Possibly moving to Scottsdale, AZ next month (Phoenix, Sedona: apartments, insurance)

[htnguyen504]

Hello all,

I got a job offer in Central Scottsdale off of E Shea blvd and N 92nd Street. I do not know anything about Central Scottsdale at all and was wondering if you all recommend any safe apartments in this area. Also, is Scottsdale a very beautiful and nice city to live in? I would like to live as close to work as possible. The reason for possibly moving is because I live in a small boring city just an hour away from New Orleans. I have visited Phoenix and Sedona during the past few months in August when it was hot and loved the outdoors activities that AZ has to offer. I LOVE my job now, but would like to know more about Central Scottsdale and Scottsdale in general. I am a single 30 year old with no kids at all. I am not big on night life and clubs as well. My budget for an apartment would be $650-$800 per month. Thank you in advance and Merry Christmas Eve!!

[azdr0710]

first, many people will think of that area as almost north Scottsdale, though that is open to debate if you look at a current map of the actual Scottsdale city limits!!.....to me and other long-time residents, central Scottsdale is the downtown Scottsdale area, about five miles south of Shea.....to newcomers, north Scottsdale is anything north of about Bell/Frank Lloyd Wright, about four miles north of Shea!......just mentioning this because different people have different definitions for north, central, and south Scottsdale....

sounds like you'll be very near (or at) the Shea Scottsdale Hospital.....the entire area all around there is entirely safe, though very busy with traffic, including many self-important drivers!!.....lots of shopping choices and apartment choices within a mile or less and great access to the Loop 101.....this being desirable Scottsdale, your budget may be stretched, but you'll probably find something even within walking distance....

there are many threads on Scottsdale here.....use the "advanced search", post Scottsdale as a key word and highlight the Phoenix subforum.....or just scroll down these threads and look for titles including Scottsdale

[Bruce Jackpot]

Excellent decision to choose Scottsdale. You'll love it. If you're into outdoor activities, health/wellness, or perhaps a "foodie" you'll feel right at home. It's anything but boring and there's not many better places to be single and looking. I don't know much about apartments over there but you should be able to find something in your budget.

I moved here about two years ago to Phoenix but hope to make the short move east to Scottsdale in the not so distant future. I feel more motivated and happy over there and believe that positive mindset may have helped me career-wise and socially. Never discount the importance of your immediate environment and how it brings happiness or joy to your day-to-day routine. Location, location, location as they say. Good luck.

[WriterDude]

Be sure to go to Google Maps and search on "Scottsdale AZ" - that will show you the boundaries of Scottsdale, which has kind of an elongated north/south shape.

[htnguyen504]

Thank you everyone who responded. I truly appreciate it and Merry Christmas. I am definitely looking forward to seeing what Scottsdale has to offer compared to New Orleans. I am expecting it to be a lot different but fun and exciting.

[caryberry]

Originally Posted by htnguyen504

Thank you everyone who responded. I truly appreciate it and Merry Christmas. I am definitely looking forward to seeing what Scottsdale has to offer compared to New Orleans. I am expecting it to be a lot different but fun and exciting.

As a New Orleanian that has lived in Scottsdale since '06, you have to understand that there is NOTHING and NOWHERE that compares to New Orleans. Good and Bad. Just keep an open mind and you can learn to love both. After you live here, you'll understand what it means to miss New Orleans.

PS There are NO drive-thru daiquiri stands, fresh seafood, carnival season, or music

[htnguyen504]

Originally Posted by caryberry

As a New Orleanian that has lived in Scottsdale since '06, you have to understand that there is NOTHING and NOWHERE that compares to New Orleans. Good and Bad. Just keep an open mind and you can learn to love both. After you live here, you'll understand what it means to miss New Orleans.

PS There are NO drive-thru daiquiri stands, fresh seafood, carnival season, or music

I definitely understand where you are coming from caryberry. There is no place like New Orleans. I think I just want a change in scenery. Can you provide some pros and cons of living in Scottsdale since 2006? I would truly appreciate it from one New Orleanian to another.

[caryberry]

Originally Posted by htnguyen504

I definitely understand where you are coming from caryberry. There is no place like New Orleans. I think I just want a change in scenery. Can you provide some pros and cons of living in Scottsdale since 2006? I would truly appreciate it from one New Orleanian to another.

Oh my goodness - there are so many things. For us, the lack of southerners in general is depressing. The political atmosphere takes a strong stomach. You'll hear a lot about Sheriff Joe and tent city...just remember he is no, Harry Lee. Do not - under any circumstances drink and drive in AZ.

Food - well, we eat at home. Which is the exact opposite of our life in NOLA. Getting produce from the west coast and Mexico helps. There are lots of restaurants and more fast food/franchise places than you can imagine in Phoenix so if you don't cook you'll survive. We routinely make groceries via UPS and have many LA items shipped - especially coffee. Seafood - speaks for itself.

Drivers - they suck here. But use your turn signals and don't tailgate. Road rage is very common here so don't flip anyone off unless you have really good medical insurance. (AZ is a open carry state - that is guns not beer). The roads are crap in NOLA, the streets in AZ are very new and very nice. Insurance is generally less expensive.

AZ is very young - NOLA is old. AZ knocks down and rebuilds - LA patches and props up and gets another 100 years. AZ has limited soul - NOLA is all soul and lagniappe.Scottsdale is very clean and very safe. NOLA not so much. We miss the water - Lake Pontchartrain and the gulf. It is 5 hours to the Pacific, which is cold and lacks those sugar beaches of Gulf Port or Destin. I miss the bayous - I cry just thinking about trolling the inlets around Hammond or the Bonnet Carre on a summer day. The desert is pretty too - which brings me to the phenom of Beige - you will notice that everything in AZ is beige. Light beige, semi-beige, hint-o-beige, etc.

IMHO it matches the people here.

[stevek64]

Originally Posted by caryberry

PS There are NO drive-thru daiquiri stands, fresh seafood, carnival season, or music

Just to clarify, there's plenty of live music here if you know where to look. No, it's not mostly dixieland/jazz/cajun flavor that New Orleans/Louisiana is famous for but there are venues/clubs to check out in the Phoenix metro. But like most of the country, the trend is DJ's as they are often more popular than live music for subsets of people....unfortunately, imho.

[caryberry]

Originally Posted by stevek64

Just to clarify, there's plenty of live music here if you know where to look. No, it's not mostly dixieland/jazz/cajun flavor that New Orleans/Louisiana is famous for but there are venues/clubs to check out in the Phoenix metro. But like most of the country, the trend is DJ's as they are often more popular than live music for subsets of people....unfortunately, imho.

Couldn't agree more...if you look for it; live music. OP heads up - New Orleans including Jefferson Parish is 12 x 5 miles (from River Ridge to the Kenner casinos is 5 miles, from the J-parish limits to over the twin span, around Michoud Blvd is 12). In Phoenix-speak, "look for it" means drive many miles. I forgot to tell you, Phoenix metro is the poster child of urban sprawl and public transportation is...developing.