35th St. San Diego? (El Cajon, August: apartment complex, how much, neighborhood)

[bleugirl]

Hi all-
I'm once again hoping to move to SD (last year I got very close but had a family issue come up that delayed my move). I have a possible apartment and a job in line. I'm looking for local perspective on the neighborhood I'm potentially moving to: 4000 (ish) 35th street, 92116. Thoughts? Is it safe? I'm a late 20-something female, and I'll be living alone (except for a large dog).

Thanks so much for your input! :-)

[kettlepot]

So, the 4000ish block could be north of El Cajon Boulevard in Normal Heights, or south of El Cajon Boulevard in a western City Heights, but 92116 places you in Normal Heights.

Normal Heights is an up-and-coming, vibrant neighborhood. You will thoroughly enjoy Adams Avenue. The walkability, dining, bars, food trucks, the proximity to a supermarket (Vons), the unusual, independent shops, access to Car2Go and transit, either the #11 bus on Adams or the Rapid Bus on El Cajon Boulevard. And to top it off, Normal Heights is an older neighborhood that actually has a park! What a concept.

The downsides are the poor street lighting in the area. As a responsible woman alone, you will not be walking the neighborhood streets far and wide late at night, but the early evening is fine, before 9pm in the summer, and before 8pm in the winter. However, there are not hoodlums hanging out on the street corner or anything like that. You just need to take the usual precautions of a woman alone in an urban environment. 35th Street has better lighting which will provide you a safe route to Adams Avenue, and Adams Avenue is fine well into the late evening.

Another downside is a universal part of living in an apartment in a lower income area. You can't choose your neighbors, and building management may not be all that it could be. You will have loud neighbors, not so clean neighbors, trashy dumpsters that aren't as clean as they should be and in late summer they will have flies. Even if your apartment complex is well run, there will be negative effects from other apartments.

Regarding the apartment that you are looking at, walk the perimeter and alley behind the building, check that it has a laundry room, ask specifically about your parking spot. If you have a car that is regularly parked outside, and if you live there enough years, someday it will be broken into. Accept that it will happen eventually. Air conditioning - you are far from a canyon so you will not have natural ventilation. August and September will be hot, sticky months without A/C.

Bottom line, I think you will find much to enjoy about Normal Heights. How much you like living there will probably depend on the quality of your apartment, and the quality of your apartment management.

[moved]

Also, keep in mind that your large dog may be a problem.

[moved]

Another downside is a universal part of living in an apartment in a lower income area. You can't choose your neighbors, and building management may not be all that it could be. You will have loud neighbors, not so clean neighbors, trashy dumpsters that aren't as clean as they should be and in late summer they will have flies. Even if your apartment complex is well run, there will be negative effects from other apartments.

This is all true. Your neighbors will probably party into the night, and the dumpsters will be never be cleaned, and continually full of trash dumped by people that don't live in your complex. It'll be full before trash pickup day, in fact, as soon as it's emptied, it'll be full the same day. I had all of this when I lived in City Heights.

[bleugirl]

Thank you so much for such thoughtful answers! I really appreciate it. And yes, it's good to have the reminder to use common sense when out alone...Any suggestions on keeping one's car safe? (Without a very expensive alarm that is)

[moved]

I lived in City Heights right off of El Cajon Blvd for 5 1/2 year. I never had my cottage nor my van broken into, or anything stolen from either of them. The exception to that was the manager of the complex where I lived. One of his pastimes was stealing items from outside a tenant's cottage, or killing their plants with roundup.

I'm a single female, sometimes work at night, and came in at all hours of the night, and never had a problem. But then again, I'm not paranoid.

[bleugirl]

I appreciate your input. I think it's good to be aware, as long as it's in check. I'm hopeful this place works out.