Santa Rosa-Neighborhoods (Napa, Rohnert Park, Sonoma: hardwood floors, section 8, apartments)

[kevgopala]

I would not invest in the Roseland area. Roseland has always been a more run down part of town. If you are looking at the newer homes down Sebastopol Rd. They may look nice and new, but some people living there are not law abiding citizens (higher crime rate in that area). There are quite a few gang members in the area. My son's teacher lives there and she said it is very hard to find a parking spot on the streets, because so many homes have multiple (extended) families. She does not feel safe there. I would not consider anything South of Hwy 12 (south Santa Rosa).

Wow, we were down there recently and it actually looked pretty nice. We're talking about the Campoy area of Roseland. This changes the picture dramatically!

Is gang activity bad here? Is it Santa Rosa-wide? How would we be affected by gang activity if we're adults in late 30s and older?

Thanks for the feedback! Almost marched into trouble there!

[calif]

I wouldn't tell my worst enemy (not that I have any ) to move to Roseland. It really is in the top 2 worst places to live in Santa Rosa. Probably why it is so affordable.

[smiles]

I have lived in Santa Rosa my entire life (born 40 yrs ago and raised). So for me, the gang problem is huge. We never had gang issues when I was a kid. But Roseland has always been the pit of Santa Rosa. Other areas that we always avoid would be West 9th, Indian Village, South Park by the fairgrounds, Hearn Ave/Corby, and basically anything south of Hwy 12 on either side of 101.

Some nicer area's are Skye Hawk out on Hwy 12, Fountain Grove, Coffee Park on the west side of the tracts (I drove through there yesterday and the east side has gone down hill), east of Montgomery Village, some areas of Bennett Valley, Annadel (sp?), Montecito Heights, Proctor Terrace, Santa Rosa Golf and Country Club area and Oakmont if you are over 55.

I am sure there are more, but that is just off the top of my head. You will notice there is a price difference when you compare the bad and nice parts of town. Rule of thumb, if it is under $400K check the area carefully.

Hope that helps.

[kevgopala]

I have lived in Santa Rosa my entire life (born 40 yrs ago and raised). So for me, the gang problem is huge. We never had gang issues when I was a kid. But Roseland has always been the pit of Santa Rosa. Other areas that we always avoid would be West 9th, Indian Village, South Park by the fairgrounds, Hearn Ave/Corby, and basically anything south of Hwy 12 on either side of 101.

Some nicer area's are Skye Hawk out on Hwy 12, Fountain Grove, Coffee Park on the west side of the tracts (I drove through there yesterday and the east side has gone down hill), east of Montgomery Village, some areas of Bennett Valley, Annadel (sp?), Montecito Heights, Proctor Terrace, Santa Rosa Golf and Country Club area and Oakmont if you are over 55.

I am sure there are more, but that is just off the top of my head. You will notice there is a price difference when you compare the bad and nice parts of town. Rule of thumb, if it is under $400K check the area carefully.

Hope that helps.

Thanks for all the info! I have just been feeding all those area names into google maps to work out which are where. I was able to find all of them except for "Coffee Park" and "Indian Village". Is Indian Village the area where all the streets are named after Native American tribes? I guess if Fountaingrove is a nice area, it must be the up-in-the-hills part. I don't see anything to write home about from the part down near Journey's End.

Another question I have is about the Transit Mall. We have caught buses into that mall a few times and noticed its not all that endearing. Would you consider it a dangerous place? Or is it just less than attractive? Would a woman on her own be advised to change buses there? Even I as a 6ft bloke felt it was worth getting eye contact with a few of the passers-by. Downtown has some nice shops so it'd be great if my wife could travel there on her own and not be at risk.

[smiles]

Coffee Park is Coffee Lane on the east to Fulton Rd on the west and Piner Rd on the south. There is no real border on the north, it just runs into fields. If you look at the google satelite photo you should be able to see the old railroad tracks down the middle of that area. Like I said east of the track has gone down hill. There are a lot of houses for sale on the east side, but they are very run down. Stay to the west. Also, Fulton Rd is like a highway, it is a very busy 4 lane road. It took us a long time to sell a house that backed up to Fulton Rd., because of the noise.

Indian Village is W. Steele Lane down the middle to Marlow Rd on the west, Guerneville Rd on the south and maybe Russell Ave on the north. I am not to sure what road borders the east, but I would avoid that area all the way to the freeway. I thnk there are a lot of streets with indian names.

Fountain Grove is up the hill from Mendocino Ave. Journey's End is a run down mobile home park. Chanate Rd is nice and Brush Creek Rd.

There are places in town that I will not go to at night. The Plaza being one of them. There are areas that I will not go to during the day. The transit mall and the attached parking garage being one of them. I personally shop in Montgomery Village or Coddingtown. I feel OK going downtown during the day, but I am very aware of my surroundings.

[kevgopala]

Thanks very much smiles! This info has helped our decision making quite a lot.

[KOLAKING]

Do what we have done and subscribe to the Press Democrat, you can learn alot about the goings on there. Or, just read directly off of their web page. I like to get an actual paper myself. I'ts 20$ a month for sundays delivered outside CA.

[j dalton]

I would have to agree about the Roseland area but I live next to the JC, right by Steele Lane and I would have to disagree about it being a dangerous area. It's a city so you should lock your car but I've never felt unsafe in my neighborhood. The prices are probably more reasonable than Montgomery Village and Bennett Valley and it's extremely close to amenities.

Sebastopol is cute but crazy over-priced!

[kevgopala]

I suppose our opinion sprung from about 3 visits from myself, one with my wife in tow, down to that JC shopping area. We went and returned by bus, dunno if we'll ever afford a car!

The folks were all a bit scary-seeming, the Longs was so dirty! Rubbish lying in the aisles. Mind you the Safeway side was a bit nicer.

I decided after waiting for the bus back not to bring my wife there anymore. Just seemed "dodgy".

[ElaetiaPhyn]

It's smaller, the place is cleaner and it's only a short distance from Santa Rosa. The homes are nicer & newer as well.

If you set on SR though, look further north or east of the main area. Very nice property out that way, beautiful views.

Good luck