Short term rental near camelback corridor/without a car (Phoenix: apartments, condos)

[Jordan475]

Hi,

I'm a law student from Seattle who was just given an offer at a large law firm in Phoenix for a summer position. It's headquartered in the Biltmore area at 24th and Camelback. I'm not sure how I feel about Phoenix, but if I do take the position, I'd need a place to live for a few months next summer. My questions are: What are good, AFFODABLE places to live near the Camelback Corridor? I'm coming from a very urban city with good public transportation, so I do not have a car. If I moved to phoenix permanently, I'd obviously have to get a car, but just for the summer, I would not have one. Is it even possible to survive using buses in the Phoenix area? Is there anywhere that I could live affordably for a few months without a car?

I know I'm probably asking a lot, but here in Seattle there are a lot of great apartment neighborhoods that are walkable and convenient. Could I find this in Phoenix?

[ibarrio]

Summer + Walking and Busing = going to be really tough summer....

Not sure about the buses in Phoenix but my experience with other buses in other cities has been that they are not really cool during the summer months. Plus you have to wait outside for them....

[Jordan475]

I'm pretty hardy, I don't mind conditions that others would find unpleasant. I actually love walking everywhere if possible. Are buses not air conditioned though in Phoenix? at 115 degrees? There's no way I can afford a car until after graduation, so the bus would really be my only option. Would it be so awful that I just can't come to Phoenix?

[ibarrio]

No...I'm sure the buses have air...but the bus is a large space with a bunch of hot people. It won't be a very pleasant environment. I used to travel train Sped students in Palmdale (10 degrees cooler then Phoenix and it was hot on that bus....plus the buses were constantly overheating and breaking down)

[azsundevil]

As long as you find a rental right along Camelback you will be fine. It's not much fun as I too moved to Phoenix w/o a car but it's doable. A transit tax was passed a few years ago though so things are alot better. The Camelback line is one of the main ones so it runs quite often. Not many people ride the bus in Phoenix so you don't have to worry about crowded buses like in other cities. I think you would be OK since it is only temporary. There is a grocery store at 16th/Camelback and Trader Joes at 20th/Cback. The area between 16th-24th on Camelback has quite a bit of retail, dining and entertainment options to keep you busy. Plus, I am sure you will make lots of friends that will all have cars!

[sirwinston73]

Camelback/24th St is an upscale area and there are plenty of nice apartments in the immediate vicinity of your office. They'll be a bit more expensive than other areas but worth it.

Having said that, the overall cost of living in Phoenix is very low compared to other cities, especially Seattle, so maybe a car will be an option after all.

If you're single (it sounds like you are) check out the Mercbar in the Esplanade at Camelback and 24th St, it's awesome, and Houston's at happy hour is a great place to meet hotties too!

[silverbear]

I wouldn't recommend long-term carlessness, but you could get by for one summer.

The housing right at 24th & Camelback is pricey high-rise condos -- although you might be able to rent from someone who lives here only in Winter. More affordable options are located within a one-mile radius along Highland, Campbell, 16th St., etc.

24th & Camelback is served by five bus lines: 32, 50, 60, 70, and Blue. Make sure that whatever you rent is near one of those. Chances are that your firm will be arranging some outings for you and the other summer associates, so that should give you a chance to see more of the area that is not readily accessible by bus.

[Jordan475]

Thanks for all the replies. I doubt I'll take the offer (Phoenix doesn't really appeal to me), but if I do, I'll be sure to be near one of those bus lines