Citrus Heights Question (Sacramento, Orange, Roseville: apartment complex, rent, crime rates)

[bgreen68]

I used to live in Citrus Heights about 13 years ago and liked it very much when I lived there back then. I live in Las Vegas now but planning on moving back to Citrus Heights hopefully. Can somebody tell me who knows how Citrus Heights is today compared to 13 years ago? Has it changed very much or is it still pretty much the same as it was 13 years ago? When I lived there I felt very safe no matter what time of day or night I went out anywhere. Is it basically that way still today?

[CityGirl72]

What part of Citrus Hieghts are we talking?

I was around CH about 10 years ago, and wasn't that impressed...the last time I saw it (3 years ago) it had gone down hill.

But just like anywhere - there are good areas and bad areas

[Guingirl]

It has gotten MUCH better....over that period of time Citrus Heights has become its own city and with that, they have used the tax base to really revitalize Sunrise Mall and the other retail areas. They have their own police force and make their presence known.

It really shows how when you have a vision and put it action rather than debating everything, that you can actually improve and revitalize an area. I have been very impressed with what they have done over the last 10 years.

[bgreen68]

Originally Posted by Guingirl

It has gotten MUCH better....over that period of time Citrus Heights has become its own city and with that, they have used the tax base to really revitalize Sunrise Mall and the other retail areas. They have their own police force and make their presence known.

It really shows how when you have a vision and put it action rather than debating everything, that you can actually improve and revitalize an area. I have been very impressed with what they have done over the last 10 years.

What's the area right around sunrise mall like? Is it a safe area to live by? I used to live in an apartment complex called Sunrise Apts which was right accross for the mall when I lived there 13 years ago. I remember also there used to be a Lucky's supermarket in walking distance from that apt complex, is it still there? (maybe an ablertsons now?). Also does anybody know if there are any decent hotels nearby off one the buslines that go to sunrise mall? (if I came out there to look for an apartment I would need a hotle to stay at near a buses that go to sunrise mall area). Thansk for your help!

[KidBlue]

The area of CH right near Sunrise Mall is usually called Bird Cage. There are very nice homes all around that area. The nicer homes are pretty expensive now but there are a lot of apartments around that area too.

I have a good friend who lives off Madison Avenue and Sunrise Blvd. and loves the area. She and her husband can walk from their home to the local Barnes and Noble book store, Starbucks, and several restaurants. It's also a pretty safe area.

I have another good friend who lives off Greenback Lane and Hwy. 80 and also loves that area. She feels it is a safe area also. Across Hwy. 80 from her home though is very run down and has higher crime rates.

Over the past 13 years, there has been some areas of CH that have become more run down, but they are not by the Sunrise Mall. There is even a school in CH that is almost 100% Title I eligible (the children are almost all eligible for free meals and live in poverty). Orangevale has improved a lot over the last few years too. You won't recognize Folsom.....

[jguillot]

Originally Posted by bgreen68

I used to live in Citrus Heights about 13 years ago and liked it very much when I lived there back then. I live in Las Vegas now but planning on moving back to Citrus Heights hopefully. Can somebody tell me who knows how Citrus Heights is today compared to 13 years ago? Has it changed very much or is it still pretty much the same as it was 13 years ago? When I lived there I felt very safe no matter what time of day or night I went out anywhere. Is it basically that way still today?

I've lived in Citrus Heights for about 19 years. Over the last few years, I've seen a lot of positive changes. Citrus Heights has incorporated and has it's own city government and police force. Police protection is much better than in the past. The city government has already done a lot to revitalize parts of the city. Citrus Heights is a safe place to live. Many new stores have opened in Birdcage Mall (across from Sunrise Mall) and in other parts of the city. We also have a new Costco and a new Wal Mart. I think you will find that Citrus Heights has changed for the better.

[SingleNurseMom]

I've lived here in Citrus Heights for 31 years with the exception of two years that I lived out of state. As others have mentioned, Citrus Heights has changed a lot since its incorporation in 1997.

CHANGES
The police force is wonderful, and its presence is everywhere. Police headquarters/chamber of commerce/etc are at Fountain Square on Greenback (between San Juan and Dewey) across from the Post Office. Here's the city website: Welcome to the City of Citrus Heights - Home

SAFETY
It's a pretty safe city, for the most part, although there are better/worse areas, as with any city. The whole area around Sunrise & Greenback with Sunrise Mall and BirdCage Mall was remodeled a few years ago and it is really nice now. When I was a kid here, we used to feel safe taking long walks by ourselves, and we used to go trick-or-treating on Halloween by ourselves, etc. These days, I would not permit my four children to walk around by themselves. Times have changed, which is true just about everywhere, not just here.

CRIME
There is certainly crime here as there is in any city- for example, I live in a really nice neighborhood that was just shocked by the sudden police presence a couple of weeks ago when my neighbor was discovered manufacturing/doing meth. I went to high school here (1990-1994) and I remember drugs being somewhat of a problem then too, and from what I hear it's getting worse, although it's probably not any different than any other city of this size.

FUN/RECREATION
I thought this was important to point out. There are so many recreational opportunities nearby. For example, Folsom Lake is only a few minutes away through either Folsom or Roseville (Douglas Blvd). There is river rafting on the American River (so fun!). And there are the bike trails for running/walking/biking that are accessible from so many points along the river- here's a map of the section of the trails around here http://saccycle.com/bikewaymaps/AR_Biketrail.pdf It's beautiful and there are several parts where you can swim also. There have been a few occasional reports of crimes (and very very rarely, mountain lions) near the trails, but only a few times over the years. So the kids and I usually go in a larger group with others.

RESTAURANTS
There are tons of restaurants if you like eating out. I know I can't possibly name them all, but on Sunrise Blvd alone, just between the Greenback and Madison area, there is Olive Garden, TGI Fridays, Red Robin, Black Angus, Chilis, Fuddruckers, El Torito, Marie Callendars, Dennys, and I know I'm forgetting a ton of them. Within a 5-10 mile radius you can find just about every familiar restaurant you see on TV.

SHOPPING
Sunrise Mall, BirdCage Mall, strip malls all over the place with all of the familiar stores that are not in the malls (Old Navy, Ross, Marshalls, Mervyns, etc etc etc). But the malls pretty much have everything you need. Arden Fair Mall (huge, with a carousel and all) is only about 10 minutes away via I-80. For the big stores, there's a new Super WalMart next door to a new CostCo on Auburn Blvd, there's a KMart on Auburn Blvd, there's a Target on Sunrise (in BirdCage), Sam's Club on Greenback (Fountain Square), tons of grocery stores all over the place- including a new WinCo not too far away in Orangevale (Greenback at Illinois).

HISTORY
There are historical sites near here- fairly new placards on the bike trails explaining the old mining towns (that are now flooded by the river since Nimbus Dam was built), and plenty of nearby places that are fascinating to explore. The mountains are filled with old mining towns/mines and places like Coloma (Sutter's Mill) are only about half an hour away. In the other direction, there's Old Sacramento, with it's historic streets and buildings and different times throughout the year where you can find people in period clothes, and there are historic museums to visit (like the train museum). There's also Sutter's Fort, which is very interesting!

CLIMATE
Well for ME, it's too dang hot! I don't like the heat, but many people do. In July/August, there are many days over 100. We get some rain in the winter but it's a very mild climate, and some years (like this year), we hardly got any rain at all. No snow. Spring and Fall are nice, although if you have allergies (hay fever), it can get really bad around here- Sacramento's nickname is the "City of Trees", and there are trees everywhere, including in all of Sacramento's suburbs like Citrus Heights.

The grocery store I think you're referring to is the old Lucky/Albertsons between the Red Robin and Sunrise Rollerland, right? It was an Albertson's a couple of years ago, but don't shop there so I haven't really paid attention to whether it's still there. Sorry.

Hope this helps!

[SacRenter]

I am thinking about moving to Citrus Heights, and I am seeing very different price ranges on Craigslist. Some CH apts rent out at $600 for a 2-bedroom, and some are charging $600 for a studio. Are the cheaper places completely ghetto? Maybe someone who knows CH can help me out?

The cheaper places are at Sayonara/Sunrise and Auburn/Antelope.
The more expensive places are at Sycamore/Mariposa and Devecchi/Manzanita

Thanks for your help!!

[SingleNurseMom]

Originally Posted by SacRenter

Are the cheaper places completely ghetto? Maybe someone who knows CH can help me out?

The cheaper places are at Sayonara/Sunrise and Auburn/Antelope.
The more expensive places are at Sycamore/Mariposa and Devecchi/Manzanita

Thanks for your help!!

1. Sayonara/Sunrise- this has always been a very bad area- as a teenager, I worked at a store in the strip mall right next to there and we knew not to head in that direction after dark, and there were police cars there all the time for some incident or another. Of course, that was 13-15 years ago, but it's still on the news occasionally so I don't think it has changed.

2. DeVecchi/Manzanita- I believe you're talking about the apartments that are on DeVecchi, off of Auburn near Manzanita. My cousin lived in those about 12 years ago and they were scary! She moved out after only a couple of months because of the people there. It could have changed- I have absolutely no idea what it is like now, because haven't even been down DeVecchi since then.

3. Auburn/Antelope - there is only one small apt complex there, it's all blacktop, no yards/grass, teeny apts (I used to know someone who lived in those), and not very nice. Looks more like a little motel. It's a decent neighborhood (I only live a couple of miles away- off of Antelope Rd). There are just a couple of nearby streets right by that complex that have some sketchy little 4-plexes, but for the most part it's decent; it's just the complex itself that is sort of dumpy.

4. Sycamore/Mariposa- this is right near that last one (#3). Not a bad neighborhood for the most part, but I think this is one of the "sketchy" streets right by that complex. On Sycamore itself- the closer to Mariposa the better, the closer to Auburn the dumpier.

Sorry for the bad news. Better to know ahead of time though! Hope that helps.

[brownroxygal]

Just wanted to know if there is a certain area in Citrus Heights I might want to look? I know some places are good bad ect, but in just Citrus Heights where might I look? I have a 18 month old I have to consider into it as well, will she be safe to go out and play in the yard, ect when shes older?