Commute SLC to South Jordan? (Salt Lake City, St. George: renting, HOA, condos)

[asiasd]

I am hoping to be accepted to a college in South Jordan (Riverpark) next fall. My husband and I live in San Diego now, we've never been to Utah, and our only reason for the move is for me to attend school.
My husband and I would like to live in a diverse area (we're non-LDS) and we hate new developments were all houses look the same and the HOA people tell you what color courtains you need to have We'd be renting but we'd like to live in a house/townhome with at least a little yard, and the area with mature trees and landscaping would be best. We'd love being able to walk to coffee shops, grocery stores or to buy a paper.
My husband is in the automotive industry and I'm sure he'd have better chances for a good job in Salt Lake City.
From researching this forum I feel like Sugarhouse or the Avenues would probably suit us best, unless South Jordan has an area that would fit our living preferences.
In any case, how long would the commute be from SLC to South Jordan? How about the opposite route?

Any info will be greatly appreciated!

[BuhByeCalifornia]

Hi there!

My family just moved to UT last week from the Los Angeles area. We live in Bountiful just about 10 minutes north of SLC and my husband works on American Fork which is even further south of South Jordan.

He has a "long" commute by UT standards (it cracks us up when we tell people about his commute) of about 40 minutes each way. It's such a breezy commute for him now since he was spending 1.5 - 2.0 hours on the 405 fwy for the same distance in Los Angeles!

I would say, for you, since you are going against traffic (like my dh is), the commute would be about 25 - 30 minutes one way.

I'm still new to Utah but I did see Sugarhouse (or actually got lost in Sugarhouse trying to find the Bed, Bath, and Beyond!) and I absolutely LOVE the charm of the mature neighborhood and homes there!

FYI...not sure exactly what type of job your DH is looking for but just in driving around Bountiful / North Salt Lake in the past week, I've seen at least 2 - 3 automotive shops that need to hire people.

[asiasd]

Hi BuhByeCalifornia,
Thanks for the reply. 30 min commute is definitely not bad. Both my husband and I are lucky enough to only commute about 30 minutes here in San Diego so the same wouldn't be a big deal. Of course we never have snow here so I would imagine during the winter it'd be a bit harder.

So how are you liking SLC so far? I'm still a little apprehensive about the move (visiting to check it out would help for sure, we're working on it) since Utah is so much different from other states. I know I'd love the nature. But it worries me when I read that the state doesn't allow businesses that pay over min wage or that the local politics is so deeply intertwined with the church issues. We still have a lot of time to make any decisions, and of course I haven't been accepted yet :-)

Anyway, good luck and I hope you'll love it there!

Asia

[kaytidid]

Maybe I misread this, but the state doesn't pay over min wage? Uh....


Many companies pay over min wage. Oh goodness, if not, we would all be in trouble!

I moved from the East Coast 14 years ago. While I still miss Jersey some, I have grown to love Utah. I have had neighbors that are LDS and ones that are not (we are not), and truthfully, I would take the LDS neighbors anytime! People are people, and you will get good and bad no matter what, but I have found most LDS to be very friendly, helpful and all around good people. We have never been hassled to convert. Both of my girls have friends that are LDS and they are allowed to play together. They have never been ostracized in any shape or form. I honestly think that religion is only an issue if you make it out to be.

We are sometimes included in our LDS friends church milestone celebrations (child's baptism, blessings, ect) and of course, we attend...as friends will do. Just as I would include good friends in the same for my children. I feel honored to even be asked.

I think you will find Utah to be a great place to live. Just remember wherever you go, life is what you make of it! Some facets of Utah are very different, but in other ways, it is just another state.

Best of luck!

[asiasd]

[quote=kaytidid;1271005]Maybe I misread this, but the state doesn't pay over min wage? Uh....


Many companies pay over min wage. Oh goodness, if not, we would all be in trouble!

I didn't express myself clearly I didn't mean there were no jobs in Utah that pay over min. wage. That would be trouble indeed! But I did read somewhere on this forum how In-N-Out burger was not allowed to expand into Utah because their wages are above the average wage in fast food industry. Can't find this thread now (of course). Maybe I just misinterpreted what somebody else said.

Anyway, good to hear you're enjoying your life in Utah! Many people say it's a fantastic state for raising children.

[kaytidid]

Ah ha...I see what you mean now! I have *heard* that there is supposed to be an In-N-Out Burger in St. George, but seeing I am not from down south, I don't know how much truth there is to that.

It is a pretty nice state with it's ups and downs like all others. Very family oriented and the views are not to be beat! When I get to missing the shore, I just look out my window and take in the mountains. It makes it all worth it again. Knowing my doggies don't get fleas here either helps a ton!

If your path leads you here, may you find peace and happiness!

[bob rulz]

Originally Posted by asiasd

I am hoping to be accepted to a college in South Jordan (Riverpark) next fall. My husband and I live in San Diego now, we've never been to Utah, and our only reason for the move is for me to attend school.
My husband and I would like to live in a diverse area (we're non-LDS) and we hate new developments were all houses look the same and the HOA people tell you what color courtains you need to have We'd be renting but we'd like to live in a house/townhome with at least a little yard, and the area with mature trees and landscaping would be best. We'd love being able to walk to coffee shops, grocery stores or to buy a paper.
My husband is in the automotive industry and I'm sure he'd have better chances for a good job in Salt Lake City.
From researching this forum I feel like Sugarhouse or the Avenues would probably suit us best, unless South Jordan has an area that would fit our living preferences.
In any case, how long would the commute be from SLC to South Jordan? How about the opposite route?

Any info will be greatly appreciated!

You definitely will not find anything like this in South Jordan. If you hate cookie-cutter developments and plain suburbs, stay far away from South Jordan except for school! Salt Lake City itself is very diverse, and in fact is probably more non-LDS than LDS. You shouldn't be too worried about LDS politics; Rocky Anderson is one of the most zealously liberal mayors in the country, and chances are another liberal will be elected later this year. The Avenues or Sugarhouse would definitely serve your needs best, although downtown is an okay place, too. Unfortunately that nice, authentic private street shopping corner in Sugarhouse is going away, but some of them might reopen in the same place after the condos come in, and some of them are relocating very nearby (in fact, I think the coffee shop is moving just across the street, or very close).

I live in the Sugarhouse area and enjoy it a lot. You have just about everything you need close by. And if you're coming from California, then the pay won't be as good (since California has such a high minimum wage), but the living standards (bah, my mind is off right now, is that the term I'm looking for?) aren't as high, either (especially if you lived in San Diego).

And the commute between South Jordan and Salt Lake City in the "wrong" direction shouldn't be a problem. Even with traffic during rush hour, it doesn't often back up enough to significantly affect travel times.

If you're not used to snow, though, winter will definitely take some getting used to.

[Eerriinn]

[quote=asiasd;1271696]

Originally Posted by kaytidid

But I did read somewhere on this forum how In-N-Out burger was not allowed to expand into Utah because their wages are above the average wage in fast food industry. Can't find this thread now (of course). Maybe I just misinterpreted what somebody else said.

Not quite sure about this ... being from California and a frequent visitor to In-N-Out ... they've always said they won't build a store further away than a day's drive away from their food facilities because they refuse to freeze their meat.

And it is true about an In-N-Out coming to St. George - it's listed as a "coming soon" location in their restaurants down here.

[bob rulz]

[quote=Eerriinn;1300814]

Originally Posted by asiasd

Not quite sure about this ... being from California and a frequent visitor to In-N-Out ... they've always said they won't build a store further away than a day's drive away from their food facilities because they refuse to freeze their meat.

And it is true about an In-N-Out coming to St. George - it's listed as a "coming soon" location in their restaurants down here.

St. George is barely further away than Las Vegas; another hour's drive. I WISH they would come up here; that's a good place.

[Eerriinn]

[quote=bob rulz;1304775]

Originally Posted by Eerriinn

St. George is barely further away than Las Vegas; another hour's drive. I WISH they would come up here; that's a good place.

It IS a great place! I'm moving to Utah in 2 weeks and it's definitely one of the things I'll miss most (besides the no snow thing!)