City Heights East vs City Heights West (San Diego, El Cajon: to rent, crime)

[Ndividual]

I keep reading that City Heights is the area to stay away from. While looking on a map, I saw it sectioned off into two halves. Are east and west equally undesirable places to stay? I found a place to rent that would suit my needs perfectly but am unsure about the area. It sits on 52nd ave, between El Cajon Blvd and Trojan Ave. I'm expecting to move by the end of this month and so time is ticking. I'm going to need to fly down to check out the apt first of course, but if it's a totally unsafe area, then I wouldn't bother. Any feedback is appreciated!

[esmith143]

Originally Posted by Ndividual

I found a place to rent that would suit my needs perfectly but am unsure about the area. It sits on 52nd ave, between El Cajon Blvd and Trojan Ave

You don't want to live there. Look further north or east. Things improve considerably east of 56th or so.

Compare:

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll...197.35,,0,9.18 (50th and El Cajon)

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll...340.26,,0,7.37 (59th and El Cajon)

[Ndividual]

Originally Posted by esmith143

You don't want to live there. Look further north or east. Things improve considerably east of 56th or so.

Compare:

Google Maps (50th and El Cajon)

Google Maps (59th and El Cajon)

thanks so much! definitely good to know!

[sdlife619]

Trojan Ave is ghetto, it's real crowded too, I def wouldn't stay over there. They got APT's everywhere, and the majority of them are pretty hood.

[kettlepot]

Yes, there are problems there. Would you be physically unsafe? If you minded your own business and didn't walk around after 8 or 9 pm, I believe you could live and survive there. So, if you really need to save money, and you're a guy, and your car isn't likely to be a target for theft, you could live there and not suffer any physical violence. But if you can find something you can afford somewhere else, you'll be better off somewhere else. Let us know where your alternative is, and we will give you our opinions.

You may not have to move very far at all to get something better. Just north of El Cajon Boulevard. Just east of 54th Street. Just west of I-15, even though it's City Heights, it is still better than 52nd and Trojan. And that's a shame, because that location actually has access to a park.

Where do you need to commute to?

[Ndividual]

it was just an option...and nope, there's no way i could stay there...i'm relocating and starting over, but i refuse to live in a bs area. i'll more than likely land a spot in north park or something..i'm still stuck in seattle trying to tie up loose ends so i can leave here. i'll keep you updated.

[NYSD1995]

It's probably the one area of San Diego that isn't really safe day or night. And if you go literally a half mile north, east or west, it's much better.

[esmith143]

Originally Posted by Sassberto

It's probably the one area of San Diego that isn't really safe day or night. And if you go literally a half mile north, east or west, it's much better.

By "west", do you mean south? Because half a mile west puts you at the intersection of Trojan and Euclid, and it did not take me long to find graffiti and bars on windows there with Google Maps.

[NYSD1995]

Originally Posted by esmith143

By "west", do you mean south? Because half a mile west puts you at the intersection of Trojan and Euclid, and it did not take me long to find graffiti and bars on windows there with Google Maps.

Well, maybe another mile or two if you're heading west :-)

[esmith143]

Originally Posted by Sassberto

Well, maybe another mile or two if you're heading west :-)

According to Trulia crime map, El Cajon & University are high-crime hot spots for the entire length from 54th St to the east, all the way to 1st Avenue in Hillcrest to the west.