Nice Areas of Albuquerque? (Rio Rancho: transplants, sex offenders, crime rate)

[ABQConvict]

Originally Posted by Zoidberg

I've lived in Albuquerque for over 25 years. I've lived and worked all over town, including in some neighborhoods that would cause some of the people on this board to faint.

I've been a victim of a few lighter property crimes (during my stint in one of the nastier areas) but I've never felt as unsafe as some fearmongers suggest I should. This is not the case in some of the other places I've lived.

"Just watch the news" is just about the most foolish suggestion I've ever seen printed on this board. It's right up there with "get bars on your windows" and "buy a house in RR even though you work in SE Albuquerque".

Shoot. I want to give you some rep points for that last paragraph. You will just have to accept this public adulation in its stead.

ABQConvict

P.S. I am being mugged by a gang member right now (actually, I am eating a breakfast burrito at Winnings coffeeshop).

[tpfilm]

Gotta chime in here. My experience is that the malls are all now going to the "rough" crowd. The stores the kids want to be seen in and buy from are moving to the 'lifestyle centers' like ABQ Uptown. The stores the kids go to are moving to them, too.

Here in Wilmington, NC a lifestyle center opened up - called Mayfaire. It sucked the mall staples away from the mall - Electronics Boutique, Kirklands, etc. The local mall - Independence Mall - is hurting because people are not going to it as much. If they do, they go for Dillards, Penneys, Sears. So the rough crowd is taking over. The mall is on the bus line, Mayfaire is on edge of city limits, barely served by the bus.

Crime happens everywhere. Gangs happen everywhere. The basic rule is: don't be stupid. If you are in a neighborhood where you don't feel safe either get out or be smart. Don't make eye contact and make sure everything is locked. Don't flash your iPhone or your money when you get out of the car - or even while in the car.

Common sense.

The last time I was in ABQ was in Nov '07. I stayed at an extended stay hotel on Wellesley Ave and felt safe considering I was in a moderate price hotel. I have also stayed in the lovely hotels on Hotel Cir off of Eubank and 40. Same thing. Jut be careful and be smart.

[EnjoyEP]

Originally Posted by mmposting

Here's an interesting article: Actor Freddie Prinze Jr. slams Duke City as `gang murder capital' : Local : Albuquerque Tribune

Well shoot, then *that* changes my mind entirely. If Freddie Prinze Jr. says so, well then, it MUST be true!!

[CCCVDUR]

I can't give advice but can only offer opinions as I've lived both in Albuquerque, and also near Auburn, Washington (south of Seattle), where the original poster (dreamboatannie) is from. There are several malls in that area with gangs (the Supermall, Sea-Tac mall, etc.). Common sense is the best advice for these malls, and the aforementioned Albuquerque malls and neighborhoods - avoid them at night.

As for Albuquerque neighborhoods, in 2007 I lived near the co-op at approx. Central and Carlisle. I was in a walled, gated property with a locked gate. I installed an alarm system and had multiple anti-theft devices on my vehicle that was outside the gate. That's the best advice for anyone living near Central and the University / Nob Hill area. I did not feel it was safe to walk at night, but I did bicycle at night. There was whistling on the streets at night and meth labs in the area. I knew one guy on Nob Hill whose bike was stolen while he went inside for 30 seconds, and came back outside and it was gone. Overall, Central (Rt. 66) is getting better, with recent revitalization of certain areas w/ loft apartments, etc.

I did not have any problems with crime in the 6 months in Albuquerque. Compare that to 8 months in Flagstaff, where there isn't supposed to be any crime in what is billed as a liberal, pristine, mountain community like Boulder, CO. Not so. I have been verbally harassed three times in Flagstaff, physically harassed once, and had my mail stolen. There is lots of meth and pot dealing all over town, even amongst affluent individuals. My friend here has been burglarized in a very pristine neighborhood of pine trees near bike trails, just the type of neighborhood the City of Flagstaff and Chamber of Commerce loves to boast about on their fancy brochures.

How are the pro-growth, pro-business, populist progressive policies of Mayor Martin J. Chavez reducing crime in Albuquerque? I was always very impressed with his radio programs and plans for the city. Albuquerque's City-Data crime index has been steadily declining for the last several years! Flagstaff's crime index is trending flat. The Flagstaff City Council should go visit with Marty, and find out how to successfully run a city in the Southwest and make it virtually recession proof.

If I ever moved back to Albuquerque, I would not be opposed to living near the University or Central again, given that I own an alarm system, and vehicular anti-theft devices. However, I'd prefer to be in the N.E. heights near the mountains and trails into the Sandias. Or, near the Nature Center and bike trails along the Rio Grande. Or, Corrales. Or, if I could afford it, a guest cottage in Los Ranchos de Albuquerque.

[NURSEYDUDE]

Dreamboat...depends on what ya want. Most areas in ABQ are liveable. I think its better to answer which are not. The "war zone" just south of the fairgrounds is one of these. Drugs, crime, etc. Begins to get shakey east of San Mateo Ave and is concentrate more to the south of Central Ave. In general, like most U.S. cities, the southern parts are more dicey. Id say on the east side of town, Central Ave is roughly an ok dividing line. However, the area around the univerisity is old and nice, and way to the SE is Four Hills...very nice. To the west side of town, I-40 is a better divider. Like most cities, older homes are downtown, and the age decreases as you move outwards. Since ABq is "boxed" in by the mountains to the east and Indian Reservations to the north and south, the city will grow west. Newer homes begin west of the Rio Grande and northwest into Rio Rancho. What will help is understanding that this area grew where the water was, and thats the Rio Grande. These areas were farms, and much of it close to the river still is. Well, open acreage anyway. The new parts of the city sorta grew around this area call "Los Ranchos" Los Ranchos has larger, expensive homes. you see horse stables, wineries, etc in what is actually the center of town. A bit different than most cities.

What I might suggest is to do a search on homes and prices. Thats a dead giveaway and will tell you all you need to know. Average home price here is about 200K. If the place looks too good to be true for the money, it probably is. Try realtor.com, prudential.com, remax. com, coldwellbankerlegacy. com, zillo.com to get ya going. Do a google search for others.

Hope you choose us. I moved here from Eugene, OR 5 years ago because I was molding. Ive never looked back.

Good Luck, Chris

[CCCVDUR]

dreamboatannie - Placitas, NM is a retirement area that is safe - 20 minutes north of Albuquerque - in the foothills of the Sandias.....

Are there any other outlining areas that are safe? I remember Edgewood - wide open spaces, and cheap homes for 100K, but then someone said it has a meth problem.....

Does Rio Rancho still have "less crime" than the rest of the ABQ metro?

[ABQConvict]

Originally Posted by Tom Lane

dreamboatannie - Placitas, NM is a retirement area

Placitas is a retirement area now?

Back in the '90s I used to spend quite a bit of time out there at my gf's house. A nice mix of Hispanic families and hippie-types with a smattering of yuppies in the dozen or so new McHaciendas on the road up the hill.

Placitas R.I.P

ABQConvict

[lalahartma]

In a town meeting a commissioner said Placitas was not a retirement community, due to the folks commuting into town.

http://www.oneplacitas.com/P_Z-Meeting-1-09.pdf

"He objected to the characterization of Placitas as turning into a "retirement community". The evidence against this is the traffic congestion during rush hours, which indicates that many residents are commuting to jobs."

[CCCVDUR]

Originally Posted by ABQConvict

Placitas is a retirement area now?

Back in the '90s I used to spend quite a bit of time out there at my gf's house. A nice mix of Hispanic families and hippie-types with a smattering of yuppies in the dozen or so new McHaciendas on the road up the hill.

Placitas R.I.P

ABQConvict

Oh I thought it was, sorry, and thanks. I've been there several times and absolutely love the place! I wanted to live there but because I (erroneously) thought it was all retired people, and was too far from downtown, I didn't.

On the other hand, it's just about midway between Albuquerque and Santa Fe, so it's a centralized location to explore everything in Northern NM.

Thanks for the clarification!

[lisdol]

Originally Posted by Tom Lane

Are there any other outlining areas that are safe? I remember Edgewood - wide open spaces, and cheap homes for 100K, but then someone said it has a meth problem.....

If you buy a home in Edgewood for 100K you will probably be putting yourself in one of the seedier parts of town and on an acre or less. There is a section just south of Dinkle Rd and east of 344 that is densely built with cheap homes. And some trailers in various stages of disrepair are also in that area. That is our "bad part of town".

My neighborhood has homes ranging from 200K to 300K (and higher if it is a big house for the neighborhood - with addons, outbuildings etc....). Fairly safe. I would say the entire NW section of Edgewood in general is more expensive than the rest of Edgewood but also has nicer homes and more desirable neighborhoods.

West of 344 off of Dinkle Rd also has some nice areas. North of Frost Rd between 344 and Mountain Valley Rd is also very nice.

There are more affordable homes/DWs east of 344 north of Hill Ranch Rd up to 472. I know people who live there. I don't know their opinion of the crime in their section.

Honestly, I think meth is anywhere and everywhere. Given the ease and low cost of setting up a makeshift lab to create it, it does not matter whether its a "nice neighborhood" or not.