What is Glendale like?

[azriverfan.]

Originally Posted by Kentstate57

Glendale's mayor and council have dug the city into a financial mess with their attempts to make Glendale a sports mecca.
They financed and built a hockey arena, and are in the midst of possibly losing the hockey team which will leave that arena minus it's major tenant. In order to keep the team in Glendale, they "borrowed" 25 million dollars from the water & sewer fund to protect the NHL, who now owns the team, from any losses the team may have. (Glendale's water & sewer rate is 2nd highest in the area.)
They built and financed a Spring training baseball stadium inside the city of Phoenix with the expectation that Glendale land adjoining it would be developed and produce revenue to pay off the stadium bonds. No development has taken place and doesn't appear likely for a while. Glendale is presently borrowing money to pay off the bonds that build the stadium. That's right: borrowing to pay off another debt.
They have already spent 3/4 million dollars fighting an Indian casino they don't want built adjoining the city. This expensive legal battle will likely go on and on requiring more and more city funds.
All this financial drama is bound to have an effect on property taxes down the road. When asked recently about all these financial problems, The mayor was quoted saying, "We don't have a plan B."

In defense of Glendale, if the Coyotes can secure an owner and they seem like they are about to do so, a lot of those problems will be fixed in the long term. Football is not going anywhere and neither are the BCS games and future Superbowls. Hockey has been the main problem and if it gets fixed, Glendale has a bright future.

[dhammerman2003]

don't the Cubs have Spring Training in Glendale?

What is the area like around GCC?

[observer53]

Originally Posted by dhammerman2003

don't the Cubs have Spring Training in Glendale?

What is the area like around GCC?

The Cubs have been training in Mesa for YEARS. A lot of other clubs are out on the west side for spring training, but not necessarily in Glendale.

[Kimballette]

Originally Posted by dhammerman2003

What is the area like around GCC?

Sadly, the answer is: Ewwwww ewwwww ewwww.

[dhammerman2003]

Originally Posted by Kimballette

Sadly, the answer is: Ewwwww ewwwww ewwww.

really how so? I've got family that live not to far from there and wondering if the area is safe as far as crime, rent, etc.

[observer53]

It is an older area of Glendale, and like a lot of similar areas around the Valley, it can vary a lot in a short distance. Some nice areas, some not as nice. If you have family living "near there", what do they tell you about the safety of the area?

[Kimballette]

Originally Posted by dhammerman2003

really how so? I've got family that live not to far from there and wondering if the area is safe as far as crime, rent, etc.

Yes, my response was rather vague. Sorry about that. First, I don't live in Glendale, though love the downtown area where the antique shops are located (including Caitlin Court).

My in-laws live in Sun City, and when we lived in North Phoenix, we'd often take surface streets to get there. While driving through the area on Dunlap/Olive, there are lots of shabby apartment complexes and shabby, older businesses. Honestly, I don't know what the residential areas a few blocks away from GCC look like, but the commercial area surrounding it is very ugly and run down.

As for crime, you'd be wise to check the Glendale police department website for crime stats. Since you have family in the area, they would probably be a better source of info than strangers on this board. But do check with the police for the crime stats. Glendale has some very nice areas, but some are really not so much.

Here's a link that's useful for searching the ARMLS for rentals. You can plug in your preferences and find things in your price range, etc. It's from a realtor's website, but contains the contact info for the individual listings, so it's not unique to one person, office, or company. Mesa Real Estate - Phoenix Real Estate - Gilbert Real Estate (http://www.cecilduarte.com/Nav.aspx/Page=http://armlsidx.vstone.com%2f%3fagentid%3dcd008 - broken link) Best wishes to you!

[Ponderosa]

Glendale is like every other city in the Phoenix metro. The older core areas are rundown and decaying to various degrees and the newer ones are nice, but lack much individuality - suburbia. Generally, as you go north or west in Glendale,following the development pattern, houses get bigger, lots get smaller, more chains pop up, schools are better and crime goes down.