The Truth about California from a former west coast Girl... (San Diego: 2014, where to live)

[dclamb3]

Originally Posted by EscapeCalifornia

Press him on that and see if you can make him squirm. The only thing I can think of is that the northern part (north of Warner Ave) is being absorbed into Little Saigon. That doesn't mean its turned into a terrible area, but you may not want to live in Little Saigon. Of course, realtors aren't supposed to speak of such things due to Federal housing laws. I think it would be funny to make him sweat a little, trying to explain why Fountain Valley should be avoided, without telling you why. The southern part of the city, say south of Slater, is basically Huntington Beach.

Agreed. When I lived in Huntington Beach, I loved Fountain Valley and Mile Square Park. Has it changed much over the last few years? I can't imagine why anyone would say to stay away from FV. It is (or was) a safe, quiet, relatively affordable residential area. If anything, it was just too quiet for me when I was in my 20s. Now in my 30s I'd probably like it a lot more, although HB is where my heart is (at least, until I have children then Irvine would be on my radar).

[EscapeCalifornia]

Originally Posted by dclamb3

Agreed. When I lived in Huntington Beach, I loved Fountain Valley and Mile Square Park. Has it changed much over the last few years? I can't imagine why anyone would say to stay away from FV. It is (or was) a safe, quiet, relatively affordable residential area. If anything, it was just too quiet for me when I was in my 20s. Now in my 30s I'd probably like it a lot more, although HB is where my heart is (at least, until I have children then Irvine would be on my radar).

Its still a safe, quiet city but its getting more crowded. As Little Saigon spreads south, we're seeing more houses get "remodeled" to the point where they look like McMansions and totally out of place in the neighborhood. This is done so the entire extended family can live under one roof. Of course that means more cars parked on the street and just higher population density in general.

The hospital at Brookhurst and Talbert just completed a major expansion. So the daytime population of workers is more (just try getting a table at any local fast food restaurant around lunch time) but it brings patients and visitors in too. A lot of the patients look like they shouldn't be driving and only make the congestion worse as they try to figure out where they're going at 20mph. Hyundai just demolished their HQ on Talbert and will be replacing it with a much larger building, 6 stories I think. Sigh, more traffic. I'm sure Wendy's and Taco Bell love it, but it sure makes getting around that much harder.

[dclamb3]

Originally Posted by EscapeCalifornia

Its still a safe, quiet city but its getting more crowded. As Little Saigon spreads south, we're seeing more houses get "remodeled" to the point where they look like McMansions and totally out of place in the neighborhood. This is done so the entire extended family can live under one roof. Of course that means more cars parked on the street and just higher population density in general.

The hospital at Brookhurst and Talbert just completed a major expansion. So the daytime population of workers is more (just try getting a table at any local fast food restaurant around lunch time) but it brings patients and visitors in too. A lot of the patients look like they shouldn't be driving and only make the congestion worse as they try to figure out where they're going at 20mph. Hyundai just demolished their HQ on Talbert and will be replacing it with a much larger building, 6 stories I think. Sigh, more traffic. I'm sure Wendy's and Taco Bell love it, but it sure makes getting around that much harder.

Thanks for the tip. Since this thread is 3 years old, I'm sure the OP wouldn't mind my asking... I plan to be walking / biking distance (I try to avoid driving when I can) to Mile Square Park on the HB side so I can get the pups to the park most days. Is that area still safe for a single girl walking at night with two Chihuahuas?

[EscapeCalifornia]

Originally Posted by dclamb3

Thanks for the tip. Since this thread is 3 years old, I'm sure the OP wouldn't mind my asking... I plan to be walking / biking distance (I try to avoid driving when I can) to Mile Square Park on the HB side so I can get the pups to the park most days. Is that area still safe for a single girl walking at night with two Chihuahuas?

You should be OK. The bad side of the park is the one along Euclid.

[dclamb3]

Originally Posted by EscapeCalifornia

You should be OK. The bad side of the park is the one along Euclid.

Mile Square Park now has a bad side? I HAVE missed a lot. Thanks for filling me in!

[EscapeCalifornia]

Originally Posted by dclamb3

Mile Square Park now has a bad side? I HAVE missed a lot. Thanks for filling me in!

Well that's nothing new. I knew a FV cop in the 90's and even back then he said you really don't want to know what goes on in the park after dark, especially the northeast section.

[dclamb3]

Originally Posted by EscapeCalifornia

Well that's nothing new. I knew a FV cop in the 90's and even back then he said you really don't want to know what goes on in the park after dark, especially the northeast section.

[Fontucky]

So what does go on there after dark?

[dclamb3]

Originally Posted by Fontucky

So what does go on there after dark?

Right?! lol I was going to ask but don't even want to know. lol I want to imagine that it's as peaceful as I remember it, and pretend that it's as perfect as my Honeygo Park in Maryland (which, since I got the pups, has become my favorite place on earth - my girl is scared of water or the Annapolis Dog Beach would be our #1, since my boy and I love it there ).

[Fontucky]

I always want the juicy details.