Temecula / Murrieta's Future??? Will It Turn Into The High Desert?? (San Diego: versus, areas)

[MIKEETC]

Originally Posted by CheckingThingsOut

I am referring mostly to the very low income housing that is going in, and the unemployment rate. Here is one article TEMECULA: County finds financing for low-income housing project : North County Times - Californian 07-19-2009

From my understanding much of what happened to the victorville area was from low income housing. I don't want to set up roots here only to have it turn into something like the high desert.

The low-income housing project described in that article was originally built for senior housing. The developer went into foreclosure and left the project only partially completed. As you already stated, you don't want a half-completed project; I think there are few viable alternatives. Keep in mind that only 20 of the 110-unit complex will be used for low-income housing. The other units will most likely be market-rate rentals. That last point is an assumption based on what I have observed in similar arrangements.

[Donn2390]

Originally Posted by CheckingThingsOut

I am referring mostly to the very low income housing that is going in, and the unemployment rate. Here is one article TEMECULA: County finds financing for low-income housing project : North County Times - Californian 07-19-2009

From my understanding much of what happened to the victorville area was from low income housing. I don't want to set up roots here only to have it turn into something like the high desert.

I've lived in the High Desert for five years. I don't see any problems, the area is growing and new industry is moving in. I'm very happy here.
I think perhaps you are mis-informed....
The problems here are the same as everywhere, no jobs..!

[CheckingThingsOut]

I have family up there and visit often. We have definitely seen a big change, as have they, especially in the last 3 years. The other day they showed me a paper that says Victoville has a higher crime rate than LA. And when I looked up on the crime map it appeared to be true.

[user_id]

Originally Posted by CheckingThingsOut

The other day they showed me a paper that says Victoville has a higher crime rate than LA.

Even if true that is not saying much, most of Los Angeles ranges from modest to little crime.

[Dadshall]

Checking,

An article for you to consider:
REGION: State budget hammers redevelopment agencies : North County Times - Californian 07-29-2009

Ironically, California's budget woes may kill the low income housing in the area...

[marshallnoise]

I have no idea about how low income housing would make Temecula into the High Desert.

All I know is that low income housing is a **** poor idea. I would rather leave that place undeveloped or partially developed than bring in drugs, crime, and trashy neighborhoods.

[Donn2390]

Originally Posted by CheckingThingsOut

I have family up there and visit often. We have definitely seen a big change, as have they, especially in the last 3 years. The other day they showed me a paper that says Victoville has a higher crime rate than LA. And when I looked up on the crime map it appeared to be true.

Been here five years, the only crime I've seen is on the TV shows.... If you aren't looking for trouble, you won't find any...

[eclipxe]

Temecula/Murrieta will be fine. The more I read on the condo conversion the more palatable it seems. While not my first choice, it is what it is. There is already a HUGE amount of low-income housing along Pujol St. I usually avoid this area due to its reputation, but I decided to take a trip out there to see what's the latest. I tell you one thing - Temecula knows how to make low-income housing attractive and thoughtful. 10 yrs ago Pujol was a dump. Now Pujol looks better than many middle income parts of Perris/Riverside/San Bernardino. I mean you can still tell it's not the best part of town, but it's really not bad. I didn't feel unsafe at all.

Now remember - Pujol has been low-income for many, many years. We should see the generational effects (low income parents -> children into crime and drugs/etc). I did not see the obvious signs here. Looked like a normal, working-class area with a mix of SFRs and apartments. There was a known gang in the area 10 yrs ago but it has since disbanded. I did not see obvious graffiti, broken down cars, broken windows, etc. The usual signs of a depressed neighborhood were not apparent.

That gave me more hope that the low-income project on Margarita will be no biggie. You have to think about what low-income actually means out here - $20k-$45k. That is the *median* for many, many cities in SoCal and beyond. Our median is already $90k+, so you can imagine that our low-income housing is a bit less dangerous.

BTW - A lot of the blight in the high desert is not necessarily due to low income housing (although it is a component) but more so the loss of jobs (George AFB closure) and the Federal Prison close by. That, combined with weather and proximity to the coast and job centers is a major factor in the decline of the high desert. The Victorville median is $39k. Our low-income residents in Temecula would be "just average" in Victorville. Something to really think about...

Again, I can't stress how much a factor location plays. Temecula is 17 miles (straight line) from the Pacific Ocean. It is the closest city in the IE to the Ocean. Victorville is 65 miles to the coast. At least an 1hr 15 to the nearest job center. (OC or LA). Temecula is within 45 minutes of North San Diego Jobs, 1hr to OC, 1hr 15 to LA.

There is a reason the Temecula median income is $90k and the Victorville median is $39k. There's a reason why despite home values crashing, Temecula's median home price is 2x Victorville's...

[Dadshall]

Eclipxe,

I was thinking about what you wrote too. Do you know what people were paying then as compared to now? I don't but would like to find out.

In areas of Anaheim where drugs, gangs, and crime were rampant, the city tore the existing dump down and rebuilt it. It is still considered low income but the area became too expensive for the undesirables to live there.

I'm wondering if that happened on Pujol because you are right. I looks a lot better than it did 10 years ago.

[sarahkate_m]

Before you buy a house or land: check the zoning department for future plans of HIGH DENSITY in & around your intended neighborhood. You can learn from my unfortunate experience. Don't take the real estate agent's word for it either: see it with your own eyes!!!!

In my opinion:

Murrieta & Temecula are going downhill: corruption rules in the planning departments: they're calling in the zoning time limits to build out: overcrowding has begun. They will change existing agreements shared at public meetings to suit the people with the big bucks: the land developers. I experienced this for myself.

In Murrieta, behind Via Las Lomas, a huge 3 story apartment complex has gone in with over (my estimate) 1000 occupants. Wouldn't you estimate that 300 apartments would average about 3 people per apartment???

That's a lot of cars to clog the streets. Oh, the complex was supposed to be just stair-welled, too. No elevators. Who would want to be the fireman called to rescue people from that place if it was on fire???

In 2004, I moved out before the apartment building was finished. The complex blocked the view of the plateau, which was really the only reason for living on Via Las Lomas.

There was a creek in a meadow behind Via Las Lomas that had gnatcatching bird species... I even spotted a rare glimpse of quail in a vacant lot nearby, before I moved. The fish & wildlife people are impossible to get ahold of... So I had no luck communicating with anyone on a federal level about the endangered birds living around that "golden triangle" area. The meadow & the view were awesome. Now it's just pavement with a run off creek...

When we bought our house, the agent said all the land behind our house was zoned for acreage lots only. She said not to worry about apartments going in - which is what we saw everywhwere we went looking for a house. What she didn't know was that the future zoning called for HIGH DENSITY. If she knew, she didn't tell us...

Alot of the land zoning in Murrieta is malleable with future plans in place for high density housing... The contractors who are hired are usually from Orange County & they don't see anything wrong with poor infrastructure.

Although I would hope for the best, I predict that Murrieta will become the ghetto zone for Temecula. Temecula has enough high end property owners to keep the riff raff from crowding their precious space.