Moving to Sacramento (Davis, Chico: apartments, for rent, neighborhoods)

[SoonSacramento]

I'll be moving to Sac in Aug. to attend CSUS grad school, I'm 40 and thinking midtown might be cool to live. I'm going out the first week of May to look around and scout out a place to live. The CADA apts seem plentiful and not too expensive for a studio. I want to drive cross country over the summer and would like to have something lined up so that when I arrive I can just move in, which means dropping my guitar and clothes, then finding some furniture. This is why I thinking CADA because they seem to have so many places. I'll only be there a year, then 27 months in the peace corps then back for at least another year. Any advice is appreciated.

[justducky2]

Midtown IS cool!

The CADA apartments seem to look fine from the outside, and they're in the heart of things. There are some areas to watch out for, but you'll likely get that "hair standing on the back of your neck" feeling and you'll see where areas are not so great. I had a single friend who lived in Midtown, and he absolutely loved it.

Visiting is a great idea; best wishes!

[SoonSacramento]

Thanks , I think I'm going to stay at the Vagabond downtown for a few days and check out midtown, east sac, mckinley park area. Is it cool to walk say from the school to the capital during the day, maybe I'll rent a bike and ride around town... Thanks again for your input have a nice day

[NewToCA]

Here is some supplemental info about midtown, a great area in my view:

http://midtowngrid.com/wiki/view/Maps (broken link)


The maps are partial listings in the area. If you click on the category listings in the left column, you will see an extensive listing of businesses by category.

[wburg]

Walking from the school to the capital is quite a hike--about five or six miles. If you take a bike (not sure where one can rent a bike downtown) the ride down H Street is the best, although J Street is a nice ride too. Definitely come visit and walk around to find a neighborhood with a vibe you like--Midtown is a wonderful place but I don't think it's to everyone's tastes. The central city has a lot of different little neighborhoods, each of which has its own feel. Some are more college-y, others are a bit more quiet.

I'm 39 and a grad student at CSUS, so I can relate my experience. Midtown's a good place to live if you live near the Gold Line light rail line, or near J Street--both go pretty much straight to CSUS, although the light rail line drops you off about a mile away. It's an easy walk in, and there are connector buses that take you there.

CADA is the Capitol Area Development Authority, a public-private partnership that administers housing on state-owned blocks. Much of the housing is low-income and you can only rent the cheap ones if your income qualifies. (Note: In Sacramento, one person living alone who makes less than $37,000 a year counts as "low-income.")


Often the best way to find apartments is to walk around looking for For Rent signs on private apartments, although Craigslist is also popular.

[SoonSacramento]

Thanks for your help

[Tellin Ya]

Originally Posted by SoonSacramento

I'll be moving to Sac in Aug. to attend CSUS grad school, I'm 40 and thinking midtown might be cool to live. I'm going out the first week of May to look around and scout out a place to live. The CADA apts seem plentiful and not too expensive for a studio. I want to drive cross country over the summer and would like to have something lined up so that when I arrive I can just move in, which means dropping my guitar and clothes, then finding some furniture. This is why I thinking CADA because they seem to have so many places. I'll only be there a year, then 27 months in the peace corps then back for at least another year. Any advice is appreciated.

Look, your bright optimistic spirit is really great- really fun to get into your post! Thats why I'm trying to do you a favor and try just float the idea- of maybe not moving to Sacramento. You see, I was 43 when I moved there for a job, and like you I was really bright and bushy when I moved there, But I tell you- the place really broke my spirit.
The job ended up being really terrible, most of the engineers there were some of the most sadistic people I've ever met.
The air is absolutely full of pollen from the trees in the Spring, the heat is oppressive, and everyone there is so hostile and short, like no-one wants to be there.
This town will feel like it's beating you down, just from the low quality of conditions there: the water quality, air quality, and the heat (with hardly a breeze).
Please- preserve your positive outlook, and move instead to Chico, Fulsom, or even Davis is ok, but not Sactown.
Fair warning.

[CityGirl72]

If you don't have kids then Midtown is the place to be, it's where I would be if I didn't have kids. I lived there 9 years.

[handiquack]

Originally Posted by Tellin Ya

Look, your bright optimistic spirit is really great- really fun to get into your post! Thats why I'm trying to do you a favor and try just float the idea- of maybe not moving to Sacramento. You see, I was 43 when I moved there for a job, and like you I was really bright and bushy when I moved there, But I tell you- the place really broke my spirit.
The job ended up being really terrible, most of the engineers there were some of the most sadistic people I've ever met.
The air is absolutely full of pollen from the trees in the Spring, the heat is oppressive, and everyone there is so hostile and short, like no-one wants to be there.
This town will feel like it's beating you down, just from the low quality of conditions there: the water quality, air quality, and the heat (with hardly a breeze).
Please- preserve your positive outlook, and move instead to Chico, Fulsom, or even Davis is ok, but not Sactown.
Fair warning.

Will you please stop resurrecting age-old threads just to trash the city? I don't think trolls are welcome here.