Need to know about a specific neighborhood (Tucson, Oro Valley: house, rent)

[mdtoaz]

I know someone who's possibly selling a house that's near 22nd & Kolb.

I was wondering what the neighborhood's like. We're moving from Maryland around June and were going to rent a while so we could find something to buy.

This woman is selling her mother's house in that neighborhood, but she's in Maryland too and doesn't seem to know too much about it. Is it a decent? Is it crime/drug/gang rampant? Should I save my airfare and not bother checking it out?

I know a lot of people seem to not like Tucson on this board, but I'm hoping I can get some honest opinions just on this specific neighborhood.

Thanks!!

[Amybear]

I don't think 22nd & Kolb is considered a "bad" neighborhood...
I bike over there quite a bit...it's a relatively populated area with a strip of stores (supermarket, hair salon, fast food, etc) right there on the corner.
I've always heard that as a rule....it's the area south of Golf Links that you don't want to go wantering around in.
That's all I can say from my experience...and I just moved here in February.

*By the way...don't let all the negativity on these boards get you down.
Tucson is one of the most physically beautiful cities I've ever seen..the mountains,,the cacti, the Spanish /Native American designs to the buildings around town..it's a lovely city.
There is crime, yes. There are drugs,,yes.
But where wouldn't you find these things in any American town?
Like any city..there are good neighborhoods..and bad in Tucson.
But for the most part...it's just fine.
Hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

[june]

Originally Posted by Amybear

I don't think 22nd & Kolb is considered a "bad" neighborhood...
I bike over there quite a bit...it's a relatively populated area with a strip of stores (supermarket, hair salon, fast food, etc) right there on the corner.
I've always heard that as a rule....it's the area south of Golf Links that you don't want to go wantering around in.
That's all I can say from my experience...and I just moved here in February.

*By the way...don't let all the negativity on these boards get you down.
Tucson is one of the most physically beautiful cities I've ever seen..the mountains,,the cacti, the Spanish /Native American designs to the buildings around town..it's a lovely city.
There is crime, yes. There are drugs,,yes.
But where wouldn't you find these things in any American town?
Like any city..there are good neighborhoods..and bad in Tucson.
But for the most part...it's just fine.
Hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

FINALLY SOMETHING POSITIVE. THANK YOU IT WAS GETTING SCARY THERE FOR A WHILE. THIS BOARD HATES TUCSON.AND VERY LITTLE PEOPLE GO ON AND TALK, IT ALMOST TELLS YOU SOMETHING ABOUT TUCSON PEOPLE! WHERE DID YOU MOVE FROM ANYWAYS/?

[mdtoaz]

Thanks for the input. I'm looking forward to moving out there despite the negativity on the board. Everytime I've been out there, people are very nice... I guess it's the anonymity of message boards that does something to people.

[ChrissyR]

I love Tucson and I've lived here for nine years. I'm an Ohio native originally. I'm not on these boards a lot. The summers can be opressive but I will take the heat over snow and ice any day.

[Zippy7fo]

Originally Posted by ChrissyR

I love Tucson and I've lived here for nine years. I'm an Ohio native originally. I'm not on these boards a lot. The summers can be opressive but I will take the heat over snow and ice any day.

I'm from Ohio as well....Amen to that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! People have no idea what winter feels like....Arizona is a dream.....

[mdtoaz]

Maryland's winters aren't as bad as they used to be when I was a kid, but it seems like we get a lot of ice now. I must admit though, I was hoping we'd get one last Noreaster before we moved.

[aussiegal]

We have very dear friends who live exactly in the neighborhood of 22nd St and Kolb. They can afford to live elsewhere but choose to stay there. That says something for it, I think. My husband is from Tucson and we have lived there on and off over the years as we came and went overseas (we were missionaries, not in the service). We both love Tucson and if our children weren't settled here in the Pacific NW, we would call Tucson "home". Our last address was in Oro Valley. We loved it!!!

[Mar1lyn27]

I love Tucson! Really, I do!
My oldest daughter is attending a grad program at the university, and moved there last July.

Yes, it was hotter than hot, but it was D - R - Y....hence comfortable. We had no problem running around looking at apartments all day. If it was the east coast we would have wilted after an hour. It's blissfully dry until monsoon season....also not such a big deal.

I'm a native NY'er for 50+ yrs and I thought it was divine. Granted, daughter lives in the catalina foothills area. It's expensive - for Tucson, and it is stunning. She has a beautiful 1br apt in a gated community with lots of amenities. Her monthly rent is about half what a garage spot in manhattan would cost. Her apartment has a balcony and faces those gorgeous mountain panoramas. Her friends who now live in manhattan are paying 3 or 4 times what she does, for a small bedroom in a 2 or 3 br apt.

There is crime there; significantly higher than the national average. I read somewhere that it varies in different parts of the city. The northern part has much lower crime. I'd be curious to see the stats on crime in different areas of Tucson.

I found everyone to be very friendly. Everyone knew I was from NY the minute I opened my mouth, but they were very nice. No, "I HATE NY'ers" like some other states. It was pretty funny. Loads of NY'ers moving there too.

The down side for me? Lack of dining variety; if you love mexican you'll be fine. I can take it or leave it. I love jewish deli; there is only one there, and it's quite mediocre. Also, it's landlocked, and I'm used to the beaches on Long Island. Auto insurance is very high, almost as high as NY.

There's an artsy feel to the city and there's plenty to do. Day trips from the area are also fun.

My daughter only has one more year for school there and will probably move elsewhere to wherever the jobs are in her field. I'll miss it!!

BTW, she lives on North Kolb....dunno if that's near the area you mentioned.

[hoppysing]

22nd and Kolb is not a nice area. I lived there 18 years ago and have moved back to Tucson. It still isn't nice. Go further south past the I 10 to the new development. Prices are reasonable. No street lights mean you see the stars at night. Nice neighborhood with a park.