How do you feel about Chula Vista? (San Diego, Oceanside: crime, house)

[shmoov_groovzsd]

Pretty interesting feedback that was done countywide.

Folks that i know that live there really like it, the responses outside of CV were not all too surprising with 6/10 people having a negative perception (as in unsafe.)

What do you guys think?

Survey reveals negative perception of Chula Vista - 10News.com KGTV ABC10 San Diego

[Red Chili]

My brother just bought a house there. I think Chula Vista is a nice city. I think it gets a bad rap like Oceanside does. I will tell you, when my husband got orders to Camp Pendleton in 2007 I was nervous about it because all the negative things I read online about it. We had only previously live in Chula Vista-no less, around 2000-2003 and did not really know much about Oceanside. Everything I read was how the gangs are all over, how the schools are awful etc etc etc. When we got there I couldn't believe how nice it was and friendly everyone was. My only complaint about the school is that they are overcrowded, but the Oceanside school district does a really nice job at trying to deal with that the best they can-being that there is a huge military community there it was not uncommon for my kid's classrooms to get a new student monthly. I never once felt unsafe around Oceanside even at night. Yes the downtown area is a little rough around the edges, but I kind of like that in a way, it looks like a true beach town. I guess what I am trying to say, that I never take anyone's word for it unless I have personal experience. All people say about the midwest is how great the educational system is here, highest graduation rates etc but in all honesty my kids were ahead academically when we moved here.

[malcorub16]

I remember when Chula Vista made one of the Forbe's list as "most boring cities in America" along side several Arizona cities.

In Pictures: America's 10 Most Boring Cities - Forbes

I am sure if you live in Chula Vista its fine as I don't perceive it as dangerous or seedy, but there is no real reason for me to go there. When I go to a concert at the Ampitheatre or to the water park, those places are so far removed from the core of Chula Vista that I don't really think of it as "I am going to Chula Vista." I am just going to a concert or the water park.

The J Street marina is nice and all, but I am certainly not taking my out of town guests there over Coronado or La Jolla, again, maybe if I lived in Chula Vista but I don't.

For me, Chula Vista is and continues to be the place I have to drive thru in order to get to Tijuana.

[elchevere]

I welcome the diversity of Chula Vista and some of the neighborhoods within the city such as Bonita and Eastlake. I am white and have no problem blending in with the Latino community. To me, it provides me the opportunity to get the Tijuana dining experience without crossing the border (though if I am in a pinch for Cuban Cigars, hello border and La Casa del Habano). Others do not feel the same way; hence the negative feelings from them. I wonder how many of these people have actually spent time in the city.

[Losfrisco]

Only reason I've ever had to go there is to go to the shopping center with the Apple Store and Barnes & Noble.....however, now there is another pretty good reason to go there-Manna Korean BBQ!!

[Recycledlettuce]

I can't really speak from the perspective of someone who has lived there, but after a lot of searching, we have decided to live in the Otay Ranch area (have an offer accepted - first time buyers!!.)

I am coming from this with the perspective of someone who has lived in Memphis for the past 10 years or so, so maybe I am biased... but I wandered all around Chula Vista, La Mesa, Lemon Grove and never felt unsafe walking around by myself (I am a female.) Memphis is consistently ranked in top 10 for worst crime though - so maybe someone coming from say, Carlsbad, would have a different perspective.

I used to live in San Marcos for a while, and actually found areas in Escondido nearby that I felt more unsafe in than CV.

I am very excited to be moving to the area - will keep you all posted on before/after feelings!

Originally Posted by shmoov_groovzsd

Pretty interesting feedback that was done countywide.

Folks that i know that live there really like it, the responses outside of CV were not all too surprising with 6/10 people having a negative perception (as in unsafe.)

What do you guys think?

Survey reveals negative perception of Chula Vista - 10News.com KGTV ABC10 San Diego

[malcorub16]

Originally Posted by malcorub16

I remember when Chula Vista made one of the Forbe's list as "most boring cities in America" along side several Arizona cities.

In Pictures: America's 10 Most Boring Cities - Forbes

I am sure if you live in Chula Vista its fine as I don't perceive it as dangerous or seedy, but there is no real reason for me to go there. When I go to a concert at the Ampitheatre or to the water park, those places are so far removed from the core of Chula Vista that I don't really think of it as "I am going to Chula Vista." I am just going to a concert or the water park.

The J Street marina is nice and all, but I am certainly not taking my out of town guests there over Coronado or La Jolla, again, maybe if I lived in Chula Vista but I don't.

For me, Chula Vista is and continues to be the place I have to drive thru in order to get to Tijuana.

I forgot about Otay Lakes County Park.

County of San Diego: Otay Lakes County Park


Its a nice treat to visit and is not as crowded as say Lake Miramar up north or Lake Murray in the East. But again, if I go there I don't think of it as I am going to Chula Vista and its also not a real destination for most folks even those that live in the nearby suburbs.

[LuvSouthOC]

Well, there are good things about Chula Vista to be sure. And I agree that it is not as bad as its rep suggests. It also has some pretty nice areas with newer homes and a few spots that offer some terrific views of downtown! It also has a decent playhouse which has brought me there a few times years ago (not sure how it is now). However, if I had kids, I would under no circumstances send my kids to public school there no matter how nice my neighborhood and views were. It tends to be more of a drive-thru kind of place as there is little draw to the area.

But National City is another matter altogether as compared to Chula Vista. I am not going there unless it is to buy a car and leave.

[rosa surf]

I laugh when people think Chula Vista is dangerous. It is the unfamiliarity and the misinformed/racist notion that all areas near the border are bad. It represents suburbia living to the max- boring with nothing for youth to do but hang out at the mall.

The only thing I miss about CV is that it truly is a bilingual city. People there speak both languages well and there is good Mexican food everywhere, unlike other areas. You have nice restaurants for all types of Mexican food that you don't see in other areas- seafood, steak, juice and fruit establishments, breakfast places, etc... It isnt bombarded with mediocre taco shops like the rest of SD.

[oddstray]

I think Chula Vista is large enough and varied enough that any survey asking about the whole of Chula Vista is nonsense.