Can anyone tell me about Casa Grande? (Phoenix, Arizona City: rent to own, crime)

[TwoSticks]

Depends on which way the wind is blowing.
There are several feed lots west of town; one really big one on the Gila Bend highway (SR 84) between Casa Grande and Stanfield (near Anderson Road). Another is closer to Maricopa on the Maricopa-Casa Grande highway. They account for most of what you'll smell, again, depending on if the wind is right.
There are other, smaller operations around that area too, all the way out to SR 347.
I dunno -- I kinda got used to it when I lived west of town years ago. Sort of a landmark. I knew on my way home from work that I was getting close when that smell came.
You either like it or you don't.

[sheena]

Originally Posted by hughesgirl

I tend to disagree. Casa Grande has grown over the past few years. You can find anything there that you can find up here in the Phoenix area. Chandler is only 45 minutes away and there is plenty to do there also. Things are better in CG.

Chandler is 45 minutes away? and that's a good thing. It sounds really far. I didn't think it was that far, no wonder why it's cheap.

[sheena]

Originally Posted by vegaspilgrim

I went down there a while back out of curiosity. As they say, a picture is worth a 1000 words:

Downtown Casa Grande:


The Florence Blvd street scene:


Palm Center. Wow, I can't wait to go in.


Get ready to sample the local cuisine:


I would say though, you're better off in Casa Grande than Maricopa. At least they have a hospital there.

That actually looks better than I thought. I saw a Diary Queen in that picture.

[Living_o_nthedge]

Originally Posted by TwoSticks

Depends on which way the wind is blowing.
There are several feed lots west of town; one really big one on the Gila Bend highway (SR 84) between Casa Grande and Stanfield (near Anderson Road). Another is closer to Maricopa on the Maricopa-Casa Grande highway. They account for most of what you'll smell, again, depending on if the wind is right.
There are other, smaller operations around that area too, all the way out to SR 347.
I dunno -- I kinda got used to it when I lived west of town years ago. Sort of a landmark. I knew on my way home from work that I was getting close when that smell came.
You either like it or you don't.

What part of town is the Wal*Mart Distribution Center located? How is the area there? Crime? Reasonable rent(1 bedroom)? how are the people there?

[ChoiceArizona]

Originally Posted by mlh1981

I am 25 and a recent college grad of Ohio University. I was offered a job teaching elementary school by the district there. Is it a good place to live for a single man in his mid-twenties? Is there plenty to do? Good places in which to meet people? Thanks for your help!

You don't have to live in Casa Grande. There are other small towns not far away. Heck, even if you lived in Ahwatukee or far South Tempe/South Chandler it is only a 45 minute drive or less. Moderator cut: Advertising

[UKFSChick]

...I realise this thread is a little old but some of the comments on here are way off base!

1 - Casa Grande does not 'smell'. This is just an odd comment! Perhaps if you stand next to a dairy farm, but surely the same applies to parts of Gilbert?!

2 - Casa Grande is not 'overrun' with thugs and gangs. Until I read the news article posted on here about the 'clean-up' I had no idea there was even an underground problem that needed to be 'cleaned'. Like any city in the world there are some areas that are nicer than others, but to condemn a place as unsafe because of a clean up program is pretty ironic.


3 - I live on the northwest side of Casa Grande and Chandler is 25 minutes away. I can be at Ikea in 22 minutes. There are many growing Casa Grande communities on the north end of Pinal Road (387) that are even closer.

4 - To the person who posted the photos of Casa Grande - I could post photos of Scottsdale that would make it look scruffy and uninviting.

*Downtown CG is being rejuvenated and has a very popular and chic wine bar (Corks), a pretty park, and several antique stores and art shops - not just a Food City!

*The supposed photo of 'Florence Blvd' is actually Florence Street. Florence Blvd is a very busy main street with a Starbucks, Albertsons, Home Depot, Lowes, Fry's, Super Walmart, Chilis and hundreds of other quality stores. We also have a Safeway (with a Starbucks!) and a 2nd Fry's is being built on the northern side of town.

*The Palm Center is not a main shopping area (I don't know why this was posted) but instead mostly houses service centers and administrative buildings. The brand new Promenade Mall on the other hand (which I notice you do not feature) has a huge Harkins movie theatre, Dillards, Kohls, Target, Petsmart, JC Penney and Staples. Stores opening soon include Cost Plus World Market, Bed Bath & Beyond, Lane Bryant, Best Buy, Old Navy and Ulta. In addition there is an outlet mall with Guess, Gap, Levis and many other outlet stores.

*If Burger King is to your taste then stick with Burger King. If not, you could try BeDillons (see the cactus garden), Chillis, Olive Garden (opening soon in the Promenade), Evas (Mexican, opening soon next to Casa Grande Lakes - yes, we have lake communities), Lucky Sushi, Mimi's, Creative Cafe, Caffe Grande (Greek), Francisco Grande Hotel (fine dining). You will find more choices 20 minutes (!) up the road in Chandler ...but then again, you can't buy a luxury 2400 sq ft house overlooking a lake, golf course and mountains for $264,000 in Chandler...

Casa Grande is a rapidly developing community with a changing demographic. There are many excellent communities to suit all budgets, from houses and condos in the low $100s to luxury $500k plus homes all on 1/3 acre, to $1m+ custom homes, to gated 55+ golf communities. New schools, medical centers and shopping areas are being opened all the time. Just up the road in Eloy is Skydive Arizona, one of the world's largest skydiving centers which attracts skydivers from all over the world. I moved here 3 years ago from London (UK) and have been very pleasantly surprised by the quality of life in this little city. It is not London , but you can get a decent hair cut, quality dental work, glass of fine wine, cup of coffee and sushi dinner in Casa Grande...without having to put up with a 'smell'!

[vegaspilgrim]

UKFSChick, I was the infamous photographer you were talking about. I never claimed to be a know-it-all about Casa Grande. I never claimed that my pictures were an all encompassing tour! I would encourage you to post some pictures of your own to show another aspect of the town! The new mall, btw, was not even built when I took those pictures last spring-- that has gone up rapid fire! If I absolutely had to live in Pinal County for some reason, I would live in Casa Grande, hands down. It offers way more amenities than Maricopa, Coolidge, Florence, Eloy, or the Hunt Hwy area, including a major hopsital (which could save your life if god forbid an emergency happened). On one point I'll disagree with you-- CG smells, indeed! Almost every time I've stopped through there on my way back from Tucson, it smells like manure. Now sure, Queen Creek and South Gilbert also smell bad.

[UKFSChick]

On the smell thing...maybe you just had bad luck (or your travel partner needs some personal hygiene tips ?? ;-)

When I get a chance I'll go take some photos. Agreed, it has changed a lot round here in the last 2 years, and the mall is very nice

[mortimer]

hughesgirl wrote:

> ... Chandler is only 45 minutes away

but xpeach stated:

> ... I'm about 25 minutes from Chandler.

For those not familiar with the area, you can probably make it from the N end of Casa Grande to the S end of Chandler in about 20 minutes, but downtown to downtown would probably take those 45 minutes.

You can probably go from just about anywhere in Casa Grande to the Chandler Mall in about 30-35 minutes most times.

If you are making the Casa Grande-Chandler drive more than once or twice a month, I would question your judgement in housing location.

[UKFSChick]

>...If you are making the Casa Grande-Chandler drive more than once or twice a month, I would question your judgement in housing location.

Sorry Mortimer but I would have to disagree Lots of people live in Casa Grande (north side) and commute to Chandler. To their minds, a 25 minute commute is minimal (personally I think a 45 minute commute is fairly insignificant too) when you consider how much more bang for your buck you get in Casa Grande. For many people, being able to afford a better home in a nicer community is worth the extra drive.