Rancho Cordova housing advice (Folsom, Bishop: apartment complex, rent, condo)

[Fletcher921]

Our son was just hired and will be working in Rancho Cordova at corner of Data Drive and Capital Village. He will need to use public transportation/bike to get to from work and shopping etc. We jotted down the names of a few apartment/condo s... Chesapeake Commons; Zinfandel Village, Bishops Court, The Reserve at Capitol Village, Fusion at Capitol Village.

I have read that this area is pretty sketchy with lots of theft/crime. How accurate is that? Are there any other reasonably priced area's that he should look at as well?

He would prefer a pet OK policy and W/D in unit nice but not required.

[hothulamaui]

I think you should be ok in that general area of the job. elk grove gets sketchy towards well away from that area.

[NewToCA]

Generally speaking Rancho Cordova appears to be a bit better as you go further to the east, so I'd probably look as close to Sunrise Blvd as possible. There are some nice apartments at the border with Folsom, at Hazel Ave and Folsom Blvd, I believe the area has the Cobble Oaks and the Oak Brook Apartments. I'd probably take a good look at these, he can take the train and/or bike down to his work area.

[eitak.katie]

I'd definitely try to stay south of US50. The area slightly north on Zinfandel (near Walmart) IS sketchy. The area slightly south of his work on Zinfandel (near Lowe's) is new and nicer, but I can't picture where the apartments are in that neighborhood.

Another option: the light rail stop is right there at Zinfandel and Folsom (by Walmart), so he could easily live a freeway exit or two in either direction and take the lightrail for part of his commute, to open up some other neighborhoods as options (if he's younger, he may be more interested in the Howe/Watt area, near the college, where there are lots of younger people). The train runs every 20 minutes or so and you can hop right on with your bike.

[ElectroPlumber]

We lived at Capital Apartments on Data Drive for two years when we first moved to CA. I thought it was an ok complex for Rancho. I think there was a bus route that ran right by the complex, but they made some cuts in service so it might have been discontinued.

He could easily walk to work from that apartment complex and it would probably be safe during the daytime.

Regarding stores to get to with no car, there are some restaurants, hair places, etc on Zinfadel at the Lowes complex--I used to walk down there all the time from Data Drive for exercise. But no supermarkets. The closest grocery store would probably be the Target on Olson and there is also Safeway on Folsom, not within walking distance from Data Drive (you have to also walk across HWY50 on the overpass), but it probably is on a bus line. There is also a Raley's on Folsom at Coloma that would also be a pretty far walk.

The light rail station at Zinfandel and Folsom is probably the closest to the complex, but it is also a pretty good walk.

Really, you have to be careful in Rancho. Not to alarm you, but there were three teenagers gunned down in a front yard about three streets from us a few months ago, probably from gangs. And we live in a pretty nice house.

I hesitate to ride my bike around here much any more (the three kids were killed on their bikes).

What ever you do, don't rent an apartment on Coloma. Really, really bad.

I also don't ride the light rail any more unless it is during the commuting hours.

If you are not from this area, I would visit here with your son and spend several days looking around and make sure you understand what Rancho is like. If we could afford it, we would move. I used to not feel that way.

I'm not sure I would accept a job in Rancho without having a car.