commute info from ahwatukee (Phoenix, Mesa: cul-de-sac, houses, neighborhoods)

[sugarlips]

Can someone tell me about the following commute?

From Ahwatukee to north side of south mountain (Point South Mountain area).

Let's assume the worst commute and the starting point would be far back in the Ahwatukee foothills. How long would it take and what's the traffic like?

Can you get there through the Phantom Golf course or is that gated? If so, would it be better to travel up I-10 to baseline or east across I-10 and then north and west using the surface streets?

Thank you for your information as I haven't spent much time in that part of the valley.

[sugarlips]

What's the status of the freeway expansion? I heard that houses that border Pecos Road will be bought up by the county in order to continue the freeway. That would be useful information to know if we plan to live there.

Thanks

[sablebaby]

Ahwatukee would be an ideal place to live if that's where are you will be working. It's just on the other side of the mountain.

[sugarlips]

sablebaby,

any idea on the average commute time or what the traffic would be like?

My hubby has been commuting two hours a day for the last two years and he deserves a short commute at his next job.

[silverbear]

Originally Posted by sugarlips

What's the status of the freeway expansion? I heard that houses that border Pecos Road will be bought up by the county in order to continue the freeway. That would be useful information to know if we plan to live there.

Thanks

I think you are referring to the South Mountain Freeway, which if built, may consume several hundred houses along the alignment of Pecos Road. Those houses would then be bought and demolished by the state, not the county. If you buy in the area, read all documents carefully to make sure you will be not be in the road's path. If the South Mountain Freeway is built, it would not directly affect your commute, but it might indirectly affect it by taking traffic off I-10 through the heart of Phoenix. That will take years to occur -- if it happens at all.

On a more general note, the long stretch of Chandler Boulevard that heads west from I-10 is sometimes called "the world's longest cul-de-sac." Because there is only one way in and out of the neighborhood, it can be a traffic problem. I don't think that driving east of 1-10 and then along surface streets will do much to help, though. You'd just encounter traffic jams both times you cross over 1-10.

[sugarlips]

silverbear,

Would you say that living in that area would be the lesser of all evils as far as the commute goes? What other neighborhoods would lessen the commute that are in a good school district? The job is around 48th st and baseline.

It would seem that living in chandler or gilbert would be a worse commute and phoenix north of south mountain is not an option because of schools and crime.

[silverbear]

I don't think Ahwatukee is out of the question. I'd just suggest sticking to the more established parts of Ahwatukee around Elliott and Warner, rather than the newer, more distant portions on the western leg of Chandler Boulevard. Doing so would keep your commute reasonable and allow 48th St. to be used as an alternative to I-10.

Tempe is another option to consider. It's right across I-10 from the area you have described and is generally an attractive community.

[Oceanaddict]

sugarlips,
Could you tell me where about you live right now?
My hubby and I are also tossing around the idea of moving to Mesa AZ.. I dont want to live in a metropolis area! However we have to consider the cost of living in the areas we have to choose from. My prefered place is Cali. at the central coast well known AFB there. Yet... unless his promo is HUGE I just am not so sure that is the best most economical and logical choice to make.
The other choices are Washington,Arizona,Colorado. We could go back east,but that is not something we want to do.. we will stay to the west but again we have limited choices in doing so.
We to are coming from the COLDEST part of the country where the winter is almost always -30 somthing.. or colder.. BTW it is still winter here regardless of spring being the 21st. or not.
I guess I am looking for some encouragment as well. We would have a salary of no less then $100K for sure,but most likely more to live on.

[sugarlips]

oceanaddict,

I am in the midwest right now. I have relatives that live in Mesa. They seem to like it since they've lived there for 25+years. However, that doesn't mean that you will like it. I don't really know a lot about mesa either but what I do know is that there is a lot of newer housing in east mesa and older housing as you get closer to tempe. There are definitely some areas in Mesa that would be considered ghetto but other areas that are affluent. This is very typical phoenix suburb. Mesa does have a downtown but not much goes on there.

I remember that you mentioned WA state. Did you know that there is a wet and a dry side to WA state. Check that out on the WA forum because not all of WA state is raining. I believe a mountain range separates the two parts and one part is high desert.

I hope you find what you are looking for!

[Oceanaddict]

Thank you sugarlips .
I am hoping that we find the right place to choose as well.
I responded to another poster about the coldest area... Alaska...the Interior to be exact... So that sums up the -30 or colder here in the winter..
So for us the weather is certainly something to lack in desire for the winters and sense they tend to last so long and still is ... we would like to be somwhere with more of the 4 season value.
BTW it is 17* out right now.