New grad needs advice about Corona, CA! Please help! (Sacramento: apartments, rental)

[mjdc]

Hello everyone.

I'll be graduating in a few weeks from college and am looking for a job. There's a position that I'm applying for in Corona, CA. I'm originally from Sacramento, moved down to West LA three years ago, but I have also lived in Irvine for one year. I really like OC, and I don't really prefer LA. I do like suburban life. A job after college is a major decision, and I really need to consider all relavent factors.

Can anyone tell me about Corona. I have read the forums, and I get the idea that it is 'ok.' I'm not quite sure if I want to live there. I read that the 91 is horrible. How long would a commute from Corona to say Tustin or Irvine be during weeday traffic? Also, I have been reading that safety is an issue in Corona. One of the reasons why I like OC so much is b/c it is farely safe and some cities have been rated some of the safest. Corona, relative to other areas, has a much higher crime rating. This really concerns me. I've read in the forums to stay out of 'bad parts' like in 'old corona.' Where is old corona? I've been looking at a map. I haven't been to the city yet. I will go down there next week. I don't want to be driving in bad neighborhoods. If I do decide to live in Corona, are there nice rental apartments? If so, how much and which areas are nice for renting. Also, I'm still in my early-20's. Is there anything fun to do there besides movies and restaurants for people my age? Another thing. I hate hot weather! I'm from Sacramento and it gets very hot in the summer. This is another concern I have about the Corona.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks a bunch!

-mj

[Mel2882]

Okay, here's the deal! I am 25 and I live in the "old" part of Corona. Honestly, I don't go out walking by myself at night (I'm female) but I have never had a problem with safety here. You just have to make sure you know your surroundings and don't bother anyone. However, I am moving because honestly, to answer your question, there is nothing to do besides restaurants (chain ones) and movies. I moved for a job, but there is really nothing to do for young people. I can't tell you how long traffic will take you to get to Tustin/Irvine on a weekday, but I can say that it will take a long time. Traffic is heavy going that way in the morning. There are nicer areas here with nice apartments, but most are kind of expensive. You'll be fine driving through any area, but you'll be able to tell which part is the older part. I'd say the area of Home Gardens is probably the sketchiest...this is in the area south of McKinley/Magnolia. It gets very hot in the summer! Feel free to send me a private message if you have any other questions!

[Mel2882]

You probably know this, but Corona is in Riverside County, not OC.

[RobE]

I gave to agree about the very little to do in Corona part. It can be an okay bedroom community if you live in the good neighborhoods (I used to live off of Parkridge in a house and never had a problem in that area).

As far as the commute to and from Tustin/Irvine during rush hour, 45 minutes on a good day and over an hour on a bad one. Really, in the evening rush, the Riverside Fwy is often a literal parking lot.

[EscapeCalifornia]

Originally Posted by RobE

As far as the commute to and from Tustin/Irvine during rush hour, 45 minutes on a good day and over an hour on a bad one. Really, in the evening rush, the Riverside Fwy is often a literal parking lot.

And it'll be crazy slow when you wouldn't expect it. For example, I went out that way on a Saturday evening about 7 PM a few weeks ago. It was smooth sailing up the 55 but came to a stop at the 91. It then took an hour to crawl from the 55/91 to the 15/91 interchange. I truly hate that road. I can't imagine doing that 10 times a week.

[mjdc]

Thanks everyone!

See, after living in LA for so long, I'm tired of having to be restricted any time of day because of safety. I don't want to feel like I have to be watching my back at night or something. Even in the nice 'westside' of LA, i've had some bad experiences.

Ok, I'll take a look at the place next week and see what I think. I used to commute from Irvine to UCLA on the 405. Can anyone compare the 91 to the 405 during peak hours. As bad? Worse? Not as bad? What times are OK to drive and get by. While in LA, from experience, I learned what times are ok on the 405, and maybe it can be doable on the 91. Also, does anyone know of a vanpool that may go out there?

Also, I was thinking, how many people are actually commuting from Orange County to Corona/Riverside County anyway? I would think that more people are living in Corona/Riverside County b/c it's cheaper and then commuting to OC. It's just an assumption, or more like wishful thinking. I guess I was hoping that if I lived in Tustin/Irvine I would be going AGAINST major traffic to work in Corona in the morning. And vice versa during afternoon traffic. Am I wrong here?

Thanks again!

[Mel2882]

Sorry I guess I didn't read the first email too carefully...yes, traffic is better if you're going east in the morning and west in the evening. But you still can't count on it to be great.

[mjdc]

Originally Posted by Mel2882

Sorry I guess I didn't read the first email too carefully...yes, traffic is better if you're going east in the morning and west in the evening. But you still can't count on it to be great.

Thanks. I guess I'm just hoping and need input to ease my mind.

[sassieb75]

Originally Posted by mjdc

Thanks everyone!

See, after living in LA for so long, I'm tired of having to be restricted any time of day because of safety. I don't want to feel like I have to be watching my back at night or something. Even in the nice 'westside' of LA, i've had some bad experiences.

Ok, I'll take a look at the place next week and see what I think. I used to commute from Irvine to UCLA on the 405. Can anyone compare the 91 to the 405 during peak hours. As bad? Worse? Not as bad? What times are OK to drive and get by. While in LA, from experience, I learned what times are ok on the 405, and maybe it can be doable on the 91. Also, does anyone know of a vanpool that may go out there?

Also, I was thinking, how many people are actually commuting from Orange County to Corona/Riverside County anyway? I would think that more people are living in Corona/Riverside County b/c it's cheaper and then commuting to OC. It's just an assumption, or more like wishful thinking. I guess I was hoping that if I lived in Tustin/Irvine I would be going AGAINST major traffic to work in Corona in the morning. And vice versa during afternoon traffic. Am I wrong here?

Thanks again!

Isn't there some sort of rail system,not sure what it's called down there, but it's a train of some sort. The reason I say this is because a good friend of mine lived in corona and her husband worked in Irvine. He would take this train to and from work everyday. It was about an hour but he wasn't the one driving, being stuck in traffic.

[kturbe]

I have lot's of family in Corona and personally I like Orange County much better. Corona however is going thru a huge rehab and now starting to come into the 90's (yes 90's) in terms of things to do. I often go up to corona from the orange area and it takes me about 25 minutes via santiago canyon hope on 241 and it is breeze both ways. Rents are cheaper in corona then in the OC by a couple of hundred dollars a month.