Tempe West 2nd Street (Phoenix: apartment complexes, to rent, condo)

[goingtoaz]

Hi,
I am moving to Az next month, looking to rent a place on West 2nd Street near Hardy Drive. Is this a safe area for 21 year old females to walk to ASU?
What areas are safe within wallking distance to ASU?

[LocoAZnative]

Originally Posted by goingtoaz

Hi,
I am moving to Az next month, looking to rent a place on West 2nd Street near Hardy Drive. Is this a safe area for 21 year old females to walk to ASU?
What areas are safe within wallking distance to ASU?

I grew up in that area and some of those duplexes are overrun with illegals now. A lot of college kids still live in the area, but Jaycees Park at 5th St & Hardy there have been muggings in the area. People praying on the college kids, and that may have to do with the illegals in the area. Get a bike or take the free orbits shuttle and you should be fine. Make sure you have a car though cuz you will still need one.

[observer53]

I'd look south of the campus. There are some small older places along College Avenue, for instance, much closer to the campus than 2nd and Hardy. I agree that being on the Orbit routes and having a bike will make life much easier. I suppose you can get by without a car, but it's not easy, and you better know someone (or multiple someones) who has a car.

[Valley Native]

First, this neighborhood isn't the best part of Tempe. It's mostly older properties, and apartment complexes that are questionable at best. Second, it's not really walking distance from ASU. Try walking from this neighborhood to ASU in August or September, and you'll likely suffer from heat exhaustion. There are other neighborhoods closer to ASU that still might be a little on the iffy side, but at least you'll be closer to campus.

[vegaspilgrim]

My personal opinion, having attended ASU 2004-2008... the entire ASU campus/ north Tempe area is what I'd call "moderate" level crime. It's hard to say which side of the campus is the best to live in-- they all have their issues. If you research the crime stats, follow the ASU police beat emails and the crime blurbs that make it into the student newspaper (which just a sampling of everything that goes on), as well as listen to people's anecdotal experiences, you'll see what I'm talking about. There is quite a bit of human trash living in the area, and a lot of transients, who can be nasty. Whichever place you end up living, I would recommend having your street smarts on at all times, always be aware of your surroundings, carry pepper spray, have ASU & Tempe police put in your cellphone contacts and don't be afraid to dial up the campus security escorts at night. I would not recommend walking alone day or night, but especially at night. If you do have to be alone, I think you're better off on a bicycle, as not only is it much quicker than walking, it's a lot easier to get away if there is a weirdo around. Just be extremely careful when riding. Always assume the cars on the road don't see you. The Orbit bus is a GREAT idea for getting around the area, btw.

[Valley Native]

Looks like there are safer and more desirable locations that have better walking distance to ASU besides 2nd & Hardy. Stay along Mill, or east of there for a shorter walk to campus ... unless you want to ride a bike or take transit. Not sure if the OP can afford to live in a condo or loft, but there are locations such as Dorsey Place or Orchid House which offer a better living environment and a shorter commute.

[Java Jolt]

Originally Posted by goingtoaz

Hi,
I am moving to Az next month, looking to rent a place on West 2nd Street near Hardy Drive. Is this a safe area for 21 year old females to walk to ASU?
What areas are safe within wallking distance to ASU?

I work in northern Tempe near Ash and Rio Salado and sometimes cut through that neighborhood to avoid traffic.

It seems to be more industrial through there, not really a scary area but not what I would recommend for a single young girl.

Look closer to the university, you will be around more people in your age group and less isolated.

[AzXd]

I would recommend going with a group of people. You may want to look up your zip code on the Arizona Sex Offender Registry (google it) to identify the potential threats. You may want to equip a taser and/or mace. Phoenix is the wild west and all but I wouldn't recommend packing a firearm unless you find yourself jogging down at encanto park or in maryvale. Its illegal to conceal a firearm until 2011 you can wear it on your holster on your side though.

[Java Jolt]

Originally Posted by AzXd

I would recommend going with a group of people. You may want to look up your zip code on the Arizona Sex Offender Registry (google it) to identify the potential threats. You may want to equip a taser and/or mace. Phoenix is the wild west and all but I wouldn't recommend packing a firearm unless you find yourself jogging down at encanto park or in maryvale. Its illegal to conceal a firearm until 2011 you can wear it on your holster on your side though.

Everything you wrote makes sense but you might want to read up on the new law about concealed carry.

You can now carry a gun concealed without a permit as long as you're aged 21 or over, this took effect July 29.

Thanks to our oh-so-brilliant legislature, Arizona stepped into the progressive limelight with the rural backwoods states of Vermont and Alaska, they are the only other states that allow concealed carry without permits.

I certainly feel safer now, don't you?

[Valley Native]

Originally Posted by Java Jolt

Everything you wrote makes sense but you might want to read up on the new law about concealed carry.

You can now carry a gun concealed without a permit as long as you're aged 21 or over, this took effect July 29.

Thanks to our oh-so-brilliant legislature, Arizona stepped into the progressive limelight with the rural backwoods states of Vermont and Alaska, they are the only other states that allow concealed carry without permits.

I certainly feel safer now, don't you?

It has nothing to do with being part of the "rural, backwood" states. Arizona always has been and always will be a place that has more lenient gun laws, regardless of how largely populated we are. Texas also has lenient gun laws, and that's the second most populated state in the U.S. Some states (like Arizona, Texas, etc.) respect the Bill of Rights more than other states, and realize that most gun owners are law abiding citizens ... not a bunch of wild, murderous maniacs.