Optimal places within commute of Chula Vista (San Diego, Corona: apartments, rent)

[soccerphysio]

I may be offered a position in Chula Vista in the very near future. I have read the comments regarding the safety in CV, and have some mixed emotions about them.

If you were working in CV, what would be some of the more optimal areas to look to relocate a family with children? Not necessarily in CV itself, but any areas with a reasonable commute time.

For what it is worth, I am originally from NY, but my wife is from Alabama (where we currently reside). As a result, an area with a focus on families would be ideal.

[esmith143]

East CV is the only safe family-oriented area south of 8 that won't cost you an arm and a leg.

[bunky3301]

Originally Posted by soccerphysio

I may be offered a position in Chula Vista in the very near future. I have read the comments regarding the safety in CV, and have some mixed emotions about them.

If you were working in CV, what would be some of the more optimal areas to look to relocate a family with children? Not necessarily in CV itself, but any areas with a reasonable commute time.

For what it is worth, I am originally from NY, but my wife is from Alabama (where we currently reside). As a result, an area with a focus on families would be ideal.

Soccerphysio,

Have no worries....you can have the best of both worlds working and living in Chula Vista. I'm a easterner like yourself and my wife and I just left this past August to her next duty station in Maryland / DC area (wife is active duty Navy) or otherwise we would have never left Chula Vista.

All of Chula Vista IMO gets a bad rap. Its true if you look on a map the 805 divides Chula Vista in two almost. The west side is older and does have crime issues in some areas. Almost anywhere East of the 805 is very safe to live and raise a family. Eastlake is a great area with great schools and "THE" friendliest place I've ever lived and we have lived all over being military. There are very nice neighborhoods in addition to Eastlake like Rancho del Rey and Otay Ranch and others to come.Plenty of shopping and entertainment as well. The other best thing is that your only 15 to 20 minutes from downtown (depending on drive time), the airport , the beaches at Coronado which are very pristine.

Although the west part of Chula Vista is older and has some crime and more run down areas, its IMO has a certain charm to it as well. I also think that since the Eastern part of the City has almost been built out as far as it can go to the mountains to the East that the western part of Chula Vista will have to go through some kind of re-vitalization sometime in the next decade or maybe sooner.

My wife and I did alot of business along Broadway (auto work, some retail shopping and even the old Chula Vista Mall is making a come back.) Now I wouldn't want for my wife to shop there at night , but during the day we found there to be no problems. Just our experience, I'm sure others have there own opinion.

I think if you take a visit there and check out the area for yourself that you'll be very happy with what you find. I'm sure that you'll find that almost all of San Diego has a certain charm to it and it's like no other place you'll ever visit. True the most people come for the weather and all the outdoor activities the area has to offer. we came because my wifes work brought us there. But we fell in love with the area mostly because of how GREAT the people are there....anyway thats my 2 cents....can't wait to get back to Chula Vista...bunky

PS-by the way we do have small kids as well and want to raise them in Chula Vista when we get the chance to come back. We're lucky to live in a nice neighborhood outside of DC, but it's hell having to hear about a murder every other night here on the news. Every place has some crime, but San Diego's crime wasn't "violent" crime like it is in LA or NY and of course the murder capital DC........hope this helps...bunky

[soccerphysio]

That really does help a lot! My biggest concern is moving my wife and kids (who were all born and raised in Alabama) and getting into a situation that will be difficult to transition into. My in-laws are very religious, kind hearted people that where raised in the deep south, and with that comes a great deal of conservatism, which has been passed down to my wife to a small degree.

I have visited SD on 2 occasions for short periods, and absolutely loved it. However, I did not go into CV, and to be honest, the comments regarding the proximity to Mexico and the potential "bad element" that could come with that was concerning, mostly from a parent perspective.

I understand that there appears to be an "east" and "west" CV; are there any concerns regarding the bad sections rolling into the "good" sections? The 2 sections cannot be too far apart, in my estimation.

[bmd51]

Originally Posted by soccerphysio

That really does help a lot! My biggest concern is moving my wife and kids (who were all born and raised in Alabama) and getting into a situation that will be difficult to transition into. My in-laws are very religious, kind hearted people that where raised in the deep south, and with that comes a great deal of conservatism, which has been passed down to my wife to a small degree.

I have visited SD on 2 occasions for short periods, and absolutely loved it. However, I did not go into CV, and to be honest, the comments regarding the proximity to Mexico and the potential "bad element" that could come with that was concerning, mostly from a parent perspective.

I understand that there appears to be an "east" and "west" CV; are there any concerns regarding the bad sections rolling into the "good" sections? The 2 sections cannot be too far apart, in my estimation.

We split from there in 2002, felt like a minority.

[bunky3301]

Originally Posted by soccerphysio

That really does help a lot! My biggest concern is moving my wife and kids (who were all born and raised in Alabama) and getting into a situation that will be difficult to transition into. My in-laws are very religious, kind hearted people that where raised in the deep south, and with that comes a great deal of conservatism, which has been passed down to my wife to a small degree.

I have visited SD on 2 occasions for short periods, and absolutely loved it. However, I did not go into CV, and to be honest, the comments regarding the proximity to Mexico and the potential "bad element" that could come with that was concerning, mostly from a parent perspective.

I understand that there appears to be an "east" and "west" CV; are there any concerns regarding the bad sections rolling into the "good" sections? The 2 sections cannot be too far apart, in my estimation.

I'm a conservative person myself and there are plenty of churches in and around the whole San Diego area as well as Chula Vista of all faiths. I think that someone from any part of the country would like what Eastern Chula Vista has to offer. Of course theres the old saying "one look is worth a thousand words".

The question of the proximity of Mexico was a misconception of mine as well before I moved there. I saw no problem's with that at all. Many Mexican nationals do come to shop alot on the weekends in all San Diego which I think is great for the local economy. Most Mexicans that visit on the weekend in my opinion that I see shopping in Eastlake and Otay area are professionals and have families. The Latinos that live in Chula Vista are again mostly PROFESSIONALS and have lived here for generations. There a key component in my opinion of what makes the area so great. Even the Mexican nationals that do live in San Diego and of course are here on a legal work visa are as well "mostly" Professionals and very educated individuals as well. I never ONCE had any communication problem with anyone while I lived in Chula Vista.

Concerning the East and West sides and bad elements spilling over , in my opinion this won't ever be a problem. As I said in my prior post , the older section does have older homes and SOME poorer neighborhoods where there are apartments. But I use to go almost anywhere in the west part if I wanted to go down to the Chula Vista marina , or shop off of Broadway. Eat at Carrow's just outside of the Chula Vista Mall. Its also would be hard to find a house under $300,000 on the west side as well. So don't worry about the West affecting the East side.

Before I lived in Eastlake , we live for a year at Telegraph Canyon Rd (Canyon Villa Apartments) and the 805 which is right on the edge of the so-called dividing line and again we felt extremely safe.

I highly suggest you taking your wife there or anywhere in San Diego before you move there....and of course whatever you do I would first rent before you buy....again good luck to you. bunky

[bunky3301]

Originally Posted by bmd51

We split from there in 2002, felt like a minority.

I never felt like a minority, I found it very pleasing for a change that there wasn't any "racial" tensions in San Diego as a whole. A BIG , BIG change from living on the East coast and especially right here where were living now here in the Washington , DC area...and I'm from here originally.

Living in the San Diego area to me and my family was the fact that it was like having a load of bricks lifted off our shoulders living in a SAFE and racial free (for the most part, your going to have a bone head from any race at times) atomosphere to live in. What a breathe of fresh air for a change.

bmd51 are you sure you didn't leave for other reasons?

[soccerphysio]

Other than the Eastlake, Rancho Del Ray, and Otay Ranch communities, what other subdivisions would be worth a look (again, family friendly).

[bmd51]

Originally Posted by bunky3301

i never felt like a minority, i found it very pleasing for a change that there wasn't any "racial" tensions in san diego as a whole. A big , big change from living on the east coast and especially right here where were living now here in the washington , dc area...and i'm from here originally.

Living in the san diego area to me and my family was the fact that it was like having a load of bricks lifted off our shoulders living in a safe and racial free (for the most part, your going to have a bone head from any race at times) atomosphere to live in. What a breathe of fresh air for a change.

Bmd51 are you sure you didn't leave for other reasons?

nope!

[jksouthbay88]

I lived on the West Side of CV(Southwest and South Central) for 18 years now I'm on the East Side as of 2 years(Ranho Del Rey)and all three areas are ok.The developments of Otay Ranch,Eastlake,Sunbow,San Miguel Ranch are great places to live,but the whole "don't live West of the 805" thing seems to be a bunch of hype.I came from there and sure there are things that go on there,but Chula Vista has a population near 250,000 people;and the South Bay as a total has a little over 500,000 people.Things should happen with populations that size.As long as your not in the Northwest or Otay area of CV you should be fine.