So what is the "skid row" in Phoenix? (to rent, motel)

[grmi66]

Originally Posted by Valley Native

East Van Buren used to be a combination of a skid row and a hooker hangout ... certainly an area to avoid. In retrospect, I jokingly gave it the nickname "HoRo". It's still not a very desirable area with all the rundown motels, but at least there aren't as many homeless, and the prostitutes have been cleared out of there. Only problem is they just relocated and scattered elsewhere throughout the city. Pretty much any freeway entrance ramp is going to be a hotbed for panhandlers. At least most of the ones I've come across are not aggressive.

With the internet it's almost like spotting a unicorn if you see a hooker walking the street anymore. Saw one in Mesa of all places last month. The area around 19th Avenue & Bell is another place I've seen them. Got hustled by a hooker while I was pumping gas at the gas station there last year.

[AZDesertBrat]

Originally Posted by Valley Native

East Van Buren used to be a combination of a skid row and a hooker hangout ... certainly an area to avoid. In retrospect, I jokingly gave it the nickname "HoRo". It's still not a very desirable area with all the rundown motels, but at least there aren't as many homeless, and the prostitutes have been cleared out of there. Only problem is they just relocated and scattered elsewhere throughout the city. Pretty much any freeway entrance ramp is going to be a hotbed for panhandlers. At least most of the ones I've come across are not aggressive.

I wondered if anyone would mention E. Van Buren. I used to work at the Carrow's restaurant at 24th and Van Buren in the late 70s. I met quite the 'variety' of folks when I worked there. I also worked at the Waffle House just down the street on 24th Street. That was an interesting area, to say the least.

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by AZDesertBrat

I wondered if anyone would mention E. Van Buren. I used to work at the Carrow's restaurant at 24th and Van Buren in the late 70s. I met quite the 'variety' of folks when I worked there. I also worked at the Waffle House just down the street on 24th Street. That was an interesting area, to say the least.

I lived in one of the cheap motels when I came up here from Tucson after college. It was a fun experience. Another part of Phoenix culture gone forever.

[Valley Native]

Originally Posted by grmi66

With the internet it's almost like spotting a unicorn if you see a hooker walking the street anymore. Saw one in Mesa of all places last month. The area around 19th Avenue & Bell is another place I've seen them. Got hustled by a hooker while I was pumping gas at the gas station there last year.

That's a good point. You don't see "ladies of the evening" working the streets too much anymore, except a few scattered here & there. I thought it was because the cops cracked down on them ... but then, a good share of the cops are involved in the game themselves ... so it very well could be that the internet has created a whole new breeding ground for prostitution, or "escorts" as they call themselves now. They're off the streets and on the back pages of the world wide web.

Originally Posted by AZDesertBrat

I wondered if anyone would mention E. Van Buren. I used to work at the Carrow's restaurant at 24th and Van Buren in the late 70s. I met quite the 'variety' of folks when I worked there. I also worked at the Waffle House just down the street on 24th Street. That was an interesting area, to say the least.

Even in the '90s, there were girls on HoRo near St. Lukes Hospital soliciting passing cars and pedestrians. Lots of sketchy characters lurking the streets back then, and I wouldn't be surprised if it has stayed the same or gotten worse since then. Maybe not as many hookers, but still plenty of derelicts.

[SMG]

After reading this thread, it is obvious that Phoenix has some sketchy areas. All cities this size do. That said, we do not have a skid row. Everybody ponied up a sketchy part of town, if we truly had a Skid Row we would know it and the answers would not all differ.

[sunluv]

Some goodies here. Somewhat of a a morbid without a doubt lol

In general, the down and out areas here are few and far between, as others have mentioned. In comparison with some other cities, sort of "ghetto lite".

Hatcher between 19th Ave. and Central remains a fave; someone mentioned Hatcher and yup it qualifies; used to live in Sunnyslope close enough to walk there. Grand Street also has its moments.

Camelback 20s and 30s Avenues...Alhambra baby! Another former neighborhood.

Around Central way south..

[Bondurant]

Originally Posted by grmi66

With the internet it's almost like spotting a unicorn if you see a hooker walking the street anymore. Saw one in Mesa of all places last month. The area around 19th Avenue & Bell is another place I've seen them. Got hustled by a hooker while I was pumping gas at the gas station there last year.

I've only encountered 3 women I have known were hookers. One in Detroit, one in Chicago and one in Tempe. The gal in Tempe was the only one to actually make a pass at me. I liked the "experience". It was on Apache Blvd near one of the light rail stops. Fairly certain she was a college girl working for money.

I am told, and given by some of the posts in this thread, that Phoenix had some areas (notably stretches of E Van Buren) where it was plainly obvious, as much as Times Square, what was going on back in the 80s and into the 90s. I have not seen anything like that in the time I've been out here. One benefit of the internet advertising trade, I suppose. Girls don't have to roam the streets anymore.

As for skid row, not sure Phoenix actually has one. Fun fact about LA, their skid row is even marked on Google Maps.

[azdr0710]

for any interested, the origin of the term....

from wikipedia:

The term "skid road" dates back to the 17th century, when it referred to a log road, used to skid or drag logs through woods and bog.[3] The term was in common usage in the mid-19th century and came to refer not just to the corduroy roads themselves, but to logging camps and mills all along the Pacific Coast.When a logger was fired he was "sent down the skid road."[6]
The source of the term "skid road" as an urban district is heavily debated, and is generally identified as originating in either Seattle or Vancouver.[3]

[Steve-o]

Nothing truly "skid row" like in LA, but if theres an area that somewhat resembles that it would be Central Ave, from the 17 up to downtown... tons of bums everywhere. Sad. Seems like most large intersections in the Valley have panhandlers. Ive seen em as far west as Litchfield Park all the way out to Falcon Field in Mesa... even lots in Paradise Valley. The Tatum/Shea intersection will have several panhandlers most times of the day.

[grmi66]

I saw a panhandler yesterday over by Metrocenter. Claimed he was homeless despite being clean shaven, was wearing decent clothes and looked like he just washed & styled his hair before he hit the corner. There seemed to be an abundance of younger, well dressed men & women hustling around Metro yesterday.