anthroboy
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« on: December 16, 2009, 02:54:01 PM » |
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I'll be a visiting scholar at UC-Davis this winter, and I'll be accompanied by my wife and 3-year-old daughter. We won't have a vehicle, and my wife won't be working, so we would ideally find a place that is "in the middle of everything" so that they can keep themselves busy. It would be a bonus if I were within easy walking distance of the university.
Where would be the best neighborhoods to look for short-term housing options?
Any suggestions would be much appreciated.
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daniel_von_flanagan
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Works all day. Posts all night. Needs sleep.
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« Reply #1 on: December 16, 2009, 03:02:12 PM » |
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Anything that is an easy walk to town is an easy walk to the University. There is a very nice food coop on G street in what is generally a residential neighborhood; if you are very very lucky you might find something nearby (eg, there are some apartments down 7th street from there), but to be honest I think you'll find short-term housing walkable to town in very short supply, unless you happen across a sublet.
Good luck. - DvF
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The U.S. Education Department is establishing a new national research center to study colleges' ability to successfully educate the country's growing numbers of academically underprepared administrators.
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catalyzer
Junior member
Posts: 68
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« Reply #2 on: December 16, 2009, 10:48:24 PM » |
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The campus is adjacent to downtown, so anything near downtown is walkable. If you look on a map, look between the two highways, 80 and 113, for optimal walkability, but this area is also likely to be populated by students. Davis does have public transportation, so if you end up to the West or East, you can take a bus. Davis is a big bicycle city, bike lanes everywhere, so if your family bikes you could live almost anywhere. The city is pretty family friendly, parks and greenery galore. Where you end up might depend more on whether you want an apartment or a house.
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anthroboy
Junior member
Posts: 84
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« Reply #3 on: December 16, 2009, 11:26:09 PM » |
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I have a lead on an apartment (half of a house) on Douglass Avenue. The Street View feature on google maps makes it look like a pleasant street and neighborhood and not too far from the bus route. Any experience with this part of Davis?
Thanks to the two of you who wrote in already!
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daniel_von_flanagan
<redacted>
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 9,463
Works all day. Posts all night. Needs sleep.
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« Reply #4 on: December 16, 2009, 11:45:49 PM » |
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If you mean Douglas (with one 's'), yes this is a nice neighborhood, and very convenient to campus. Unfortunately, you are just about equidistant between the Davis Coop and the supermarkets on Anderson&Covell, so grocery shopping is just far enough away to be irritating (around a mile), unless I'm forgetting a store somewhere.
Oh, this is very close to a most excellent Farmer's Market on Saturday and maybe Wednesday. - DvF
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The U.S. Education Department is establishing a new national research center to study colleges' ability to successfully educate the country's growing numbers of academically underprepared administrators.
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mozman
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« Reply #5 on: December 17, 2009, 07:20:31 AM » |
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Remember, in Davis don't think about "walking" distance - think about "biking distance"
I lived in the F street apts for a year - these are the cheapest in town (at least were when I was there about 6-8 years ago). Not walking distance from campus (well, its a long walk), but easy bike ride.
Moved to a house off Third and D downtown, around the corner from central park - THIS was walking distance (across the street from Cafe Bernardo!).
Then moved to south davis - 3 mile bike ride to campus.
There are a lot of new developments downtown now that were not there when I was, you should be able to get something in he thick of things.
How long will you be there? If less than 6 months, You may be better off renting from an individual - I had trouble getting a lease for less than that, although things may have changed.
I LOVED Davis. Now I'm homesick...
mm
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Could you grow the foot into another patient? I mean, you are a scientist.
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ucprof
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« Reply #6 on: December 17, 2009, 12:13:55 PM » |
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If you do not have a car I suggest to get bicycles that can carry some groceries. Davis is relatively bike friendly compared to many CA cities.
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jonesey
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« Reply #7 on: December 17, 2009, 12:18:35 PM » |
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Wow. Is everyone on the CHE from Davis? : )
And here I thought most of you were from NY/NJ/Conn/MA/Etc...
The People's Republic of Davis. I remember when they built the frog tunnel under the freeway. <sigh>
Man, do I miss California..
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Jonesey, I know you're a being of sensitivity and refinement. |
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ucprof
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« Reply #8 on: December 17, 2009, 12:22:26 PM » |
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Wow. Is everyone on the CHE from Davis? : )
LOL not from Davis but there are some things about it you remember if you ever visit there. If I were spending this time in Davis I would definitely want to have a car, at the very least to go places within an hour or two drive that are hard to reach otherwise. |
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catalyzer
Junior member
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« Reply #9 on: December 17, 2009, 07:25:43 PM » |
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If you are without car and want to explore surrounding areas, Davis has an Amtrak station right downtown, which can take you to the Bay Area pretty easily (it's actually a rather lovely journey). When I lived there, there was also a van/shuttle that ran from UC Davis to UC Berkeley. Davis is a generally safe town, so I wouldn't worry too much about high-crime areas, etc.
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mythbuster
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« Reply #10 on: December 18, 2009, 10:22:32 AM » |
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Oh Mozman, now I'm missing the french toast from Cafe Bernardo's! The best. The University and the City run the bus system together, so the buses will get you from campus to just about all parts of town (gets crowded when it rains). The Co-op is nice but I would give an appendage to be able to shop at the Nugget grocery again. The big new-ish one is at Covell and Pole Line. I do agree that Davis is quite safe. The only iffy (by Davis standards) areas were right abutting the train tracks and near the Motel 6 on the Eastern edge of town. Although even that may have changed since they built the Target.
The joke about Davis used to be that you couldn't buy socks or underwear there. I see the Target has opened so that has probably changed. Have fun, Davis is a nice place to be.
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humanista
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« Reply #11 on: December 18, 2009, 08:49:35 PM » |
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Went to grad school there. I stayed in three different apartment complexes and liked The Arbors the best, mostly because it was kept nice and it was a straight quick bike ride to campus past all of the (then new) faculty housing. http://www.thearbors.com/ But as was mentioned above, it is VERY difficult to find anything other than a one-year lease. Because it's a university town, the apt. owners don't want everyone clearing out in June and no rent until September. Maybe the options have opened up since I was there. Speaking of biking, one thing you should keep in mind: you should carefully follow traffic rules when on your bike. Police WILL ticket you or at least stop you and warn you for even seemingly minor violations. Davis strikes me as a wonderful place to be with a three-year-old. Lots to do for kids in Davis and for more, Sacramento is only about 15 miles away (if memory serves). And if you have to fly anywhere while you are there, you will probably find Sacramento a convenient airport. I used to love Mishka's coffee shop. You have some excellent advice above; PM me if you have more questions. |
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