Point Loma Rent (San Diego, Marina, Middletown: apartments, rentals, homes)

[fillmore241]

I'm trying to find a quiet place to live alone in San Diego at the lowest price I can (like everyone I suppose). I would like to walk or bus to work. The job I accepted is in Point Loma near Liberty Station Park & Trader Joe's. I hear Point Loma is a quiet place to live - true ? I was thinking of targeting the Rosecrans and Nimitz so I can walk to work. Theoretically I could walk to Ralph's for groceries, Point Loma Living Room for coffee, and to Sunset Cliffs on the weekend.

Do you think this is viable? I can't tell what kind of living arrangements are in the area - single family homes, any rentals? Is this part of Point Loma quiet or really busy? I'm also moving btwn early and late July - are rentals cheaper in the fall? Should I look at short term housing until then?

I currently live in the Ballard area of Seattle (maybe you know why I'm picky) and pay $1,500/mo +utilities.

San Diego didn't seem like a very walkable city. All-in-all I may have to get a bus pass ($72/mo) anyway so perhaps I can bus to work and extend my range a bit. Unfortunately, looks like busses from other neighborhoods all require a transfer & therefore about an hour commute one way...

I'm open to living in other areas if they're 'nice' or 'fun' or whatever. Little Italy was probably my second guess. At this stage in my life I should really cloister myself and figure out what I want to do next. Currently just trying to retire at 40.

EDIT: Well, Craigslist filled up with rentals in the Rosecrans and Nimitz area for the first time since I looked - most are $1700/mo+ - does that seem accurate?

[kettlepot]

Point Loma and surrounds would certainly be an expensive area. $1700/mo+ does seem accurate. Especially, since it sounds like you wouldn't be interested in a dive rental.

What about bicycling to work? You could bicycle along Harbor Boulevard. That would make Little Italy, Downtown, and Middletown viable living locations.

[broncosilly]

Take your time, if possible. There are many apartments south west of Lib Station. Just go down Rosecrans where Nimitz intersects. There are hundreds of rentals in that area. And from that point a nice bicycle to work would be a breeze.


Stay away from the Midway area...........bums everywhere. I hate em'

[Mike930]

They were having issues in Point Loma due to flights from the airport. Check that out carefully if you want quiet.

[USDefault]

Originally Posted by fillmore241

San Diego didn't seem like a very walkable city.

It's a nice city, if you can get past the bums, crazies, and fecal matter, both dog and human (have seen plenty of all three during my two decades in San Diego). Walkable, not so much. It's still too spread out for all that you need.

Have you considered the new breed of electric scooters? Serious suggestion, some of them now are powerful and geared towards adult commuters. This one is made for adult commuters and gets high marks. You absolutely could motor to work on this thing, fold it up, store it at work, and then motor home. Watch some of the video reviews on Youtube.

[cruitr]

Originally Posted by USDefault

Have you considered the new breed of electric scooters? Serious suggestion, some of them now are powerful and geared towards adult commuters. This one is made for adult commuters and gets high marks. You absolutely could motor to work on this thing, fold it up, store it at work, and then motor home. Watch some of the video reviews on Youtube.

A great idea. Especially with a 15-20 mile range.

[fillmore241]

Thanks for the information. N Harbor Drive is an interesting idea. How crazy is that road ? I’m open to biking but very cautious - I know several people who have gotten killed doing it, even in bike friendly cities (don’t think San Diego is one of them...). Would that open up any less expensive or quiet areas ?

Little Italy seemed cool. Looks like $1,800/mo is the cheapest thing I’d get there though. At least the neighborhood is walkable :-). How loud is it ?

Why are the airport and flight paths a recurring theme in SD ? Is it just that the airport is so close to the city ? Do people have an aversion to aircraft noise or is it actually really loud ? Just unfamiliar with the level of mention I’ve seen - have lived in other cities with airports, trains, boat sounding foghorns, etc but I suppose they were never so close.

Yeah, unfortunately used to fecal matter in the streets. And syringes. Just the other night a girl looked me in the eye then crouched behind some bushes to urinate. Her friend was standing in such a way to block the view, but still very odd...

An electric bike is a good idea. I could even afford a small 250cc bike or something. I would really prefer to just slow things down and walk if possible. Car accident a couple years ago, bike acquaintances who have gotten hit, and the fact that any machine requires some level of maintenance. So sick of fixing cars and things... Still very open to the idea - walking might not be practical. Walked around Point Loma when I went to visit and the crosswalks really suck. Plenty of rude people who don’t make room either. Had to step off the sidewalk a couple of times and almost got hit by someone speeding around another car once

[kettlepot]

North Harbor Drive is crazy busy, but what makes this doable is that most of the road is paralleled by a beautiful, wide, green, tree-lined undulating sidewalk between the road and the bay. Check out the google map view. Plenty of protection during that part of your ride.

You're working immediately next to the airport and you want a short commute. Ergo, you will be living next to the airport. Next to the airport equals airport noise.

[snpdragr]

Originally Posted by fillmore241

Why are the airport and flight paths a recurring theme in SD ? Is it just that the airport is so close to the city ? Do people have an aversion to aircraft noise or is it actually really loud ? Just unfamiliar with the level of mention I’ve seen - have lived in other cities with airports, trains, boat sounding foghorns, etc but I suppose they were never so close.

Well the flight path takes landing planes over south park, Balboa park, banker's hill/little italy. The planes go right over Grape and Hawthorn and can be annoyingly loud. At this point it feels like you could touch them. Noise levels can be ok if you are further away, depends a lot on your tolerance.

Taking off, they go over Point Loma. Whenever I've been in liberty station I find the plane noise way too loud. YMMV.

See this noise map: https://i.redd.it/x37icf4x40ny.png

Regarding walkability -- there a lot of neighborhoods with high walkability. This includes all of downtown and the places around Balboa park. Just south of little italy is core-columbia and marina which you may want to consider. East village (west of park blvd) is nice too. I've never noticed plane noise in Marina, and EV.

There is a sidewalk / bike able path all along the harbor and it goes right up to the airport. It's very pleasant. I think you can stay on it for all except the last 100 meters or so (I've walked this before but my memory might be a little foggy).

[Zero 7]

Originally Posted by fillmore241

I'm trying to find a quiet place to live alone in San Diego at the lowest price I can (like everyone I suppose). I would like to walk or bus to work. The job I accepted is in Point Loma near Liberty Station Park & Trader Joe's. I hear Point Loma is a quiet place to live - true ? I was thinking of targeting the Rosecrans and Nimitz so I can walk to work. Theoretically I could walk to Ralph's for groceries, Point Loma Living Room for coffee, and to Sunset Cliffs on the weekend.

Do you think this is viable? I can't tell what kind of living arrangements are in the area - single family homes, any rentals? Is this part of Point Loma quiet or really busy? I'm also moving btwn early and late July - are rentals cheaper in the fall? Should I look at short term housing until then?

I currently live in the Ballard area of Seattle (maybe you know why I'm picky) and pay $1,500/mo +utilities.

San Diego didn't seem like a very walkable city. All-in-all I may have to get a bus pass ($72/mo) anyway so perhaps I can bus to work and extend my range a bit. Unfortunately, looks like busses from other neighborhoods all require a transfer & therefore about an hour commute one way...

I'm open to living in other areas if they're 'nice' or 'fun' or whatever. Little Italy was probably my second guess. At this stage in my life I should really cloister myself and figure out what I want to do next. Currently just trying to retire at 40.

EDIT: Well, Craigslist filled up with rentals in the Rosecrans and Nimitz area for the first time since I looked - most are $1700/mo+ - does that seem accurate?

If I could choose to live in any place in the US it would be in Point Loma near Sunset Cliffs. I am not sure you SDns know how good you have it.