Areas in South Mountain near Dobbins & 20th St? (Phoenix: crime, new house)

[adigrace]

I searched this forum and found mixed opinions about the overall South Mountain area. It's said south of Baseline should be quite safe. How is this particular location? It's closer to the mountains. The nearest intersection to the property I am looking to buy is Dobbins & 20th St. I saw a few crimes in neighborhood nearby at AZ crime search website. Any opinions are greatly appreciated.

[observer53]

I like that area, actually, although I've only driven through it on a few occasions; I don't know anyone who lives in the area. There's a "few crimes" everywhere. If you find a house there you really like that meets your needs, I don't think the area is an issue.

[LocoAZnative]

20th St and Dobbins is hit or miss, and it's less than a mile away from the hardcore hood so of the worst neighborhoods in the Valley. I grew up in this area and lost a lot of friends to gang violence. Hell one of my friends who I grew up with a murdered near there. Just take what people say here with a grain of salt. The will say it's not so bad, and will be ok. but move there at your own risk.

[LBTRS]

Well, I got lost coming back from the east valley last weekend and was in an area where all the signs said "South Mountain" and it was the worst area I've ever been in since arriving in Phoenix four years ago and I've traveled all over the valley. I got off the freeway (I10) to eat something and found I was in Guadalupe. I tried heading west on surface streets and eventually ended up in the west valley (35th Ave) and took it back to the freeway but whatever street I traveled on for many miles from the east valley to the west valley (Southern Ave maybe?) went through some of the worst neighborhoods I've ever seen.

Don't know if this represents all of "South Mountain" but I wouldn't want to live anywhere near that place. My wife was with me and was seriously nervous and said "why is everyone staring at us?" as we sat at a red light.

[christiner81]

i would live at 20th and dobbins. i work around the corner at the college and that area has gotten a lot nicer in recent years. i have never feared for my safety in south phoenix.

[observer53]

Originally Posted by LBTRS

Well, I got lost coming back from the east valley last weekend and was in an area where all the signs said "South Mountain" and it was the worst area I've ever been in since arriving in Phoenix four years ago and I've traveled all over the valley. I got off the freeway (I10) to eat something and found I was in Guadalupe. I tried heading west on surface streets and eventually ended up in the west valley (35th Ave) and took it back to the freeway but whatever street I traveled on for many miles from the east valley to the west valley (Southern Ave maybe?) went through some of the worst neighborhoods I've ever seen.

Don't know if this represents all of "South Mountain" but I wouldn't want to live anywhere near that place. My wife was with me and was seriously nervous and said "why is everyone staring at us?" as we sat at a red light.

If you were on Southern, you were quite a ways, in more ways than one, from Dobbins Rd and 20th St. I've gone across on Dobbins from the Humane Society (at about 15th Ave) east several times, and it's much different than Southern. If you saw signs that said South Mountain, you MIGHT have been on Baseline, but I don't know what "South Mountain" signs you saw (couldn't you see street signs, when you got to a major intersection?). In any event, either one would be worse than down closer to the mountain on Dobbins.

(not sure why you didn't just go get back on the freeway sooner?).

Originally Posted by LocoAZnative

20th St and Dobbins is hit or miss, and it's less than a mile away from the hardcore hood so of the worst neighborhoods in the Valley. I grew up in this area and lost a lot of friends to gang violence. Hell one of my friends who I grew up with a murdered near there. Just take what people say here with a grain of salt. The will say it's not so bad, and will be ok. but move there at your own risk.

The "hardcore hood" as you call it, is certainly further north, and would also be also further west, than 20th and Dobbins. Every time someone asks about any spot in an area covering many square miles, you come up with the gang violence you saw as a youth and someone you knew was murdered near there way back when history. That whole large stretch of what might very generically called South Phoenix actually varies more than that. Yes, there are areas that should be avoided, but others that are as safe as other areas of the valley that don't have the reputation you try to hang on the whole south side.

[Jkgourmet]

I don't have kids and pay little attention to school systems except to the extent that they might affect the resale values of or home.

So I don't know how accurate this is - but we were told that south mountain high school was bad enough that we should not buy a home in that district as many folks with kids would not want the home.

Maybe so, maybe not.

[LocoAZnative]

Originally Posted by observer53

The "hardcore hood" as you call it, is certainly further north, and would also be also further west, than 20th and Dobbins. Every time someone asks about any spot in an area covering many square miles, you come up with the gang violence you saw as a youth and someone you knew was murdered near there way back when history. That whole large stretch of what might very generically called South Phoenix actually varies more than that. Yes, there are areas that should be avoided, but others that are as safe as other areas of the valley that don't have the reputation you try to hang on the whole south side.

They have built some new development from Baseline towards Dobbins, but that mean the areas from Baseline down are now great cuz they built some new house towards Dobbins. You know nothing about the Southside you live in your nice little neighborhood with some illusion that it's "gentrified" fact is that is isn't. The fact is gang activity and violence is highly prevalent in South Phoenix whether you believe it or not. Oh and the murder was a couple months ago as stated in my first post.

[christiner81]

Originally Posted by observer53

If you were on Southern, you were quite a ways, in more ways than one, from Dobbins Rd and 20th St. I've gone across on Dobbins from the Humane Society (at about 15th Ave) east several times, and it's much different than Southern. If you saw signs that said South Mountain, you MIGHT have been on Baseline, but I don't know what "South Mountain" signs you saw (couldn't you see street signs, when you got to a major intersection?). In any event, either one would be worse than down closer to the mountain on Dobbins.

(not sure why you didn't just go get back on the freeway sooner?).




The "hardcore hood" as you call it, is certainly further north, and would also be also further west, than 20th and Dobbins. Every time someone asks about any spot in an area covering many square miles, you come up with the gang violence you saw as a youth and someone you knew was murdered near there way back when history. That whole large stretch of what might very generically called South Phoenix actually varies more than that. Yes, there are areas that should be avoided, but others that are as safe as other areas of the valley that don't have the reputation you try to hang on the whole south side.

i'd agree with that.

there is a lot of poverty in guadalupe, and in parts of south phoenix. but poverty does not necessarily = unsafe.

[Bondurant]

It looks nice on Goolge Maps. I've heard the South Mountain area is a weird mix of ghetto and upscale homes. As far as it being "hardcore ghetto" I cannot say as I've never been south of Southern & Central. The reputation is a good one as you can tell from most of the above posts. Maybe it is or maybe it is not. But I don't think it's too far off base to weigh the advice in favor of someone that actually lived there and did more than work in the area or drive thru a time or two.