Garden City Info Please (Boise, Meridian: real estate, city hall, crime) - City-Data Forum

wurd4wurd · 07-12-2006, 01:41 AM

Hi,

I posted a few days ago and haven't gotten any feedback yet. I'm hoping the second time is the charm.

My husband, 3 teenagers (two 17-year old boys and one 16-year-old girl) and I are planning to relocate from Coeur d'Alene to the Boise area - primarily for economic reasons (better pay - better job opportunities).

We have made a few trips to Boise in order to get a better feel for the area. During one of our visits we saw a home in Garden City that we really liked. It's located off of Marigold (not far from City Hall I think) in a small subdivision. It is my understanding that this particular area of Garden City would funnel our teenagers into Eagle High, which I understand has a good reputation.

I am concerned with safety (crime) in this particular area of Garden City and would truly appreciate any feedback on Garden City (in general) and the Marigold area (in particular). Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks very much.

shusto · 07-12-2006, 03:17 AM

Garden City has a real bad reputation in Boise. As far as I know the only place worse then Garden City is Emmett. If you could find a place in Meridian it is not bad, or at least it wasnt a few years ago. You might want to try to find a website that lists crime statisics. But that won't always tell you the full story. If the local police don't record crimes then the town might look a lot better then it really is. But there are plenty of nice neighborhoods in Boise you should be able to find a place if you look. But I would definately stay out of Garden City.

wurd4wurd · 07-12-2006, 11:12 AM

for your input. It's funny (or maybe not) that our realtor has said more than once that she wouldn't want us to buy a house that she didn't feel good about reselling and that she would never steer us in a direction that would be a mistake. She has said, yes, there are seedy sections of Garden City (where crime is definitely a problem) but that there are also lovely areas (with expensive houses). She feels that having a gated subdivision in Garden City makes it safer than most of Boise and the surrounding area. Granted, as a real estate broker she is definitely focused on "the sale" but at the same time, she is very much aware that my husband and I are relying heavily on her expertise and knowledge of the Boise area. It is disheartening to realize that our realtor may be more concerned about feathering her pockets than she is about us making a poor choice with our hard-earned money - especially since she is acting as a "buyer's agent". Definitely makes one pause for thought...
Thanks once again for your input.

huntman58 · 07-13-2006, 01:42 PM

Personally I would live in only three cities in the area Boise, Eagle, and Meridian, but then again the traffic and commute hour can be a real pain. Also most jobs are in Boise. Garden city was were I was told by every one never to buy in as some areas are nice but there few and the city as a whole has a very bad rep
Just glad I am out of that area for good and for many reasons.

wurd4wurd · 07-14-2006, 01:18 PM

for your honest assessment of the Boise area. Neither my husband or I are "city folk" so no matter where we live will be an adjustment. Our current house is on 5 acres, so a smaller yard is definitely going to be a challenge. We've given some thought to Eagle, Meridian, Star and so on - but the one thing holding us back is the commute to Boise. Also, frequently (in Eagle and Meridian) the yards aren't significantly larger (that we can tell) than they would be in many neighborhoods in Boise, which brings us back to what's the point. Curious - what drove you out of Idaho? And where do you reside now?

HDL · 07-15-2006, 02:25 PM

I have lived here a year in NW Boise and can give you lots of info. Check your PM and let me know if I can help.

huntman58 · 07-23-2006, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wurd4wurd

for your honest assessment of the Boise area. Neither my husband or I are "city folk" so no matter where we live will be an adjustment. Our current house is on 5 acres, so a smaller yard is definitely going to be a challenge. We've given some thought to Eagle, Meridian, Star and so on - but the one thing holding us back is the commute to Boise. Also, frequently (in Eagle and Meridian) the yards aren't significantly larger (that we can tell) than they would be in many neighborhoods in Boise, which brings us back to what's the point. Curious - what drove you out of Idaho? And where do you reside now?

First out side of the Boise area you can some times still find some land spendy but it is there. I know the area you want to go to is some what nice but a big dislike for all the Boise area people that have and are buying places there as welcomed there as calif people are in Boise.
The rest Well lets just say between Idaho not even fallowing there own laws, very low wages, there treatment of the disabled (became disabled in Idaho by the way) the way I was welcomed to the state and more. I left there for good. I also found it was not at lest for my family a very family friendly state for many reason by its self. I had to move back to calif because of what Idaho did to me / did not do for me and my family as I had family here. I distaste this state but at lest the disabled can get some real help down here. I have found a place to move to that fits what I want in life and after ten years found out Idaho did not really even offer although on paper it said they did. The place is also some were I have spent a lot of time over the years and when talking to friends and other people there it has not changed like Idaho has thank goodness. yes Idaho may fit some and being the outdoors man and my way of life I believed it did but reality hit and that dream ended .Even if they paid me to come back I would turn it down as there is no amount of money to even make me come back or let my life be infected by Idaho again. I will say Idaho is a nice place to visit but at lest for me ended up being a hell to live in. look into the so called breakfast clubs in some cities or how they run there good old boys clubs ( political and religious) again the power brokers and there disregard for Idaho’s laws . Also how some people of a certain belief treat others not of there same belief values. We are not talking main line Christians here.

shockjulie · 08-07-2006, 08:33 PM

Greetings
I lived off of Marigold in Garden City in the River's Edge Subdivision. I sold my house there and miss it, regret the day I sold it. Yes, they will funnel your kids to Eagle School Districts, however, when I left three years ago, that school district was considered to be the preferred school district over some in Boise. I'm not sure what it is like know. Garden City used to have a reputation from the strip (Chinden) being a garbage pit, but as you have seen from the building going in along the river on both sides, it is shouldn't have that reputation. There were no crime issues when I lived there for six years. My kids played outside with the neighbor kids and all had a great time (we were also able to enjoy the greenbelt which bordered my subdivision). Not sure exactly where off of Marigold you are looking, it just depends on where exactly you land, but I enjoyed living there more than anyplace I have every lived (currently in Portland toward the coast).

wurd4wurd · 08-07-2006, 11:17 PM

for taking the time to provide feedback - it is very much appreciated!! It is also comforting to know that you had such a positive experience living in Garden City. It seems more often than not the more common theme is negative as far as Garden City is concerned. Currently, we are in a holding pattern and aren't yet ready to take the plunge and make our move. Hopefully, that will change sooner rather than later.
I am sorry that you miss Garden City so much and aren't enjoying your home in Oregon. Is it the Portland area or Oregon in general that you're dissatisfied with?

shockjulie · 08-08-2006, 07:19 AM

I really miss the atmosphere of the area I lived in there. Being near the greenbelt was unbeatable. The area we live in currently is also beautiful but there are just too many people for me to enjoy. Boise has changed a great deal since I left, also getting too overcrowded (for my taste). We had considered retiring there (thus the angst over selling my house which would now in three years have doubled in value) but we are looking for a suburb that is a little quieter, and yet close to a mid sized city. We've been looking everywhere ! Tennessee, Texas (property taxes way to high) and now are checking out areas in Utah. I know exactly what I want, yet it is hard to find ! I think your experience in Boise would be a good one, we still consider going back a possibility. I still visit Boise at least twice a year, but never go by my house (can't handle the heartache !)