Thinking about moving to Casa Grande..... (Phoenix, Tucson: to rent, house, buying)

[115db]

Desertjewel you are right about the commute to the airport, it takes me about 40 mins, depending on the time of day and traffic conditions. Im near the Evergreen historic district, not too far from '5 points'. With the exeption lately, though, of that freeway closure that seems to have been going on for months so its best to check traffic reports the day before so as not to get caught up in detours. Especially if you dont know your way around out there, lol!
I too, like it here. And the reason a lot of people come to these small towns, especially from Calif...is because of the cost of real estate. Of course now its getting out of reach for many, but someone from out of state can (and many have) walk up and pay cash for a house or two, and profit off of them. We've remodeled and built custom homes for some of those people who have done just that, who were from Calif, mostly.
We've watched a lot of empty fields turn into condo's, stores, mini marts and now theyre putting a new shopping center right across the freeway, from one that had folded under several years ago.

[diecastcarguy]

OMG......... the slums of Casa Grande..... Guess I havent looked hard enough to find it. Funny I moved here 2 weeks ago..... EVERYONE is nice.... hell even the cops are when they pull you over ( just to tell me one of my brake lights was out). I moved here cause I didnt want the hustle and bustle of the city (PHX)... and the country feel. Im 7 miles from walmart..... and Florence Blvd which holds about everything you need as a single or married person. Albiet there are a lack of higher end resturants and meeting places for 30-50 year old singles. But still, I was amazed at how clean it is...... how much new/ remodel work is going on.

Now im not saying its all perfect, Im sure beyond the clean main streets there are nasty areas but thats everywhere. Hell I lived in Eugene OR, hippie capitol of the US and had a stabbing 2 house down the street, an FBI wanted criminal arrested the next block over and a pedophile arrested 2 blocks the other way. Its all over wherever you live.... just more prominant in some places. I think Casa is cleaning up very well. All the new developments with new retail coming will only help it bring more money , more tax money , more police and higher paid teachers for the shools. This I believe will help continue to provide Casa with whats needed to help it become a great city..... and no longer a slum one as you speak.

Oh , for the record..... I had to go to Coolidge when I moved here and ... OMG that place sucks.... sorry to those who live there and read this but its a dump and I woudl be embarassed to tell anyone I lived there let alone drive them through it.

JM2C

[115db]

Coolidge! No wonder rent and real estate there is still pretty cheap. We've done work out there and its scarey to leave your construction truck unattended or unlocked out on the jobsites there. Heck, I wouldnt leave my own truck unattended there. A guy can be walking down a street carrying a big-screen tv that he just stole, on a shopping cart, and no one would think any less of it out there, lol. But if you really wanna see 'desolate', try Az City. I have a couple of friends out there and there literally is nothing.
As far as Casa Grande, you might want to stay away form the 'west' side or south of the tracks. Yikes!
And agreed, there are really not many choices in 'good' restraunts out here, but then who knows how long they would stay in business. So far, Chili's is doing well, but chances are that a Black Angus or Red Lobster might fold under, for one reason or other.

[lilypad]

A friend of mine lived in Coolidge and Florence. She had to go to the trashy schools in the area, got beat up regularly, as she was small, pretty, white etc., both towns really pit stops. And a huge federal prison outside of Florence. Not sure if that contributes to the problem of these areas?

[SAPMAN]

Originally Posted by Beesk

I spent 10 years of my life growing up in Casa Grande. If you have kids who will be going to school, you might want to reconsider moving there and look elsewhere. Yes, the town in growing, but it is still largely a slum town. New development "eclipsing" the downtown slum makes no difference. I completely agree with JCO in the statistics that were given. Take it from someone who lived there, went to elementary, junior high and high school there.

I live in the area. I would sort of agree that it is not ideal for kids in school -- but then many places are not. But for someone without kids and especially looking at a retirement home, there are many very nice areas in different price ranges --- cheaper than PHX or TUC for what you get.

[SAPMAN]

Originally Posted by L_A_Woman

As far as Casa Grande, you might want to stay away form the 'west' side or south of the tracks. Yikes!
And agreed, there are really not many choices in 'good' restraunts out here, but then who knows how long they would stay in business. So far, Chili's is doing well, but chances are that a Black Angus or Red Lobster might fold under, for one reason or other.

With the new regional mall opening in Sep-Oct, we will see. They will have an Outback, Red Lobster, Olive Garden, and some others. I think they will do well as, you are right, not many good restaurants in the area now for a town this size. This shopping center with new movie theater will, I think, attract more retirees to the area and its many retirement communities.

[cooldown]

Born and raised in Casa Grande until I was 15,I would not recommend the school districts or the hospitals!! Everything thing else this town has to offer is great.I moved out of the country at 15 because I was getting into alot of trouble and the schools were horrible.I moved back and bought a home when I was 23...it has changed tremendously! Better homes,more parks,more stores,more "restaurants" more people,but the schools have not changed and the Casa Grande hospital....I wouldn`t go there if my arm was about to fall off! I have an 18 month old daughter and I pray there will be another private school in her time besides St. Anthonys! If I offend anybody,well I`m sorry!!

[cooldown]

Originally Posted by L_A_Woman

Coolidge! No wonder rent and real estate there is still pretty cheap. We've done work out there and its scarey to leave your construction truck unattended or unlocked out on the jobsites there. Heck, I wouldnt leave my own truck unattended there. A guy can be walking down a street carrying a big-screen tv that he just stole, on a shopping cart, and no one would think any less of it out there, lol. But if you really wanna see 'desolate', try Az City. I have a couple of friends out there and there literally is nothing.
As far as Casa Grande, you might want to stay away form the 'west' side or south of the tracks. Yikes!
And agreed, there are really not many choices in 'good' restraunts out here, but then who knows how long they would stay in business. So far, Chili's is doing well, but chances are that a Black Angus or Red Lobster might fold under, for one reason or other.

Bedillons is a great FAMILY OWNED restaurant,Ochoas is a great FAMILY OWNED restaurant,Ricardos is a good FAMILY OWNED restaurant.....open you eyes there is more to life than CHAIN RESTAURANTS you can get ANYWHERE !
But I guess if paying a couple dollars less for packaged food and fake flour tortillas is better....EAT ON!

[cooldown]

Originally Posted by diecastcarguy

OMG......... the slums of Casa Grande..... Guess I havent looked hard enough to find it. Funny I moved here 2 weeks ago..... EVERYONE is nice.... hell even the cops are when they pull you over ( just to tell me one of my brake lights was out). I moved here cause I didnt want the hustle and bustle of the city (PHX)... and the country feel. Im 7 miles from walmart..... and Florence Blvd which holds about everything you need as a single or married person. Albiet there are a lack of higher end resturants and meeting places for 30-50 year old singles. But still, I was amazed at how clean it is...... how much new/ remodel work is going on.

Now im not saying its all perfect, Im sure beyond the clean main streets there are nasty areas but thats everywhere. Hell I lived in Eugene OR, hippie capitol of the US and had a stabbing 2 house down the street, an FBI wanted criminal arrested the next block over and a pedophile arrested 2 blocks the other way. Its all over wherever you live.... just more prominant in some places. I think Casa is cleaning up very well. All the new developments with new retail coming will only help it bring more money , more tax money , more police and higher paid teachers for the shools. This I believe will help continue to provide Casa with whats needed to help it become a great city..... and no longer a slum one as you speak.

Oh , for the record..... I had to go to Coolidge when I moved here and ... OMG that place sucks.... sorry to those who live there and read this but its a dump and I woudl be embarassed to tell anyone I lived there let alone drive them through it.

JM2C

EVER TRIED BEDILLONS? I`M HEARING EVERYBODY NEW IN C.G FROM OUT OF STATE SAY THERE AREN`T ANY GOOD RESTAURANTS,WHAT`S UP WITH THAT?

[DaveV]

Doesn't "Casa Grande" translate to "Big House"? Back here, no one wants to move to the "Casa Grande"..