Blenman-Elm District thoughts (Phoenix, Tucson: violent crime, motorhome, safe area)

[NunnaUrbiz]

I heard the Blenman-Elm District in Tucson is an area "in transition." If true, which way is it transitioning? It would be a major compromise for me bc there probably aren't homes on 1 acre lots I can afford (~$500K.) Also, it's been nearly 50 years since I've lived within a major metropolitan area. And, I'd have to park my motorhome elsewhere.


On the positive side, it's close to UA and isn't a food desert like where I now live. I could probably get around on an e-bike or bicycle. At 6.5 miles, I could almost walk to the VA. It feels like an artsy-fartsy area of town that may have galleries and art shows. How's the crime in the area? By crime I mean violent crime like armed robbery, assaults, drug deals gone bad, drive-by shootings, car jackings, etc. Car break-ins, burglary, petty theft are all what I consider immensely annoying urban problems but not deal breakers. I notice many homes in the neighborhood have 6ft+ walls.


So, my bottom line question, is it worth taking a chance that it's getting better, especially with all the $$$ issues being faced by UA? Thanks for any thoughts.

[grmi66]

I work about a mile or so away from this neighborhood and drive through it often. It is indeed a funky, sort of gentrifying area of town. Have an adult child that lives just outside of that neighborhood. My take is that I wouldn't walk around that area at night if I was a female, but other than that it's going to generally be a safe area. Lived in a similar neighborhood in Phoenix and most of the crime was nuisance crime that was never reported like breaking into cars or sneaking in through the alley and attempted burglary.

My experience and confirmed by a brother in law enforcement is that you don't pick a house within two blocks of a major street.

High walls is a feature common to Arizona.

Nothing beats asking some of the people in the neighborhood how they like it.

[NunnaUrbiz]

Thanks for the insight. At my age, I'm not very tolerant of troublemakers but I like the funky, artsy aesthetics of the neighborhood. I want to find a house with a casita or artist's studio where I can work on my photography, learn videography and let models flop there as needed.