I’m paying $460 for a studio including utilities, internet, and cable. On my own for ammo though.
Fresno has the misfortune of being in the same state as San Francisco and Los Angeles - two world class cities with egos to match. If Fresno were anywhere else besides California it would just be another big city. I’ve lived a lot of places and it really isn’t that bad. Definitely hot in the summer though.
I don’t know how you feel about commuting but the small towns that drachillix mentioned are nice, especially Reedley (my hometown) where dosipede works. The commute time probably wouldn’t be to different than driving in from Clovis. I drive in about 50 minutes everyday but that might be a bit of a stretch for most.
Although you won’t be able to see them for most of the summer, you’ll be sitting right at the base of the mighty Sierra Nevada. You’re less than two hours from three National Parks and two National Forests as well as a bunch of lakes/reservoirs. If you like to hunt, fish, camp, hike, backpack, water ski, snow ski, jet ski, etc. you will have ample opportunity.
Oh and hey Dosipede, you ever take Kings Canyon out to Reedley and hit that taco truck parked out in Centerville? Their sopes are fantastic.
Our dopefest list is growing!!!
Another Fresnoid checking in–Central Fresno, east of Manchester Center. I have a three and a half mile, seven minute commute to work downtown
drachillix got it right.
Fresno schools have their issues, but the magnet schools do a very good job. The arts thrive: we have an excellent symphony (and youth symphony), museums, and yes we still have a Zoo and we voted a sales tax to take it up a level. My grandkids love the place! While it is true that we are the belly button of the conservative California bible belt, there is a thriving and active liberal/progressive community.
While the air isn’t very good because we are in a basin surrounded by mountains, it hasn’t been a problem for me or my family. For me, once my blood gets thinned out in the summer or thickened in the winter, I’m good. Folks call me weird because I don’t like to go to the coast in the summer, but when you’re comfortable at 100, who needs to go where it is 50.
Welcome to the Valley, KidScruffy!
Damn 5!!!
We might just make a real dopefest yet, Fresno folks popping up everywhere all the sudden…
Thanks! I did get a chance to visit the zoo with my son last time we were in the area, and he loved it. The park surrounding the zoo seemed pretty nice too.
Over the next four weeks I’m going to be bouncing around between Santa Barbara, Bakersfield (where I’ll be trained), Visalia, and Fresno to check out places to live.
RandMcnally - The only reason I’m able to afford living here right now is because my mother-in-law is our landlord, and is cutting us a break on the rent. Considering I hardly ever make it to the beach, I’m paying extra for nothing by living in Santa Barbara. So I, for one, couldn’t blame you for moving out of here also.
No, but I go through Centerville almost every day. Taking Belmont out of Fresno and then Frankwood into Reedley is so much more relaxing than 99 and Manning. I will make a note to stop in there.
So Scruffy when do we help you unpack?
Well, here’s the deal so far. This weekend my wife and I are going up to look at places to rent. My office will be on Shaw, close to the 41. I’m still thinking we’ll like Clovis the best, or northern Fresno, and I’ll be okay with whatever the commute is. I’ll also keep the other towns you mentioned in mind – and if anyone has any other recommendations for where to live, now’s the time.
We’d like to find something sooner rather than later, so even if my Bakersfield training takes a while, we’re going to be considering places where the move-in is on the 1st. So to answer your question…the 1st at the soonest, I think.
This weekend we’ll probably have our hands full, but I’ll still be checking this thread.
Thanks again to everyone for all the tips so far!
Dude, what’re you talking about? We show up in true Doper fashion and sit around drinking beer while KidScruffy and his wife do all the work. Maybe bring some chips and salsa…you know, as a housewarming present.
A few other considerations. I don’t know what exactly you’re looking for but there are quite a few loft conversions going on in downtown right now. Also, the Tower District (the area centered around Olive Avenue and Van Ness Avenue over near Fresno City College) is kind of the hip artsy part of town and is surrounded by some really fantastic old neighborhoods. Also, a shamless plug for Reedley (the town where Dosipede works). Its quiet, has decent schools, a community college, and a real downtown. It would be about a 30 minute drive to Shaw/41.
In any case, with the foreclosure rate in the Central Valley I’m sure you won’t have any problem finding vacancies.
Everything I know about Fresno I learned from the punchlines of jokes.
Just don’t move to Orange Cove.
Shaw and 41, you should be able to find plenty of great neighborhoods nearby. And that drinking-beer-watching-you-move-in thing Gaffer suggested sounds like fun.
Well if you want we could probably have a mini dinner dopefest , I’m sure we can scare up a body or two. We may be able to shed significant insight on some of your planned locations.
That would be cool - we’ll probably spend the whole day Saturday looking at places, and then have a relaxing dinner before we head back to my mother’s place in Visalia.
Who wants in? Any and all dinner recommendations are welcome, although my wife is allergic to MSG (rules out some chinese places) and I’m not a big fan of seafood.
I’m in for this. I’ll open the suggestions with Acapulco.
How did I miss this thread for so long?! I’m in Visalia!
My condolences for your upcoming move.
I’m going to be up in the Bay Area this weekend. Make sure you show KidScruffy a good time…I suggest that after perusing through the men’s restrooms over at Roeding Park and checking out the local wildlife on G Street, that the evening culminate in a parking lot brawl at The Brig (Blackstone and Rialto). Good time, good times indeed.
I’ve been thru Fresno once on a vacation. I don’t remember much about it good or bad (although I understand it gets hot sometimes? 
)
Except this was really neat!
I will honestly say I’d go back to Fresno again happily to walk thru it again.
I’m game
Like this?
Joe