Where to Live: Young Professional For City Life (23yr male) (Phoenix: apartment complex, for rent)

[itwasalladream]

Hello All,
I'm a 23 year old, male, young professional looking for a nice, upcoming area of town where other young professionals live. I was one of the lucky ones and scored a great job out of college and now relocating to the valley for work. Since then, I have lived in Chicago, New York, and Canada. I will work near the Tempe/Phx border (Papago buttes area) that is right off the light rail stop (Washington). I'm trendy; iRun, iDine, iYelp (but I don't do coffee).

I'm looking for an Apartment/Townhouse/Condo. I'd like accessibility to local bars/restaurants, gym/parks, and "downtown" activity (sports, events, concerts). I'm looking for an eclectic type crowd; beyond the haze of college and over the pretentious of status. I'd like a 20min drive max, and/or a lightrail commute option.

If anybody knows Chicago well (and recently), I'm looking for the Lincoln Park/Lakeview of Phoenix.

I have lived in Arizona before and I've got to say, downtown phoenix is looking great after all the construction cleared! ASU downtown, lightrail, etc... However, I get the feeling nothing has picked up in that area. I've recently explored some Phoenix/Scottsdale border (Arcadia?) bars like The Vig and really enjoyed that place and the few people that were there, but it was empty! Checked out places like West Sixth (Tempe high rises), Summit Copper Square, 44 Monroe. They seem great, but very commercial so don't know if I'm over looking something that local eyes can see.

Any specific areas, opinions, or first hand recommendations of a complex to live in would be great! Thanks!

[Bondurant]

Look into downtown Phoenix and Tempe. Both have plenty of options with light rail access.

[Java Jolt]

It doesn't read like the OP would care much for downtown or Tempe.

Old town Scottsdale might be an area to check out but there would be a driving commute, light rail doesn't go into Scottsdale.

[Jukesgrrl]

Phoenix Magazine usually has an annual issue that highlights different neighborhoods in the area and describes the environment and the types of people who would enjoy it. It might be helpful to you. This is a link to the most recent of those articles from their archives.

Best Phoenix Neighborhoods - Phoenix Magazine

[Valley Native]

Originally Posted by itwasalladream

Hello All,
I'm a 23 year old, male, young professional looking for a nice, upcoming area of town where other young professionals live. I was one of the lucky ones and scored a great job out of college and now relocating to the valley for work. Since then, I have lived in Chicago, New York, and Canada. I will work near the Tempe/Phx border (Papago buttes area) that is right off the light rail stop (Washington). I'm trendy; iRun, iDine, iYelp (but I don't do coffee).

I'm looking for an Apartment/Townhouse/Condo. I'd like accessibility to local bars/restaurants, gym/parks, and "downtown" activity (sports, events, concerts). I'm looking for an eclectic type crowd; beyond the haze of college and over the pretentious of status. I'd like a 20min drive max, and/or a lightrail commute option.

Downtown Phoenix or the uptown/Central Corridor area would definitely be two options. More people are living in central Phoenix in condos and lofts, and you would be in walking or light rail distance from the sports, concerts, and other things going on downtown. Keep in mind, however, that while downtown has made significant improvements in the last few years, it still is quite dead at night when the Suns & DBacks aren't playing, or when there aren't any concerts to go to. It is pretty active during the weekdays for obvious reasons.

Another location I'd recommend is the 24th Street/Camelback area. You can find some midrise condos around there, and many choices for bars & restaurants. Biltmore Fashion Park and the Esplanade are nearby, which offer high end shopping & dining. There seems to be more "night" activity around there than downtown Phoenix. The only thing is this area would be a longer commute to where you stated you'd be working ... and light rail doesn't go through there (yet).

[j_cat]

Originally Posted by itwasalladream

I'm trendy; iRun, iDine, iYelp (but I don't do coffee).

*cringe* no uDidn't...

Anyway, I'm a Valley native living in Lincoln Park.

The equivalent of Lakeview is easy: that would be Camelback between Central and 24th Street. And Central between Camelback and Thomas.

Lincoln Park? Not so easy. Tempe is the obvious choice, but you said you don't want a college scene.

Scottsdale is a bit too upscale for what you're saying: more like Old Town or the Gold Coast, not to mention they don't have the light rail up there.

I'd say stick to Midtown/Uptown Phoenix, and you should be happy, though you'll have to adjust to the sprawl and relative quiet of Arizona. No way around that.

[khuntrevor]

Level at Sixteenth Street Apartments, 1550 E. Campbell Ave. Phoenix, AZ - Apartments for Rent on ApartmentGuide.com | Phoenix Arizona | 85797

A newer apartment complex in the Camelback Corridor. Above average rent...pretty nice, great location.

[Valley Native]

Originally Posted by j_cat

*cringe* no uDidn't...

Anyway, I'm a Valley native living in Lincoln Park.

The equivalent of Lakeview is easy: that would be Camelback between Central and 24th Street. And Central between Camelback and Thomas.

Lincoln Park? Not so easy. Tempe is the obvious choice, but you said you don't want a college scene.

Scottsdale is a bit too upscale for what you're saying: more like Old Town or the Gold Coast, not to mention they don't have the light rail up there.

I'd say stick to Midtown/Uptown Phoenix, and you should be happy, though you'll have to adjust to the sprawl and relative quiet of Arizona. No way around that.

I agree, except I still think Camelback East (24th Street & Camelback area)might be a good alternative for the OP because of better eateries & bars in the area that stay open later. Also, there is more of a young professional crowd that shops, dines, and lives around there. "Eclectic" might be confined more to Tempe, however.

Do you really think Arizona is all that quiet? Maybe outside of Phoenix it is, but Phoenix is not the place to go to look for peace & quiet anymore. Might be slower paced and sprawl happy compared to Chicago, but not all that quiet.

[j_cat]

Originally Posted by Valley Native

Do you really think Arizona is all that quiet? Maybe outside of Phoenix it is, but Phoenix is not the place to go to look for peace & quiet anymore. Might be slower paced and sprawl happy compared to Chicago, but not all that quiet.

Well obviously it depends on who you are and what you're comparing it to, but for a city its size, I still consider Phoenix awfully quiet. It's still a place where you have to find the action yourself; it doesn't just find you.

[GQpilot3]

I am a professional right around your age. I live in the north valley and I am very bored of it but i'd love to live in old town scottsdale no questions asked. If you get the opportunity jump on it.