Nice Neighborhoods in the Fresno Area (Visalia, Clovis: home builders, preschool, to live in)

[kwalker17]

I have been reading a lot of the different threads about the Fresno area. I have found them to be very helpful. My family will be possibly moving there within the next couple of months. After reading everyone's thoughts about Fresno, Clovis, and Visalia, I am currious as to what are the nicer neighborhoods (streets specifically) in these cities. My husband and I drove around Clovis and North Fresno a couple of weeks ago. There was one specific neighborhood tucked away in the Woodward Park area that we fell in love with. We would like to live in an area like that--tucked away, quiet, mature, etc. (sorry, I don't remeber the streets) We are looking for a family-rich environment (we have two preschool aged children) with a home that still has a true backyard. I would also appreciate any feedback on high academic preschools. My kids currently go to the Montessori in Tracy, and we love it! Are the Montessori preschools in the Fresno area strong schools? What other preschools should I look at? Thanks so much for any suggestions--and all the past postings upon this subject!

[rkb0305]

I wish you could remember the streets because I may have lived in the neighborhood! What is your price range? I don't know a lot about Fresno housing prices now, but I moved from there about 2 years ago. If you can figure out the street names, I can try to help. We lived really close to Clovis West and the kids would have gone to Ft Washington Elementary. Great schools. How family-friendly depends on the specific neighborhood, but over all it is a great area.

[kwalker17]

Does Windsor Circle ring a bell? This street name sounds familar and was near by Parin. I don't know the price range of the homes because we just found it by chance. But, I think that might be the neighborhood that we liked. I know there have got to be more neighborhoods like that around Fresno or even Visalia, I just don't know where to look.

[rkb0305]

Originally Posted by kwalker17

Does Windsor Circle ring a bell? This street name sounds familar and was near by Parin. I don't know the price range of the homes because we just found it by chance. But, I think that might be the neighborhood that we liked. I know there have got to be more neighborhoods like that around Fresno or even Visalia, I just don't know where to look.

Windsor Circle is pretty pricey (for me at least). There are other neighborhoods like that in the Woodward park/Woodward Lake/Ft. Washington CC area. First make sure you can afford it, though. In my experience, more pricey neighborhoods have fewer young children. Brentwood, Cambridge and centex neighborhoods seem to have a lot of kids, but the houses aren't nearly as nice. Those builders can all be found in NE Fresno, too.

[Adriatica]

Windsor Circle is near Champlain and Ft. Washington, which is a great area. There are a number of neighborhoods like that one in the 93720/Woodward Park area. The Woodward Lake development might be something you'd be interested in, or the homes off of Audobon, both east and west of Highway 41. Do you have a price range? That would narrow things down quite a bit.

Clovis tends to be a bit newer, but there are some mature neighborhoods. At the northwest corner of Gettysburg and Temperance there's a neighborhood with streets including Pico, Magnolia, and San Gabriel that has lovely, large homes on big lots.

Northwest Fresno has several neighborhoods that fit what you're looking for, but they can be very pricey. Or Old Fig Garden, but that houses can be quite a bit older.

I have friends using the Montessori preschool at the Newman Center (on Barstow, just west of Cedar) and they love it. There are some private academic preschools like Carden (Carden School of Fresno) and Fairmont (Fairmont) that are highly regarded.

[kwalker17]

Thank you so much for your suggestions. Right now, I am not so worried about price, but becoming familiar with the areas that we would like to live. I will check out all those areas as well as the schools. Do you know if there are any areas that fit that discription in Visalia as well?

[FresnoFacts]

Around Visalia check out the Green Acres neighborhood north of the Visalia Coutry Club (similiar feel to Fresno's Fig Garden). Also the area south of Caldwell Avenue near and behind Blain Park has some very nice streets. Then there would be the streets off County Center Drive roughly south of Tulare Avenue to about Cambridge Avenue (some of those are very nice).

I'm sure there are other neighborhoods around Visalia that also fit your description but those come to mind right now.

[Plain Jane 3953]

I flat out would not live in Fresno - that town is a disgrace.

Most of Visalia is lovely.

[FresnoFacts]

Both Fresno and Visalia have good and bad areas.

North Fresno neighborhoods like the Dominion, Woodward Lake, the Bluffs, Van Ness Extension, or areas like Old Fig Garden or the Tower District are very different than what people see along highway 99 or in downtown Fresno.

[sameoldsonganddance]

My daughter lived in a Woodward Park neighborhood. Nice area. But, the house was cheaply built. Beautiful area. Not sure who built it. But, it was good looking on the surface. Lots of home builders use helpers who don't give a crap about how a place is built. Be careful. The school was awesome! Century elementary. Good luck!