Thoughts on this location...Burlingame...Ivy St & Fern St (San Diego: appointed, for rent)
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Thoughts on this location...Burlingame...Ivy St & Fern St
I am moving from Chicago to give SD a try. I found a room for rent in Burlingame. It seems to be sandwiched between South and North Park. It is around $650 including everything and is furnished. Month to month. It is owner occupied and well kept. It has 3 bedrooms and 2 baths. The other bedroom is empty and will be sometimes occupied since the owner of the house houses international language students occasionally.
I am 30, Asian, gay, new to the city, active, likes to be able to walk to cafes, restaurants, shopping. Things don't seem to be too far from the house...Hillcrest and Balbo Park. Getting to the beach doesn't seem to be too bad. I prefer a neighborhood that is more indie feel to it. I do have a car, it seems like access to 805, 94, and 15 seem to be pretty good.
Is $650 reasonable for a room in this area? I am looking to spend $500-$650 with utilities and furnished. Are there any other areas to look at? I plan on coming in a week or so and stay in a hotel for a week to look for a room. You can only do so much looking on Craigslist and emailing. I figured I can just take something and then look harder for something that fits me more. But, looking at google maps this doesn't seem to be too bad of an option.
you will not be disappointed with the location, its great given what you describe as types of places you like. Hopefully the room is nice, and the owner not crazy.
Great location. You will be a few blocks north of the restaurant row and mini-downtown of South Park. It will be an easy drive to downtown North Park at University & 30th or downtown Hillcrest at University & 5th Avenue, or the Gaslamp at 5th Avenue between Broadway and Island Avenue. And all these alternative commercial locations can be reached by mass transit if you want to get there cheaply, drink, and take a cab back.
Lots of historic architecture around this area that will make for pleasant evening and weekend walks on streets lined with craftsman bungalows, some Spanish Colonial Revival houses, a few Victorians and a few Art Decos. Balboa Park will be fairly close, though you won't be particularly close to the most active parts of the park on the west side where the museums are, or the north east side where the athletic facilities are.
As for rent, with everything included, (I'm assuming that means gas & electric, water & sewer, and cable & internet) for such a highly desirable location, $650 sounds quite decent. Separately, these utilities would probably have cost you $100-$125 per month.
South Park was a community with issues back in the 70s, 80s, and 90s. And to some degree it still has some remnants of the 'hood' lurking to the south in Golden Hill. But we are talking small potatoes as in graffiti and car break ins, and that some parts of the neighborhood just don't have enough street lights. But these issues haven't prevented the return of families with kids. If you know how the cycle goes, the population ages, an area shows signs of decay and neglect, hoodlums move in, crime and graffiti spread, and an area gets a reputation. Then the gays move in for the architecture and spruce things up. They are followed by the DINKs who move in because they like the improvements that have been made by the gays, but aren't willing to commit to raising kids in the area. Finally couples with kids start to return to an area. South Park is at the stage where the young couples with kids are coming back.
You have made a good choice but for alternatives, just because you said you wanted them, try University Heights or Normal Heights.
Edit: And what Cruitr said, Burlingame is known for its distinctive red/pink sidewalks and its historic district. You may not be located IN the actual historic district.
Last edited by kettlepot; 03-07-2012 at 07:38 PM..
Great location. You will be a few blocks north of the restaurant row and mini-downtown of South Park. It will be an easy drive to downtown North Park at University & 30th or downtown Hillcrest at University & 5th Avenue, or the Gaslamp at 5th Avenue between Broadway and Island Avenue. And all these alternative commercial locations can be reached by mass transit if you want to get there cheaply, drink, and take a cab back.
Lots of historic architecture around this area that will make for pleasant evening and weekend walks on streets lined with craftsman bungalows, some Spanish Colonial Revivals houses, and a few Victorians and Art Deco houses. Balboa Park will be fairly close, though you won't be particularly close to the most active parts of the park on the west side where the museums are, or the north east side where the athletic facilities are.
As for rent, with everything included, (I'm assuming that means gas & electric, water & sewer, and cable & internet) for such a highly desirable location, $650 sounds quite decent. Separately, these utilities would probably have cost you $100-$125 per month.
South Park was a community with issues back in the 70s, 80s, and 90s. And to some degree it still has some remnants of the 'hood' lurking to the south in Golden Hill. But we are talking small potatoes as in graffiti and car break ins, and that some parts of the neighborhood just don't have enough street lights. But these issues haven't prevented the return of families with kids. If you know how the cycle goes, the population ages, an area shows signs of decay and neglect, hoodlums move in, crime and graffiti spread, and an area gets a reputation. Then the gays move in for the architecture and spruce things up. They are followed by the DINKs who move in because they like the improvements that have been made by the gays, but aren't willing to commit to raising kids in the area. Finally couples with kids start to return to an area. South Park is at the stage where the young couples with kids are coming back.
You have made a good choice but for alternatives, just because you said you wanted them, try University Heights or Normal Heights.
Edit: And what Cruitr said, Burlingame is known for its distinctive red/pink sidewalks and its historic district. You may not be located IN the actual historic district.
Kettlepot, are the schools catching up to the demographics of the neighborhood or are they still in transition?
Kettlepot, are the schools catching up to the demographics of the neighborhood or are they still in transition?
I don't know. That's why I always suggest to posters that they can go the charter school route if the local schools still don't measure up. However, at some point the neighborhood should turn around enough that people can just send their kids to the local school.
I don't know. That's why I always suggest to posters that they can go the charter school route if the local schools still don't measure up. However, at some point the neighborhood should turn around enough that people can just send their kids to the local school.
Yes, and this is the dilemma: Drive your kids to charter schools all over the city, assuming you can get a spot in one; most having waiting lists. I know, I know, there's one in golden hill; it's an english/german IB immersion program-not necessarily a match for every family, and wait lists often, to boot. I've heard Bernie in univ. heights has made great strides, or attempts anyway, as a new IB k-8 neighborhood school, but it's taking time, after decades of decay, to refresh a school's culture.
Anyway, sorry to sidetrack further, OP! Enjoy your new digs/move!
Yes, and this is the dilemma: Drive your kids to charter schools all over the city, assuming you can get a spot in one; most having waiting lists. I know, I know, there's one in golden hill; it's an english/german IB immersion program-not necessarily a match for every family, and wait lists often, to boot. I've heard Bernie in univ. heights has made great strides, or attempts anyway, as a new IB k-8 neighborhood school, but it's taking time, after decades of decay, to refresh a school's culture.
Anyway, sorry to sidetrack further, OP! Enjoy your new digs/move!
Yea, my apologies to the OP, Congrats on your new spot, it sound like a great place!
Thanks to everyone else for answering my question!!
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