Young, single and looking for safe, walkable community (Jacksonville, Orlando: for rent, how much)

[RottenChester]

Hello to all!

Yep I'm pretty sick and tired of the freezing cold weather, high taxes, and poor job market, and thus intend on moving to Jacksonville, FL in the near future. I do not however want to find myself moving from one suburbia sprawl hell to another. With gas prices the way they are, is it possible to live in a community where it's still possible to walk to a grocery store? I would definitely be looking to rent, no more than $500 a month. I would also like to be in a pretty "happening" area with a lot of other singles, preferably lots of single women .

I have done a lot of research on cost of living comparisons between Jacksonville and where I live (can you guess by my alias?) and will only be paying more as far as housing goes. But hey that's what roommates are for .

OH AND ONE MORE THING, Jobs...

Who's hiring and who's not? I have a degree in Marketing. Will it be tough to find a job once I'm down there? I would try to secure a job before I move but my efforts will have been for naught since I know most employers look for local addresses on resumes or else the resume usually goes in the trash, sad but true.

Thanks for your help.

[apanda]

I would recommend securing a job before you come down. As for the details of how much you are wanting to pay for rent, is the $500 your portion that you plan on paying with a roommate situation?

[vdecapio]

I assume you are from Chester...but which one? I heard that almost every state has a Chester!!

Let me first say this: Do not move to Jacksonville purely for weather. That is a huge mistake. There are many cities with weather similar to Jacksonville. And many other countries for that matter. And you may get here and realize that the northern climate is not as bad as you thought after a few months. So please don't move here purely for weather.

Well, there really is no neighborhood that fits your criteria of walkable in Jacksonville. Riverside is the closest thing to it. The problem with Riverside is that there is a big concentration of young people, but after dark the place is....well.... weird in my mind. The only nightspots are for the death metal and indie crowd. Lots of tatoos, piercings, black clothes, etc. But, on the other hand, you could ride your bike to downtown from Riverside for a few "normal" nightlife places. About a 10 minute bike ride.

Riverside has your basic restaurant options: mexican, sushi, middle eastern, pizza, Mossfire Grill, chinese, etc. It also has a Publix and a Starbucks.

Riverside also has the best (and only) park in Jacksonville to be seen and to play: Memorial Park. Ultimate Frisbee and kickball games go down here among the young professionals on the weekend.

Riverside has a young, liberal feel to it. The coolest neighborhood in Jacksonville. It is also one of the few urban-ish neighborhoods. It is nothing like a big city, but the best you will find in Jacksonville.

You will definitely still need a car....and at least a bike. You will want to drive yourself to the beach and to other amenities that are not found in Riverside. The bus system goes to sleep early (10-ish) and so can not be depended upon for everything.

[vdecapio]

The 500 you were talking about....that is only possible with a roommate.

[apanda]

Originally Posted by vdecapio

I assume you are from Chester...but which one? I heard that almost every state has a Chester!!

I would assume he means Rochester, NY. Most commonly called Rot-chester by the locals. (I have family there)

[vdecapio]

Ahhhh! Rochester.....come on Rochester is beautiful. You are going to miss the waterfalls, hockey, lacrosse, and Wegmans!

If I had a family, I would move to Rochester in a second.

[apanda]

I have been there a few times and have enjoyed it. But I have been told the job market in the area is pretty bad.

[RottenChester]

Originally Posted by vdecapio

Ahhhh! Rochester.....come on Rochester is beautiful. You are going to miss the waterfalls, hockey, lacrosse, and Wegmans!

If I had a family, I would move to Rochester in a second.

Waterfalls? The only one worth mentioning is Niagara falls. I've seen it a bunch of times already. Yea the hockey's good up here, not so much a lacrosse fan. Wegmans is nice but when you get past the brick flooring and exposed-vent ceilings its really just a grocery store, and you can find those anywhere.

Riverside sounds like it might do the trick. I'm a little disturbed to hear there aren't that many parks in Jacksonville though.

I look forward to swimming in the Ocean. Lake Ontario can be great some days but full of algae on others. It's a freshwater thing.

Speaking of water, having been to Florida a few times (doing the typical Orlando area touristy stuff) I do not find the drinking water in Orlando to be of good taste. We have hard water. Orlando has swamp water. Big difference. How would you guys describe the water in Jacksonville?

[RottenChester]

Originally Posted by apanda

But I have been told the job market in the area is pretty bad.

You have been told right.

[apanda]

I lived in the Orlando area at one time, (technically Winter Park), but I can attest, it is pretty bad. Jacksonville, not so much