Life at Williams, ca (Sacramento, Bakersfield: sales, real estate, big house)

[Fat Freddy]

Originally Posted by billville

...It cracks up the locals (the ones that have lived here and made a living here, and raised their children here and buried their parents here), that everyone moves here to get out of the city and then try to bring their big city ways here because they are unhappy. We like our town, we are proud to be a farming community, and if you have a problem with the way we are-don't complain with your mouth full!

That is a typical attitude found in small towns that are undergoing a shift from a strictly agriculture economy to areas of residential development. I can certainly understand and emphasize with it, but I don't think it would be very comfortable being a newcomer in a town like that.

As far as Williams, I have always seen it as the place on I-5 where you turn west on Route 20 to get to 101.

[eureka1]

I think Williams has real possibilities. Granzella's is one of the greatest joints around and you're only an hour from Sacramento, a wonderful city, very underrated. And you're only an hour from CLear Lake. Most of the populace is Hispanic, hard working folk. They have an interesting flea market but I don't know the schedule. HOT summers. Good luck!

[Fat Freddy]

Originally Posted by eureka1

...Granzella's is one of the greatest joints around

Granzella's burned down a couple of months ago.

[humboldtrat]

Originally Posted by Fat Freddy

Granzella's burned down a couple of months ago.

I was in Wiliams last week and there is a sign on the now vacant lot stating that it will be rebuilt sometime in 2008. The deli and store across the street are still open (and crowded). While I was there, I managed to lose $1 in the penny slots at the Colusa Casino about 10 miles away. Hate when that happens.

[notanative]

I do live in Williams, so here is my account of the town.

"We are college educated and chose to stay here. We graduated from the local schools and they are great. We have a very involved teaching staff, dedicated administration and a supportive school board. Unless you have kids in the schools here you really aren't qualified to judge."

I'd like to know how long ago you graduated...If you went to school here 30-40 years ago (probably even 20) I would imagine that the school system was better.

I don't have school aged kids YET, but I have friends that live here that do and as far as I can see the schooling system sucks. We are def. planning on sending our kids to the private catholic school in Colusa - and we aren't even catholic.

"a wide variety of restaurants since it is on I-5"

What restuarants are you specifically talking about? There is Granzellas or what is left of it. Louis Cairos, which is expensive and not exactly a place to take the whole family. There are TONS of fast food joints (taco bell, burger king, McDonalds, Carls Junior), Casa Lupe - which isn't too bad and then a number of pop up overnight and stay in business for a month or two burrito joints, which would couldn't pay me enough to eat at!

"but there are MANY CHARMING buildings in Williams."

Are you serious???? The buildings that are on the main strip of town are falling apart, businesses don't last but 5-6 mnths before they go under. The paint is chipping off every building, broken windows, cracked sidewalks, etc etc etc. You tell me where the charm is in that.

" There is a new shopping center that is going to get started this year and will include a superwalmart."

Don't get your hopes up. I've lived here for 5 years now and this has been the talk since way before I moved here. Apparently, a starbucks, super walmart, linens n things, etc where supposed to be built here....but I see no signs of it.

"Both Williams and Colusa have very very nice BRAND NEW homes priced in the 200's and 300's on nice lots. Homes you would pay 800k and 900k in San Jose."

I would not call the new development in Valley Ranch "very very nice". Sure you get the new home amenities, but the construction is crappy and because they were built on wetlands, the houses are sinking. 5 years ago when we first moved here the home price over there was $190K - lots of people get trapped into thinking that it was going to be a good investment - the Rumor of shopping centers going in and the developers promises of a park facility made it all more attractive to home buyers (we certainly fell for it), but now that none of that has come to fruition - most of the homes in Valley Ranch are being foreclosed.

You can buy on the other side of town, but you will be hard pressed to find a nice house in a nice part of town. We lucked out on a nice home in the nicer part of town, but go 2 blocks down and there are run down rental properties, unmaintained yards, cars on blocks, bright colored homes, etc etc.

For anyone planning on moving here, I highly suggest buying a home outside of the city. You'll still get the small town feel, but not all the bull**** that goes along with living in town.

The police station closes at 4pm - so don't ever expect to recieve any sort of help from them. They don't do anything about the speeders.

Home owners are now being TOLD they have to pay $8K for an outdated water treatment facility - And they've known since 2005 that they weren't in compliance with the states standards. So now at the end of 2007 - the city is in a mad rush to get the home owners to pay for something that the city should pay for. The city states that if they don't come up with the millions that it's going to take to update the facility that the police, fire, etc services will be cut. I say cut them and let the state take them over - surely they will do a better job.

In closing I would say that if you are looking for a balance between small town charm and big city - I would move to Yuba City or Woodland. IN those areas you are close to the big city of Sacramento.

[eureka1]

Granzella's Burned!!!! AAARRGGHH!! Thank God for this forum and thanks for the info.

[eureka1]

Granzella's Burned!!!! AAARRGGHH!! Thank God for this forum and thanks for the info.

[Summertime]

My husband went that way around November
25th and he said that Bill and Kathy's Restaurant
is still there: though he did not stop, he saw
cars parked all around and the sign was still up.

So, it might NOT be gone after all. Maybe
they had closed last year for remodeling?

We DID eat there in February 2007. we had
breakfast; that I do know for sure.

[notmeofficer]

Hope you like multi culturalism.. because your children will be speaking Spanish

I dont live there.. but Ive visited so many times in my life I feel qualified to tell you...

no thanks

[notanative]

Yes, Bill and Kathys is still there.