Working on the border/ living in downtown

[MisterGrimm]

Just found out I am going to be a father!

With this new gift in mind, my priorities have changed. Are there any surrounding areas of/around downtown that are walkable and safe for a mother and child?

Keep in mind, I will be working on the US-Mexico border so any suggested areas too far north would have to be worth the drive time. Thank you in advance.

[kettlepot]

Congratulations Mister Grimm!

I like the the southern part of North Park. That would be from about Cedar Street north to Upas Street on the eastern side of Balboa Park. I like the small, early 20th century houses, walkable commercial area on the southern portion of 30th Street in South Park, and proximity to the central North Park commercial and entertainment area at 30th & University (but not too close). This part of North Park will provide pretty good access to Balboa park for jogging, and other activities, however, schools might eventually be an issue. Due diligence and/or a charter school might be necessary over the long run, but you will have years to worry about this. And yes there are other young families with young kids in the area. You'll just need to get plugged into a play group.

This area should provide you pretty quick access to the 805 or the 15 via Hwy 94, down to the border area. If you actually work at the San Ysidro Border crossing and want to take the trolley to work, that would require a different neighborhood.

Your peers working along the border probably mostly live in the Eastlake portion of Chula Vista. However, Eastlake is a traditional autocentric, autosprawl post-WWII suburb. This area does have the benefit of being closer to the border, and if you want newly built suburbia (1980s, 1990s, 2000s) this area would fit the bill.