself, but a middle-class Suburban area of Phx. It is pretty non-happening thru there but you have all the Stores and services you need.

Good choice to stay away from Sunnyslope - that's a pretty scuzzy section!!!!!!!!

[Robert A]

Shea is good all the way through. 32nd/Shea is fine. A little boring, but close enough to a lot of good eating and shopping areas.

[KarmaPhx]

Much better than the Sunnyslope area, you shouldn't have any real problems.

[Skywayy2001]

We just bought at 36th and Shea..but on the preserve...south of Shea and on the better side of the 51. Key to that area is being south of shea. It's a weird area (much like central phoenix) where you have million dollar homes and then home $200k homes. My opinion is that it's a great area (for the most part) with its proximity to PV and 51. But as the posters above have mentioned, it really depends on the exact block you're looking at...your block may be beautiful or it may be more sketchy...and that's somewhat of the charm. Most of this neighborhood is very old people and it will be interesting to see what happens when they die and younger people move in and update the homes...a lot of which has already happened. Are you looking east of west of the 51?

[Robert A]

Originally Posted by Skywayy2001

We just bought at 36th and Shea..but on the preserve...south of Shea and on the better side of the 51. Key to that area is being south of shea. It's a weird area (much like central phoenix) where you have million dollar homes and then home $200k homes. My opinion is that it's a great area (for the most part) with its proximity to PV and 51. But as the posters above have mentioned, it really depends on the exact block you're looking at...your block may be beautiful or it may be more sketchy...and that's somewhat of the charm. Most of this neighborhood is very old people and it will be interesting to see what happens when they die and younger people move in and update the homes...a lot of which has already happened. Are you looking east of west of the 51?

Funny - I'm near 36th north of Shea (actually, north of Cholla). The neighborhood is fine, though not as nice as south of Shea. And you're right about it being block by block - my street has a few not so nice looking homes, but I've never felt like it's a sketchy hood. Seems pretty middle of the road around here unless you start looking north of Sweetwater.

[gabygirl]

reesiesteve: BORING is a GOOD thing!!! You want action and excitement? Then South Mountain area & Maryvale are it.