Is River Road the Tucson DMZ? (Oro Valley, Oracle: real estate, apartments, to rent)

[Musketeer3-2]

I've been reading that the safest/nicest/better pieces of real estate/apartments in the greater Tucson area are all north of River Road; it was suggested that South of there can be "iffy." Any thoughts on that? Any recommendations, good or bad, on apartments/rental property with attached garages? Thanks in advance!

[tumamoc]

One can assume that you have plenty of revenue and/or savings since you plan to rent north of River. Yes?

[Bummer]

Originally Posted by Musketeer3-2

I've been reading that the safest/nicest/better pieces of real estate/apartments in the greater Tucson area are all north of River Road; it was suggested that South of there can be "iffy." Any thoughts on that? Any recommendations, good or bad, on apartments/rental property with attached garages? Thanks in advance!

That's definitely stretching it a little, Musketeer.

North of The River is probably considered by many as the beginning of The Foothills towards the East and Oro Valley around Oracle Road and West, however, there are some "iffy" (your term, not mine) areas on both sides.

If you really want a DMZ . . . I would lean more towards Broadway or Speedway but there are exceptions on both sides as well.

Good Luck

[Jukesgrrl]

As in every major city I've ever been in, areas where low-income people live have higher crime rates than high-income areas. University neighborhoods also tend to have higher incidences of break-ins, car theft, muggings, etc. — crimes typical of transient areas. Yet that doesn't stop people from going to the University of Arizona.

It's really rather insulting to imply we NEED a demilitarized zone in Tucson. Statistics will tell you that areas in the southern part of the metro have greater crime. But it's an area of greater population density. It's also the location of our government buildings, the university, some of the historic barrios, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, the fantastic planned community of Civano, the town of Vail with arguably one of the metro's best school districts, etc., etc.

If you use Bummer's suggestion of Speedway or Broadway, you'd miss the fact that Sam Hughes, one of the most expensive residential neighborhoods in the city, and El Encanto Estates, where Gabby Giffords and Mark Kelly recently spent more than a million dollars on a home, are both located right in between those two streets.

In a city as physically widespread and diverse as metropolitan Tucson, it's difficult to make generalizations about safety. If you come up with a specific location where you would consider renting or buying, post it here and people familiar with the neighborhood can advise you regarding safety issues. But as in all urban areas, caution should be exercised everywhere.

[Musketeer3-2]

Jukesgrrl, I didn't imply anything, I was soliciting opinions. But all cities and towns have the other side of the tracks, regardless of its name-no mans land, dmz, whatever. Thanks for your input, and I'm sorry if I struck a nerve with anyone.