Thinking of moving to Boise (Nampa, Meridian: real estate, low crime, credit)

[Jarndyce]

Having recently came from my own "check out Boise" mission...I found plenty of affordable apartments. I liked the area around Cole/Fairview/Overland. This is basically a square-area. It was nicely "centrally" located to shopping and close enough to Downtown for me.

All the talk here about "traffic" makes me laugh coming from where I presently live. If you have "big city" experience, the traffic pattern in Boise is still a breeze..from what I saw.

The area just north of Boise State Univ, looked very quiet and new..there were a lot of complexes within a bit of a corporate park setting. I might move to this area in 2 years...once I get settled in Boise a bit. I found the complexes in the mid/upper $700's for a 2Bdr. Kind of spendy for me at the moment..but not out of the realm down the road.

I didn't see a lot of traditional complexes in Boise downtown. There's a sweet-looking "modern" complex of 1BDR units...forget the name at the moment...but they were out of my range and nothing was available....

[Anchorless]

Ew, really?

The Cole/Fairview area is terrible, in my opinion. Both roads are frustratingly slow to navigate, especially in the winter. And life there is centered around being next to non-stop strip malls.

I don't know what you're talking about with the area north of BSU being very "corporate park" - most of those areas are outside of the BSU/downtown area. Are you talking close to downtown, like the Civic Plaza apartments? Because most of the area north of BSU is older, funkier residential - the North End - and (in my opinion) offers by far the best quality of life in Boise. Few apartment complexes, few crappy new homes. Most of the rentals are houses, attics, basements, or houses converted to apartments.

[boi2socal]

I'm guessing they meant Park Center area? Yes, that is to the East but they aren't from the area and perhaps were confused.

[Torrie]

Originally Posted by Jarndyce

Having recently came from my own "check out Boise" mission...I found plenty of affordable apartments. I liked the area around Cole/Fairview/Overland. This is basically a square-area. It was nicely "centrally" located to shopping and close enough to Downtown for me.

All the talk here about "traffic" makes me laugh coming from where I presently live. If you have "big city" experience, the traffic pattern in Boise is still a breeze..from what I saw.

The area just north of Boise State Univ, looked very quiet and new..there were a lot of complexes within a bit of a corporate park setting. I might move to this area in 2 years...once I get settled in Boise a bit. I found the complexes in the mid/upper $700's for a 2Bdr. Kind of spendy for me at the moment..but not out of the realm down the road.

I didn't see a lot of traditional complexes in Boise downtown. There's a sweet-looking "modern" complex of 1BDR units...forget the name at the moment...but they were out of my range and nothing was available....

I agree on the traffic part- it's over exaggerated. Some local posters don't understand the perspective of forum members coming from larger areas who have the experiences of what traffic is really like. The nice thing about living here is, no matter where you live in Boise, most of the time, it doesn't take more than 20 min. to get downtown.

[Sage of Sagle]

Just spent the weekend at the Hyatt Place by the mall. Came in and out all hours and saw some traffic here and there, yeah. This is my fourth weekend in Boise this season...and I think I've seen a reasonable sampling in 4 weekends of varied hours. Guys...if you're thinking this is traffic, you need to spend some time in a real big city. You'll really appreciate it in Boise...

[Anchorless]

Some of us "local" posters have already explained what we mean when we say traffic in Boise can be difficult. But if you want to continue with the misrepresentation of what we've been saying, then go ahead.

We understand that Boise's commute pales in comparison to commutes in many other cities, in most ways. But our point has always been this - once you get acclimated to life in Boise, the commute here begins to wear on you, and it "feels" just as bad as anywhere else (especially when the point of moving here, for many, has been to escape those horrid commutes).

The infrastructure just isn't here, and it shouldn't take as long to get across the city as it does. See specifically Boi2socal's post re: San Diego traffic v. Boise.

When 600,000 people are relying upon 7 or 8 main roads to commute across the valley, you're going to have problems. Eagle Road is one of the worst anywhere. State Street gets absolutely horrible during the morning and evening commutes. Cole and Milwaukee positively suck during the winter season.

It's no wonder we read, on almost a daily basis, about a fatal collision. Gee, another one today, after the one we had yesterday (though granted, it usually gets much better in the summer months).

Point being, after a few years here that commute from Caldwell or Nampa begins to get extremely frustrating, especially when you know it shouldn't really take more than 20 or 30 minutes. And seeing as how our politicians aren't going to be improving the roads anytime soon, don't expect an easier commute (and my use of the word "easier" is important - I didn't say longer time or longer distance). Trying to get out of Eagle or Meridian and into Boise? Expect to be greeted by more than a dozen stoplights, which slows your commute considerably (as there is no direct "freeway" between these cities and Boise).

[Torrie]

Originally Posted by Anchorless

Some of us "local" posters have already explained what we mean when we say traffic in Boise can be difficult. But if you want to continue with the misrepresentation of what we've been saying, then go ahead.

We understand that Boise's commute pales in comparison to commutes in many other cities, in most ways. But our point has always been this - once you get acclimated to life in Boise, the commute here begins to wear on you, and it "feels" just as bad as anywhere else (especially when the point of moving here, for many, has been to escape those horrid commutes).

What you have a hard time understanding is not everyone thinks like "you". I've been here for over 5 years now, and the traffic hasn't "worn" on me like you claim it will. I find it very easy to get around. I think most people understand there will be traffic at times, and that's just life. Everything is not going to be perfect all the time. Like you, I'm allowed to have my own opinion.

Maybe for some, traffic is an issue, but most of the people I've worked with don't find Boise's traffic to be all that terrible. I work with a lot of out of state clients and they don't have the same perception you "claim" they will have once they get here. It's not to say that for some it can be bothersome -sure that's a possibility, but I haven't found that to be the case. Some have come on the forum and posted that they don't understand what all the fuss is about. Though it's great to make your point- I think it's also important to understand who the forum reader is and where they might be coming from.

You know, it doesn't matter what people post on here, you consistently make negative comments about Boise and people's viewpoints if they don't align with yours. If it's so awful, why do you live here?

Apparently it can't be that bad, otherwise you would have moved by now.

[Niners fan]

Originally Posted by Anchorless

We understand that Boise's commute pales in comparison to commutes in many other cities, in most ways. But our point has always been this - once you get acclimated to life in Boise, the commute here begins to wear on you, and it "feels" just as bad as anywhere else (especially when the point of moving here, for many, has been to escape those horrid commutes).

Originally Posted by Torrie

Maybe for some, traffic is an issue, but most of the people I've worked with don't find Boise's traffic to be all that terrible. I work with a lot of out of state clients and they don't have the same perception you "claim" they will have once they get here. It's not to say that for some it can be bothersome -sure that's a possibility, but I haven't found that to be the case. Some have come on the forum and posted that they don't understand what all the fuss is about. Though it's great to make your point- I think it's also important to understand who the forum reader is and where they might be coming from.

I think you both have a point. What I think you are both missing is how courteous Boise drivers are. The incessant rudeness of drivers in major metro areas makes a bad commute worse. If you've never lived in a place like that then I could see how you could miss the courtesy that makes Boise traffic more tolerable for out-of-state transplants.

[Anchorless]

Originally Posted by Torrie

What you have a hard time understanding is not everyone thinks like "you". I've been here for over 5 years now, and the traffic hasn't "worn" on me like you claim it will. I find it very easy to get around. I think most people understand there will be traffic at times, and that's just life. Everything is not going to be perfect all the time. Like you, I'm allowed to have my own opinion.

I'm fine with you expressing your opinion - I've made this point in other threads about 20 times now (and have been defended likewise by other posters).

What I have a problem with is you constantly misrepresenting my (and others') views. You've done it again just now. You said "not everyone thinks like 'you,'" which is entirely disingenuous of what I just said.

Note my saying "some of us local posters" and "our point..." Also note that a) this isn't representative of all local posters, which the use of "some" would indicate, and b) this isn't exclusive of other people's - local or not - views of traffic here.

This act seems to be getting rather routine, and I'm getting quite bored with it. Quit misrepresenting things, please.

Originally Posted by Torrie

Maybe for some, traffic is an issue, but most of the people I've worked with don't find Boise's traffic to be all that terrible. I work with a lot of out of state clients and they don't have the same perception you "claim" they will have once they get here. It's not to say that for some it can be bothersome -sure that's a possibility, but I haven't found that to be the case.

This is a good example of being intellectually honest, in my opinion. I can appreciate and respect this. So thank you for this.

Originally Posted by Torrie

Some have come on the forum and posted that they don't understand what all the fuss is about. Though it's great to make your point- I think it's also important to understand who the forum reader is and where they might be coming from.

I'd say the same for you.

I'm not trying to "sell" Boise. Again, as I've explained here so many times before, I want people to have a full picture before they commit the time, money, and resources to moving here. A full picture includes all views, yours, mine, and everything in between. Of course people looking into Boise are going to be focused on what's so great about it - when I think about moving to Hawaii I'm not picturing crime, traffic, and all the other crap that may come with moving there - I'm picturing beaches, beautiful weather, a laid back lifestyle, etc.

People see Boise and they see a place with a lower cost of living, better traffic, decent business opportunities, decent weather, and a great quality of life, and they think "damn, that seems perfect!" And maybe for a great many it does, but all of these things comes with a trade-off, or some things that seem great from afar may not be so great in reality.

And of course, people's opinions in these regards will obviously differ.

Originally Posted by Torrie

You know, it doesn't matter what people post on here, you consistently make negative comments about Boise and people's viewpoints if they don't align with yours. If it's so awful, why do you live here?

Apparently it can't be that bad, otherwise you would have moved by now.

What you consider "negative" I consider "critical." I challenge people and their views. I challenge people to explain their views (and more important, the motives behind those views).

More importantly, I want people to consider the implications of things. When someone says "traffic here is great - so much better than where I came from" it tends to be an rather ambivalent view. The traffic situation here, regardless of what you or I think of it, is at a precarious point. We simply do not have infrastructure in place to accommodate large growth, and frankly, I don't see much to resolve. How are you going to turn State Street into the freeway that it needs to be? The same with Eagle and Meridian Roads? These are issues that should have been dealt with a decade ago, but the powers that be, and the public that elects them, were lacking in foresight to figure it out.

The same goes for growth and development issues that I've raised a dozen times before. These are things people need to be aware of, instead of pretending that Boise is some mecca for the middle class family. We've been through a decade long depression, and we could easily find ourselves in another if we don't start realizing the impacts of our individual decisions.

Personally I could care less about traffic here - I don't drive anymore, I bike, and I now live within 5 minutes of everywhere I tend to go anyway. And frankly, you couldn't pay me enough to do the Nampa to Boise commute anymore. But I still care because of the problems other people have, and the related problems in all other factors of life here. None of it is in a vacuum, dear, and neither are any of us.

[Torrie]

Originally Posted by Niners fan

I think you both have a point. What I think you are both missing is how courteous Boise drivers are. The incessant rudeness of drivers in major metro areas makes a bad commute worse. If you've never lived in a place like that then I could see how you could miss the courtesy that makes Boise traffic more tolerable for out-of-state transplants.

I've never commented that Boise drivers are rude. If you've followed my posts I've said the opposite. I've also mentioned all the different places I lived....up and down California for 20+ years, Portland-Vancouver, and Boulder, Colorado so I have a good idea, at least I think I do, as to why people don't see our traffic to be so horrific as some claim. That's been my whole point since I've been on this forum. I've found both Boise drivers and the commute to be very easy to deal with.