Bayview Hills

[airdawn]

It's been forever since I posted or even logged on to Navyseals.com so GOOD MORNING!!! Unfortunately, I have been a slave to my job but wanted to take time this morning to get some friendly input from ANYONE in the San Diego area - I know I posted before about a couple different housing questions/areas and one of the ones we were told had the shortest waiting list (we are looking to move late oct/super early nov) was Bayview Hills??? My husband & I were just in San Diego area looking at places but we did not get a chance to check this out. While we fell in love with the Chula Vista area we are concerned it may be a little too far out of the way, so I wanted ANY INPUT good, bay, the ugly.. haha on Bayview Hills. The Lincoln Military Housing website, though helpful, does not give you a good idea of what the places look like, floor plans, community pics, interior pics, etc. I will be re-contacting the lady we spoke with at housing to see about getting some of these but thought I'd reach out to any of you as well on your thoughts. We have a cat, we want a two bedroom, I want to live close to the city, but not in a run down area - to put it nicely :). Please help me, we have to make a decision on the fly so the sooner the better :) Thanks and hope everyone is having a spectacular dayyyy!

[soccermom]

It's been forever since I posted or even logged on to Navyseals.com so GOOD MORNING!!! Unfortunately, I have been a slave to my job but wanted to take time this morning to get some friendly input from ANYONE in the San Diego area - I know I posted before about a couple different housing questions/areas and one of the ones we were told had the shortest waiting list (we are looking to move late oct/super early nov) was Bayview Hills??? My husband & I were just in San Diego area looking at places but we did not get a chance to check this out. While we fell in love with the Chula Vista area we are concerned it may be a little too far out of the way, so I wanted ANY INPUT good, bay, the ugly.. haha on Bayview Hills. The Lincoln Military Housing website, though helpful, does not give you a good idea of what the places look like, floor plans, community pics, interior pics, etc. I will be re-contacting the lady we spoke with at housing to see about getting some of these but thought I'd reach out to any of you as well on your thoughts. We have a cat, we want a two bedroom, I want to live close to the city, but not in a run down area - to put it nicely :). Please help me, we have to make a decision on the fly so the sooner the better :) Thanks and hope everyone is having a spectacular dayyyy!

Airdawn, I can't speak to floorplans or their rules for pets etc since I don't know of anyone who lives there. I am pretty familiar with the different areas of town and I pulled up the map on the Lincoln website. It is close to the city and not a problem for being out of the way however, I'm a little leery of the area. I wouldn't consider it as part of Chula Vista. It's closer to National City/Southeast San Diego even though it's east of the 805. If you pull it up on the map and pan out just a bit and look at the area around Euclid, Imperial, & Skyline Dr that would be an area I would absolutely avoid and the housing is not far from it. It's in a pretty rough school district, as well. I haven't been to that housing so it could be that it's very insulated from the neighborhood to the north. I have to go to a high school sporting event near there this afternoon so I'll try to swing through and see what the housing looks like. (I don't mean to depress you but we want you to feel safe while he's in training.)
Chula Vista is a nice area and I don't have the same concerns there. You may have different issues of traffic and distance from the base depending on where in Chula Vista you're looking.

[airdawn]

Thank you so much, if you could swing through, please do!!! I know it's not near Chula Vista - I didn't make that too clear since I was rushing to get out the door, we had visited San Diego a week or so ago and looked at non-military housing and found a place we really liked in Chula Vista but we wanted to keep our options open so we also decided when we got back to contact military housing too and they said Bayview's the earliest available. I was questionable of the area too, no offense to anyone living in those areas but when we did visit other apartments in the Imperial Beach & National City areas it was very much the "run down" parts of town I am extremely trying to avoid. I loved how Chula Vista had all the palm trees and zoning ordinances on businesses but it was a bit out of the way, however we heard that if you take the route through Imperial Beach up the Silver Strand you can dodge the Bridge traffic, so maybe this will help. I just don't want to live in the ghetto, you can have the most amazing house but if the area and neighborhood is nasty it isn't worth a thing!!! So any further information is appreciated, otherwise we might just end up out of town.

[franklie]

Thank you so much, if you could swing through, please do!!! I know it's not near Chula Vista - I didn't make that too clear since I was rushing to get out the door, we had visited San Diego a week or so ago and looked at non-military housing and found a place we really liked in Chula Vista but we wanted to keep our options open so we also decided when we got back to contact military housing too and they said Bayview's the earliest available. I was questionable of the area too, no offense to anyone living in those areas but when we did visit other apartments in the Imperial Beach & National City areas it was very much the "run down" parts of town I am extremely trying to avoid. I loved how Chula Vista had all the palm trees and zoning ordinances on businesses but it was a bit out of the way, however we heard that if you take the route through Imperial Beach up the Silver Strand you can dodge the Bridge traffic, so maybe this will help. I just don't want to live in the ghetto, you can have the most amazing house but if the area and neighborhood is nasty it isn't worth a thing!!! So any further information is appreciated, otherwise we might just end up out of town.

I am not particularly familiar w/ Bayview Hills. I did a quick Google search and found the following link http://www.lpcmil.com/Installations/naval-complex-san-diego/bayview-hills/Directions-And-Maps.aspx. I then clicked on the maplink (http://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tab=wl&q=1565%20Ridgewood%20Dr%2C%20san%20diego%20ca%2092 ) and I would have to say that you are south of Encanto and Chollas (gang-banging areas). Paradise Hills in which Bayview Hills is located is a lower middle-class neighborhood, ethnically mixed.

Be aware that in Chula Vista there are ghetto areas as well. 2 local gangs Varrio Chula Vista (VCV) and Otay have recently started having a conflict due to desire for each of them to expand their territories.

Recon from the SoccerMom would be your best bet in terms of deciding whether Bayview Hills would be a good choice or not.

[Courtenay]

I worked in that area when I was in San Diego. If you have other options, definitely look into them!

[airdawn]

Thank you all soooo very much!!!!! This has been s0o helpful, I am definitely glad I took the time to post this morning. I am not sure what part of Chula Vista you speak of that has the gangs, I did not know that - I am definitely judging the area based off the places we looked at specifically and I know it was one of the better areas that we had seen. As far as gang activity goes, I know how crazy it can be, I actually work in Salinas, CA - not sure if you've heard or how far the news reaches but we are up to our 12th + shooting this week since labor day!!!! It's been a full on gang war here, luckily I just work over here.
We were really hoping the Bayview Hills would end up being nice, I'd really like to try to get into military housing because of the convenience and also for the support from other wives - but the lady we spoke with said that was really the only thing without a 2-4 month waiting list, oh well, thats our bad for not checking months ago! Maybe something else will come up, we'll keep our fingers crossed!
Thanks again to all who responded!

[protector.usa]

Thank you all soooo very much!!!!!

Yeah all, thanks a ton - crisis averted.

...the search continues... :cool:

[soccermom]

I was able to drive through the neighborhood this afternoon. The housing is actually surprisingly nice. It's made up of mostly duplexes each with a two car garage. They are almost all two story homes very typical California style with light colored stucco and tile roofs and the garages taking up most of the front of the home. It all looks pretty new and it's very well maintained. I drove into the neighborhood from the southeast and accessed it from Paradise Valley Rd. PV rd cuts through a large canyon so it sets the neighborhood off from the neighborhoods to the north (which is good). The neighborhoods I drove through heading up from Rohr park to the south ranged from pretty nice to passable, nothing bad. I left the neighborhood on the west side using Ridgemont. The neighborhood adjoining housing is very modest which is, as described accurately by franklie, lower middle, ethnically mixed. There is a small NEX in the housing area that would help in not having to run to the store in the Paradise Hills and the neighborhood is probably just big enough to get in a run if you do a few loops. There's also a community center that looks nice but I didn't go in. I was also surprised that there actually is a bay view from the neighborhood.
Sooo.......it was definitely better than I thought it would be, & nicer than a lot of other navy housing in the area. You wouldn't be able to walk from your home to a trendy coffee shop or window shop in a quaint area if that's your thing. But it didn't look unsafe to me and I'm assuming you don't have any kids so the schools are not a worry for you.
If you let me know what area of Chula Vista, I can probably give you a heads up on where your traffic problems will be (I'm sure franklie could as well).
If you're looking for something a little more trendy close to downtown, I'd check out the North Park/University Heights/Uptown area which has easy access to the bridge via Pershing and is close to both downtown and Mission Valley which is another hub of activity here. I'd stay north of Juniper, west of 805 and eliminate City Heights from your list. (Remember if it's cheap beware :))
I may have confused you more than helped but I hope that's not the case.

[airdawn]

Soccermom - you're the best!!!!!!!!!! Thank you so much, it's a huge relief to hear it wasn't as bad as we were expecting. I am starting to believe this whole finding a home situation will be tougher than expected. We looked at a couple places that were not military housing in Chula Vista that were okay, but they still suck up all BAH and it will be a bit of a drive for my hubby after getting beat down all day, *when* he gets to come home! We did not have a chance to look at military housing (it was Labor Day weekend and we couldn't get ahold of anyone) so I am very thankful you took the time to drive through. Its the only one with mid Oct. availability - which is what we are looking for. Otherwise its 0-3 month wait on all of the others that let you have cats (Chesterton & Chesterton Townhomes, Murphy Canyon, Pomerado Terrace & Mira Mesa Ridge). I might just have to wait & do a move after the holidays and stay with the fam while the hubby's in Chicago pre-training if nothing opens prior to. If we do decide to wait, any suggestion on any of the above mentioned from anyone in the areas? This is my first search for military housing and I'm actually surprise that a lot of the places don't allow pets, I thought everyone had pets! Oh well, things have a way of falling into place!!! Thank you again, Soccermom!

[soccermom]

Soccermom - you're the best!!!!!!!!!! Thank you so much, it's a huge relief to hear it wasn't as bad as we were expecting. I am starting to believe this whole finding a home situation will be tougher than expected. We looked at a couple places that were not military housing in Chula Vista that were okay, but they still suck up all BAH and it will be a bit of a drive for my hubby after getting beat down all day, *when* he gets to come home! We did not have a chance to look at military housing (it was Labor Day weekend and we couldn't get ahold of anyone) so I am very thankful you took the time to drive through. Its the only one with mid Oct. availability - which is what we are looking for. Otherwise its 0-3 month wait on all of the others that let you have cats (Chesterton & Chesterton Townhomes, Murphy Canyon, Pomerado Terrace & Mira Mesa Ridge). I might just have to wait & do a move after the holidays and stay with the fam while the hubby's in Chicago pre-training if nothing opens prior to. If we do decide to wait, any suggestion on any of the above mentioned from anyone in the areas? This is my first search for military housing and I'm actually surprise that a lot of the places don't allow pets, I thought everyone had pets! Oh well, things have a way of falling into place!!! Thank you again, Soccermom!

We used to live in Murphy Canyon so I'll speak to that one first. It's in a great location since it's centrally located in San Diego and it's easy on traffic because there are so many freeway options. The housing development is huge, it's the biggest in the area that I can think of. Safety isn't a problem in that area of town & there are lots of hiking and bike trails in the neighborhood, if you're into that. However, it's a 20 minute commute to BUD/S. It's no big deal once you're in the Teams, but BUD/S is different. I believe he has to stay in the barracks through Hell Week, though. He may want to err in staying close to base during the week through Pool Comp.

I like the area of Pomerado Terrace. It's right near Lake Miramar which is great for running or biking and it's a safe area. I'm not familiar with Mira Mesa Ridge but I assume it's in Mira Mesa, just on the other side of the 15. Not quite as nice as Scripps Ranch where Pomerado is, but still a good area. Mira Mesa Blvd gets really busy and anything on 15 north of Miramar will have a traffic issue but it will only be for a few exits. It's more of a commute than Murphy Canyon by longer than it might look on a map.

Chesterton is in an easy access area, in the central area of San Diego. Linda Vista Rd has a few dicey neighborhoods off of it although not completely unsafe. I wouldn't take a walk in nearby neighborhoods at night but otherwise, it should be okay. It's a lot of apartments and condos right there and not much of a neighborhood feeling if that's what you're looking for. It would be the quickest to Coronado,though.

[protector.usa]

Soccermom, thanks for the information you're the best. I sent a link to air so she could read it, she doesn't come on the forums very often.

We are actually thinking about just waiting until after I finished SEAL pre-training in Chicago to get set up. I get a week between then and BUD/S indoc, and we are thinking we could get set-up in that time. We just don't think we will have enough time to do it when I transfer on the 4th of November because we are having our 2nd wedding, the long overdue one with our families, in Ohio on the 8th.

Thanks for the help - at least now we know where to look and where to consider.

[mamato3]

I know this post is a little bit old but I seen it while googling for something else and wanted to reply..

We live in Bayview Hills. As I can't speak for everyone else we actually like it. We could have took a place in another military housing but chose this one. The houses r really nice ours is 4BR 2 1/2 bath, 2 car garage. We just got here in July and everyone had me scared of even trying for Military housing because so many ppl lived in them and they have to be repainted after each move out and etc., but I have to say it was not at all what ppl had been telling me. The inside looks great the carpet looks like new the tile is nice in every room. Oh and it has a big laundry room which I so love! We have a little NEX right here in the housing area also. They r always doing things for the children and have a big rec-center. Theres also a school right here in the housing area K-5.

I wish u the best of luck with ur house search. It also only took us 3 weeks to get this house. The office will give u a floorplan if u stop by and ask for one.

Good luck!

[Shar36]

mamato3...Do me a favor and click on the first link below, read it and then proceed to the second link I have supplied below as well. You will need to make your introduction post to the rest of the membership in the second link.

Please & Thanks,
~Shar

http://www.navyseals.com/forums/showthread.php?p=198261#post198261

http://www.navyseals.com/forums/showthread.php?t=159848

[airdawn]

Thanks for the reply! It’s great hearing from someone living in the community! My husband and I actually decided we were going to be in too much of a rush to move by November so while he is away at pre-BUD/s in GL I am staying with my parents. All of our belongings are in storage and we planned to take a week between GL and reporting to Coronado to find housing in San Diego – however, his class got moved all around due to roll backs from previous classes so he actually got bumped into the next class, meaning we won’t even be moving to SD until Feb. I am back to the drawing board so-to-speak so I will be doing online searching and contacting housing prior to my arrival to get things set up and I am planning on having to do this without him. We will see what is available when the time comes but it is great to hear Bayview Hills is nice, it is hard to find military housing that allows pets so we may end up not doing military housing at all!! We don’t have any children so no reason to be too concerned with schools and such, but having a NEX close by would be nice. It would be nice to be close with other military families for the support and sense of community you get! On thing that is a minor detail but a concern of mine is electric stoves/ovens! All of the housing we looked at in San Diego (not military) had electric stoves and I HATE THEM! What kind of appliances do you have there? Like I said, it is minor but a serious pain to cook with! Haha, gotta keep my man well fed!

[mamato3]

Airdawn: We have a gas stove, gas hot water heater, fridge, dishwasher and washer dryer hook-ups. I think u would really like it here.

You are allowed pets but no dogs.


Shar36: Thx for posting the links. I had just wanted to reply to her post since we live in Bayview. I'm not sure this board is for us as my husband is a Marine I haven't notice any Marine ppl posting here. So is it still ok for me to do the intro and be a member?

[Shar36]

Shar36: Thx for posting the links. I had just wanted to reply to her post since we live in Bayview. I'm not sure this board is for us as my husband is a Marine I haven't notice any Marine ppl posting here. So is it still ok for me to do the intro and be a member?

mamato3...Of course you are allowed to be a member here. The site is for everyone, not a specific group. If you read through the intro's you will find that there are several Marine's on the site.

FYI...Shar will do just fine. The "36" is just a number.

~Shar

[airdawn]

Airdawn: We have a gas stove, gas hot water heater, fridge, dishwasher and washer dryer hook-ups. I think u would really like it here.

That is great news! I will definitely keep this in mind when I start looking - if it is even still available then! :) Seems sooo far away from now.. I can not wait to get back to Cali. It is far to cold here in OH!