Relocating: Need apt./nb'hood advice -- please opine! (Corpus Christi, Mesquite: apartment complex, to rent)

[TexasGalAgain]

I'm a former Texan living in Western Washington in the middle-stage of applying for a job in Corpus Christi and would deeply appreciate some suggestions about apartment complexes -- name names, please -- or, at least, decent neighborhoods I should look at. If I take this job, I won't have much time to grab a place to live.

I'm a middle-aged woman, small and I have no weapons. I live alone, and would be getting off work about midnight. Safety, therefore, is important. I prefer an apartment complex that has grounds; I have cats that I allow out sometimes, when I'm home. In other words, a high-rise type of building is not what I'm looking for.

I'm leery of a commute, having lived in a traffic-congested area for so long and sick to death of my work drive. It's "only" 45 minutes to work, but it's a harsh 45 mintues. But please correct me if I'm wrong about the traffic to and from a more outlying-ish area.

For reference, my place of employment would be near (south, I think) that massive freeway exchange, near North Mesquite Street. I think.

Ideas, again, will be very much appreciated.

[Marlow]

Sounds like you're going to be close to downtown and the only complex that I can think of with some grounds would be the Bay Vista complex. I'm not sure what the street address is. There are also condos you could rent, but they are mostly high rises. If you are close to downtown, another idea would be to rent in Portland. Depending on where the apartment is, the commute would be 10-15 minutes and not very harsh at all. Really, it would be quite nice.

I think another poster had decided on an apartment in Portland recently. If you search this forum for Portland you can probably find the name of it.

[TheTexadan]

I agree with Marlow. To be as close to downtown and safe at night, Portland has the small town appeal and is really well situated to all the cool stuff you want and miss in Texas. I live on the Southside of CC and it's nice here too, but getting downtown requires you to drive up, then over, then back and the traffic is less predictable. I've never lived in Portland, and it's not in Nueces County so what I relate is from impression and reputation. Good luck and welcome back.

[darkwave]

Originally Posted by TexasGalAgain

I'm a former Texan living in Western Washington in the middle-stage of applying for a job in Corpus Christi and would deeply appreciate some suggestions about apartment complexes -- name names, please -- or, at least, decent neighborhoods I should look at. If I take this job, I won't have much time to grab a place to live.

I'm a middle-aged woman, small and I have no weapons. I live alone, and would be getting off work about midnight. Safety, therefore, is important. I prefer an apartment complex that has grounds; I have cats that I allow out sometimes, when I'm home. In other words, a high-rise type of building is not what I'm looking for.

I'm leery of a commute, having lived in a traffic-congested area for so long and sick to death of my work drive. It's "only" 45 minutes to work, but it's a harsh 45 mintues. But please correct me if I'm wrong about the traffic to and from a more outlying-ish area.

For reference, my place of employment would be near (south, I think) that massive freeway exchange, near North Mesquite Street. I think.

Ideas, again, will be very much appreciated.

There are not any high rise buildings in Corpus. As far as safety is concerned, as others have already mentioned, Portland is probably your best bet. Whatever you do, DO NOT live anywhere near downtown. The crime is absolutely horrible and you could not pay me enough to go down there around midnight. I dislike going downtown during the day, due to the large homeless population, individuals who use illegal drugs in public, and the lack of security. I highly urge you to reconsider relocating to Corpus Christi, there are so many better places to live in this country, and life is too short to spend time in a subpar one.

[Marlow]

Originally Posted by darkwave

There are not any high rise buildings in Corpus. As far as safety is concerned, as others have already mentioned, Portland is probably your best bet. Whatever you do, DO NOT live anywhere near downtown. The crime is absolutely horrible and you could not pay me enough to go down there around midnight. I dislike going downtown during the day, due to the large homeless population, individuals who use illegal drugs in public, and the lack of security. I highly urge you to reconsider relocating to Corpus Christi, there are so many better places to live in this country, and life is too short to spend time in a subpar one.

Wow! I come downtown every day and to events at night and I've never seen any crime, much less absolutely horrible crime. Illegal drugs in public? I've smelled pot from a passing car, but that's about it.

There are reasons not to like Corpus, but I don't think your portrayal of the downtown area is very accurate.

[darkwave]

I have been downtown numerous times, and have seen people picking up prostitutes, people spraying graffiti, and people shooting up some kind of drug right behind the library. I'm actually quite surprised you have never noticed any of it, everyone I have talked to has seen at least one of these crimes.

[Marlow]

I guess you and I aren't hanging out at the same places.

[TexasGalAgain]

Sorry, I am tardy in expressing my gratitude for your responses. I'll fly down there for an interview soon, if all arrangements can be made soon, but it's got to be a quick turn-around and I won't get to actually experience much of Corpus Christi. I guess I'm still kind of torn about settling down there (as well as a couple of issues with the job).