Pomona Ave. in La Mesa... safe? (San Diego, El Cajon: apartment complexes, homes, safe neighborhood)

[Marghareta Alston-Towels]

I am looking at a property along Pomona Ave. in La Mesa. It's affordable, perhaps due to its many cosmetic defects (nothing a few cans of paint can't fix). But I am worried about the overall area. I know La Mesa is a pretty safe neighborhood, but I've read some posts that claim there are less desirable areas there. Is this one of them? It's between University Ave. and El Cajon Blvd. - a few blocks east of 70th.

[Sassberto]

Originally Posted by Marghareta Alston-Towels

I am looking at a property along Pomona Ave. in La Mesa. It's affordable, perhaps due to its many cosmetic defects (nothing a few cans of paint can't fix). But I am worried about the overall area. I know La Mesa is a pretty safe neighborhood, but I've read some posts that claim there are less desirable areas there. Is this one of them? It's between University Ave. and El Cajon Blvd. - a few blocks east of 70th.

I live in the area and have written several posts about it. Yes, this is the less desirable part of La Mesa. It is not the greatest area in San Diego but generally speaking your personal safety is not something you should have to worry about. Property safety can be an issue but just take reasonable precautions (lock doors and windows, maybe an alarm). There had been a rash of break-ins around 70th street earlier in the year but I do believe the guy got caught. Mostly he just walked into unlocked homes, which is unfortunately very common in San Diego.

El Cajon Blvd, 70th st. and University ave are pretty gross and not places you want to hang out at night, but you will have almost no reason to go there anyway, even during the day. It is not pretty to look at but once you are in the neighborhood it is not really something to worry about. There are some issues around the apartment complexes and immediate blocks off of the main streets, but assuming you are reasonable away from that it will not affect you.

The residential areas are mostly just older homeowners, lots of native and longtime San Diegans and their children. This is the "real" San Diego most people never see. No yuppies, yoga, surfers, here. Many retired and active duty military families. Many second-generation natives living in the home their parents owned raising their own young children. I have a friend over on Harbinson and they are happy over there. We walk over there all the time and ride bikes too. In fact we looked at several homes in that immediate area. This area is very quiet at night. DM me if you have more questions.