commuting from arrowhead (glendale) to maryvale (Phoenix: apartment complex, high crime, hotel) - Arizona (AZ) - City-Data Forum

moonstruck583 · 07-26-2011, 11:04 PM

Hey all,

This is my very first post and i'm not even sure if it's in the right spot... but I'm trying to decide if I should accept a job offer in Phoenix.

Anyways, I would be working in the Maryvale area, but since I'm aware that it is a dangerous area, I want to live in the Arrowhead area of Glendale. I do not know a soul in Phoenix, and so I have a couple questions I wanted to post here to see if anyone had any answers for me. Any help would be appreciated!!

It's in list form, because i like lists

1. Is the commute from Arrowhead Loop Rd to Maryvale doable in rush hour traffic? I can handle a 30-45 minute commute in order to live in a safer area, but I know I won't be able to do much more than that.

2. Is Maryvale really as bad as it seems? I've been going through the threads and it seems that some parts are worse than others, and other people are saying it's been going through a resurgence. But I know they are trying to say the same thing about Lawrenceville here in Pittsburgh, and that's a neighborhood everyone tries to avoid because of high crime.

i'm getting the vibe that during the day it's not so bad, as long as your smart and aware of your surroundings. Is this pretty accurate?

3. How bad IS the commute during rush hour traffic in the city?? :/

I used to live in New Mexico, so I'm familiar enough with the desert heat and all that jazz. But if you all have any tips, suggestions, etc., I'd love to hear them!

Thanks so much!

tckl8 · 07-26-2011, 11:18 PM

I think you could make the drive within your time frame of 35 minutes on surface streets. I haven't timed it to be sure, but I think it takes us about 20 minutes to reach Arrowhead mall from just north of Camelback. I live close to the edges of Maryvale--less than a mile/5 minutes--and I consider my neighborhood to be safe. I can tell a difference once I drive into Maryvale; there is tagging on quite a few buildings and it seems like there are many more people loitering around. I really don't know about the commute since I am a newbie to Phoenix as well. My commute takes about 5 minutes because I chose a place close to my job

CodyW · 07-26-2011, 11:18 PM

That drive isn't very bad at all. 20-25 minutes, max. You can take the surface streets and get there just as easily.

Maryvale isn't as bad as it's made out to be. Would you want to live in it? Probably not. But it's not an area to necessarily stay OUT of of.

Commutes can be bad depending on where you have to go. Right now I live in Maryvale, and work near the airport, and some days it takes me about 40 minutes to get home. other days 15. Your commute should be smooth sailing, though.

moonstruck583 · 07-26-2011, 11:38 PM

Arrowhead Loop is a nice(ish) area, correct? I'm looking at gated apartment complexes/communities out there. i couldn't really care less about gated communities, but I'm appeasing my overprotective parents

observer53 · 07-27-2011, 06:47 AM

Arrowhead is a very nice area. Parents not to worry.

Finger Laker · 07-27-2011, 09:56 AM

No worries about living in Arrowhead - a good area if you are moving in and are single and working where you will be

My wife worked in southern glendale when we first moved out in a fairly rough neighborhood and she didn't have any issues with commute or neighborhood

Unless you are working odd hours, or a type of job that would put you into contact with the locals as a big part of your job you'll be fine there ........ even if those previous conditions existed you'd probably be fine

It's not a big crumbling mess or urban decay by any means ... i definitely wouldn't say that there is (or will be) a resurgance there .... but i've been in and out of the neighborhood many times and never felt unsafe

fine place to hold a job I would imagine

jperham · 07-27-2011, 10:18 AM

Hi Moonstruck,
I'm looking at apartments in the Arrowhead area since I will be at Thunderbird this fall. How did you go about choosing an apartment complex in the area? I've had a hard time finding recommendations on apartments up there.

mormad · 07-27-2011, 11:06 AM

jperham - I just rented an apt in Arrowhead area this weekend after spending a week there. My husband is already working there and I had done excessive internet searches. But I found actually "being there" was so important to my search. Some complexes looked really great online, but the area perhaps was not appealing. Also, for me, working with the staff at the complexes had a big impression on me..or not. I hope I am not just naive in the first impressions presented to me as a potential renter. I'm not sure if I can name the particular complexes here, but feel free to pm if you like.

The area is certainly full of shopping and eateries! Amazing to me coming from a small coastal Ca town. It is hard to believe there is a recession there!

moonstruck583 · 07-27-2011, 02:02 PM

Jperham--

I've been looking online but finally gave it up and just decided today to just stay in a hotel for a couple of days and do apartment hunting once there. I have a medium sized dog which makes it challenging, and I became really wary about putting money down without viewing a place first.

If you want, I can keep you posted on what I discover.

--- Lynne

Valley Native · 07-27-2011, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moonstruck583

1. Is the commute from Arrowhead Loop Rd to Maryvale doable in rush hour traffic? I can handle a 30-45 minute commute in order to live in a safer area, but I know I won't be able to do much more than that.

Depends on what part of Maryvale you are commuting to. Might be a little faster using Loop 101, but that goes west & south from the Arrowhead area, so that might be a little out of your way by the time you exit at Indian School, Thomas, or McDowell. Otherwise, 67th Avenue might work, but expect lots of stop & go traffic.

Quote:

Originally Posted by moonstruck583

2. Is Maryvale really as bad as it seems? I've been going through the threads and it seems that some parts are worse than others, and other people are saying it's been going through a resurgence. But I know they are trying to say the same thing about Lawrenceville here in Pittsburgh, and that's a neighborhood everyone tries to avoid because of high crime.

It's pretty bad to live there. Not sure what it would be like to work around there. No, there is no revitalization of Maryvale that I'm aware of. It was always meant to be a lower income district, and it became the equivilent of a ghetto as a result.

Quote:

Originally Posted by moonstruck583

3. How bad IS the commute during rush hour traffic in the city??

I don't think it's as bad where you will be living & working. It's much worse commuting into CENTRAL Phoenix from the west, east, or north sides during rush hour. It sounds like you will be staying on the west side, and won't have to drive into "the city".