Anchorage, AK for Real!! (Hope, Northway: apartment complex, rentals, hotel)

[yambest]

Hey, you wonderful people in AK!! Happy New Year!! At the threshold of 2008 as I counted my blessings in 2007, I realized that I never got back to the forum to give my gratitude speech. So to save your eyes/ears and time, here's the "speech"-- THANK YOU!!

Thank to your invaluable information and sharing. My sister and I arrived Anchorage on 9/10 after 5 days of road trip from Seattle. That was quite some trip that neither of us would forget for the rest of our lives. Not to mention the breathtaking scenery here and there, we ran into herds of bison, caribous, dall sheep, etc. while driving 90-100miles/hr on Alcan highway. The buffalo burger over at Coal River Creek was just the most delicious meat we ever had. The paintings over at Watson Lake were spectacular... Hummm... if you give me time, I will go on and on and on about all the extraordinary things we encountered during the trip. The only regret was that the entire schedule of the trip appeared to be too tight for both my sister and me. Basically, we left Seattle 5 hours later than we planned because I had various things in Seattle to put a closure to.... You know... running like a chicken with its head cut off... Guess what? The funny thing was that we ended up canceling all the hotel reservations on our 2nd day of trip since it was too stressful to our body and mind having to drive 500 miles per day after the constant, packing/moving days in Seattle. Oh, well... my bad

So, wonder how I like it here? I guess I am liking it more and more (especially when the temperature goes up and when I see fresh snow during this cold season). People here are really nice, down-to-earth, and friendly... All seem great here, but are you waiting for that "but"?

Yep. There has been a concern here. It happened that out of my ignorance. I rented an apt around the area of Arctic and Northenlights. It was until I signed the contract that I realized that Spenard is just a few steps away from my building. For the past three months, I ran into drunkards in the laundry room, sitting next to my door, etc. I noticed strange people hanging around the building and on the street. My contract is for 6 months, which I don't think I can break it without penalty. So, if I am going to stay here for at least a couple more months, do you have any safety suggestions for me? For example, come home before a certain hour? Avoid walking alone around the area? Watch out for certain things when I leave early in the morning when it's still dark?

Basically, I am very active person and I love walking, jugging, running around where I live but I understand that this is not going to be a safe area to do so. Is there any safer place close by my area where I can do that?

Most of my new friends here suggest that I take a walk in the mall. (The air is somewhat dull...) In any case, if I am to take a walk in the mall, which one would you suggest? Sears mall is close, but tiny. Diamond Center mall appeared too crowded to me. 5th Ave mall seems to have some parking issue. Northway mall could be unsafe (as some of you mentioned in previous posts). Oh well, is there another one I missed so far?

Hummm... Didn't I start a thankful and exciting note? Well, I still am regardless what situation I have to handle here. Hope to hear from you wonderful people soon

[bongo]

Penney's parking garage is great if you have a small item that you need to purchase- they will validate your parking.

However, I feel perfectly safe in broad daylight walking the coastal trail or the Chester Creek trail. I love Kincaid Park.... moose is the only thing I watch out for since I have a dog. Glen Alps has a powerline trail that is almost a road that always seems perfectly safe to me since there always seems to be people around. The APU trails around the university area are also nice. I would avoid Chester Creek trail in the early morning hours or evening.

To tell you the truth, I utilize the trails daily summer, spring, winter & fall and always feel safe.

You have Chilcoot's right around the corner from you in your area to the north which gets rowdy at night. I know because I checked out those apartments at Arctic/N Lights for a new teacher and the manager even told me it gets crazy around there. She had rented sight-unseen from the internet. And yes, to the south is the heart of Spenard.


I would think if you sit down with the manager & tell them how unaware you were & how scared you are- tell them you fear you will be accosted in your laundry room or parking area- they should let you out of the lease. Tell them you need security to walk you to & from your car!

I'm sure Anchorage folks here can help you come up for other ideas for rentals. What area of town do you work in?

[yambest]

Hi, Bongo,

Thanks so much for the info!! I will take a look of those trails you mentioned and hope that I don't lost too badly. (Somehow, I wonder whether I have directional disability

So, Penny's... is it JC Penny's? I have not been there but a friend of mine seems to go there often (well during the shopping weeks).

Regarding the security situation, I will give it a try over at the rental office although I am uncertain how persuasive I can be. (Also, it's a pain to have to move but I guess better soon than later.)

My work place is around the intersection of Northern Lights and Bragaw (close to East High). I would like to live as close to it as possible. i.e. within 4 miles of distance, since I have to arrive my workplace by 7:30am everyday and winter road situation can be tough for me. Do you have any suggestion? (I am looking into a studio that's within $650/per month. Still working on my degree here so trying to save as much as I can for my tuition.)

BTW, if any of you have any suitable offer, please don't hesitate to send me a private email. Although I don't know about the policy of this discussion forum that well, I am having the impression that most of you are trying to avoid the suspicion of posting advertisement. So... since I really need connection here, let's work another way out. Thanks!!

[bongo]

Yes, JC Penney's downtown has a parking garage that connects with 5th Avenue Mall for indoor walking.

You work right next to the APU (AK Pacific University) trail system. In fact, if one is afraid of getting lost on the trails, there is always the APU trail that follows Northern Lights. If you are a student at one of the 2 universities, there are walking trails all over there.

One of your best bets for walking is to join up with the local hiking group:

Alaska_Outdoors : Alaska Outdoors

There are over 450 of us in the group, although only around 20 will be out at any one time usually for the weekly walks. Monday night 6:30 pm is the easy walk.
Thursday nights is a little more challenging. But it's a great way to meet a lot of wonderful people and a safe way to exercise after work. The walkers meet at a different designated trailhead twice a week.

The hiking group leader has a rental usually for college students right near the university & your work area (you must be near Hope Industries) and many of the people in the hiking group may have ideas for rentals that are available.

Are you able to park in that parking garage by those apartments? Is it a secure garage? Maybe carrying a little container of mace (not bear spray!) would make you feel more secure until you can move. Don't they have little bottles that can be carried in hand? Someone else on here will know more than I about mace.

I hope you are able to make friends in your apartment complex so that you have a support system there.

[yambest]

To be honest with you, i met some helpful people during my process of moving in around mid Sept. But after that, I rarely saw anyone in the building (besides the drunkards and some strange people i mentioned earlier). I guess i always walk swiftly by stairs, instead of taking the elevator. That maybe one of the reasons i don't get to see those nice people again. A couple people I saw next door to me are both males and they never said a word. So, I guess they don't want to be bothered.

All righty. I will get in contact with the hiking group. Thank you so much!! I am expecting to have lots of fun

[yambest]

About parking, i rent a parking spot that has a roof and is part of the building. The lot is not completely lit but I try to park at the better lit section. I usually carry pepper spray with me 'cos i don't have a mace. Would that be more effective? If so, I will get one.

No, I am not a student in APU or AAU. I still maintain my student status with Univ. of Washington while working here. Are those trails only accessible to the local students?

[bongo]

No- the trails are open to all of us!

[stiffnecked]

Pepper spray is fine. Mace is just a different variety of self defense sprays. Pay attention to your surroundings and you'll be fine.