Moving to SV - Question about Palo Alto Area & Safety/Palo Alto Vs. Sunnyvale (San Francisco: apartments)

[vi0let]

Hello,

Hoping someone can help me answer a few questions as I am looking to relocate from the Midwest and will likely live in or around Palo Alto for the first year. I'm open to other areas, though.

I am trying to distinguish what's East Palo Alto and what is Palo Alto while apartment hunting, which isn't that easy online because no one goes out and talks about it in their ads!

I'm considering a place south of Oregon Expressway in Palo Alto near Greer Park. Does anyone know the safety of that area? Is it far enough way from East Palo Alto, or should I keep looking? Safety is a prime concern. The place isn't that inexpensive, either...more than $1700 for a 2 bedroom.

I also see a lot of 2 bedrooms in Sunnyvale for 1500-1750. Is this maybe a better deal/place to live than Palo Alto?

I'm primarily concerned about safety and that the apartment takes pets (cat in my case). Decent parking is a plus, but I am most concerned with a good neighborhood.

[nmguy]

I lived in the Palo Alto neighborhood you mention, and I'm familiar with Sunnyvale. Without hesitation, I will tell you to live in the Palo Alto apartment, even though it is a bit more expensive.

The area is walkable, safe, and close to downtown Palo Alto, which has much more going for it than downtown Sunnyvale.

Good luck.

[vi0let]

Originally Posted by nmguy

I lived in the Palo Alto neighborhood you mention, and I'm familiar with Sunnyvale. Without hesitation, I will tell you to live in the Palo Alto apartment, even though it is a bit more expensive.

The area is walkable, safe, and close to downtown Palo Alto, which has much more going for it than downtown Sunnyvale.

Good luck.

This is great to hear, actually. I'm very much liking the apartment in Palo Alto but was concerned because when looking at a map East Palo Alto looks so close to downtown Palo Alto.

I have to get used to things being more condensed out there, I guess.

I appreciate you letting me know it's a good neighborhood!

[bigdumbgod]

Originally Posted by vi0let

East Palo Alto looks so close to downtown Palo Alto.

They are worlds apart, and they are bisected by the 101, and a small army of PA cops. EPA is actually improving, as major businesses are opening up stores there as a means of giving residents employment and the community a greater sense of pride and self-sufficiency (lowering incentive to run over to Palo Alto and steal stuff from rich people).

[gizmo980]

Originally Posted by bigdumbgod

They are worlds apart, and they are bisected by the 101, and a small army of PA cops. EPA is actually improving, as major businesses are opening up stores there as a means of giving residents employment and the community a greater sense of pride and self-sufficiency (lowering incentive to run over to Palo Alto and steal stuff from rich people).

Actually, EPA does go west of 101... I know because I used to live there, right off University and Woodland. EPA is still a high-crime neighborhood, even with the new businesses, but I survived just fine for almost 3 years - I actually kinda miss living there! And to the OP, the Bay Area is very large and condensed, so yes you will have to get used to "bad areas" being close. Here in San Francisco, we have multimillion dollar homes 1-2 blocks from crackhead alleys. Somehow those invisible lines do work, though, so you don't have to worry if the apartment is in PALO ALTO.

[gizmo980]

P.S. Any ad should specify EAST Palo Alto, so if you don't see that you can safely assume it's PA... they are different cities in different counties, and therefore they have to be specific.

[sonarrat]

Originally Posted by gizmo980

P.S. Any ad should specify EAST Palo Alto, so if you don't see that you can safely assume it's PA... they are different cities in different counties, and therefore they have to be specific.

Oh I've seen plenty of EPA properties advertised as being in PA.

Specials price for a special unit. Granite/ Pergo. Move-in special!
Phenomenal Location! Great Value, MUST SEE! Move-In Special!
-$1350 Studio & $1100-$1550 1BR, + Signing Bonus , Prof Res, Flex Rent
Creek Front Property! Reduced rent, w/ Move-In special!

[gizmo980]

Originally Posted by sonarrat

Oh I've seen plenty of EPA properties advertised as being in PA.

Specials price for a special unit. Granite/ Pergo. Move-in special!
Phenomenal Location! Great Value, MUST SEE! Move-In Special!
-$1350 Studio & $1100-$1550 1BR, + Signing Bonus , Prof Res, Flex Rent
Creek Front Property! Reduced rent, w/ Move-In special!

To be fair, the second listing says EAST PA pretty clearly in the ad - they just categorized it as being in Palo Alto. The first listing is right on the border, and might technically be PA... actually looks like a good place, and that street is okay in terms of crime. But yeah, that's pretty crappy if EPA landlords try to pretend they're in Palo Alto.

[sonarrat]

Originally Posted by gizmo980

To be fair, the second listing says EAST PA pretty clearly in the ad - they just categorized it as being in Palo Alto. The first listing is right on the border, and might technically be PA... actually looks like a good place, and that street is okay in terms of crime. But yeah, that's pretty crappy if EPA landlords try to pretend they're in Palo Alto.

That first one is basically on a corner with Menlo Park on one side, Palo Alto on another, and East Palo Alto apartments facing the freeway on the other. It also says "E. Palo Alto" very discreetly in the Google Maps link.