All about the ’hoods

Getting to know any new surroundings takes some exploring since not everything is what it appears. That’s especially true here in Chico.

One of the first things people realize makes the area so different from other college towns is that the Chico State campus is located right smack dab in the middle of the city. The university is no commuter school and off-campus housing is as nearby as just across the street.

While the neighborhoods encompassing the university have some similarities, each has its own distinct personality. These areas are home to a majority of the more than 14,000 undergraduate students attending Chico State as well as a significant portion of Butte College’s student population.

Quality of life varies greatly depending on the particular environ, so choosing housing is an important decision. Then again, most students move at least a couple of times during their college years, so don’t fret if you end up in an unpleasant living situation; it’s only temporary.

That being said, here’s a glimpse at life within the main areas students call home:

South-campus neighborhood

Police often refer to the area immediately south of campus as the west side, and law enforcement are all too familiar with the area. The region is about eight square blocks running west from downtown (hence the west-side moniker) to Highway 32/Walnut Street, between West Second Street (the campus’ border) and Ninth Street.

This neighborhood is filled with some of the earliest-constructed residences in the city, including turn-of-the-century Victorian homes, ranging from elegantly restored to run-down.

Despite their historical significance, most of the homes in this neighborhood are student rentals. This is never so obvious than on the weekends, when passersby see front yards littered with plastic red (beer) cups and other remnants of the previous night’s keggers and various goings on. The infamous Fifth and Ivy (or “Five and I”) section is the hub of the neighborhood: home to a few popular bars, a liquor store and a couple of late-night eateries.

As a whole, the south-campus area is the most active district; the most rambunctious, too. The region made national headlines twice last fall when riot-gear-clad police broke up crowds of booze-fueled undergrads who decided to fight for their right to party. (One coed who jumped over a burning couch, landing herself in the hospital for burns, ended up on the front page of the daily newspaper in her undies. Bet her parents were proud.)

The area is also home to all but a few of the school’s Greek organizations, which is annoyingly obvious to non-Greek residents during rush week, when drunken tone-deaf frat boys—or frat boys in the making—serenade women at sorority houses with embarrassing off-key (and sometimes profanity-laced) songs.

While definitely not the quietest region, it’s certainly conveniently located.

Nord Avenue/Walnut Street

The area west of campus along both sides of the long corridor that is Highway 32—and Nord Avenue and Walnut Street—is jammed-packed with multifamily complexes. Ah, apartment life. Most college students have had the pleasure of sharing walls with neighbors.

It’s not so bad, really. Look on the bright side: Close confines means you’ll get to know those living around you, which usually translates into making new buddies. Apartment rents are quite a bit cheaper than house rents. There are plenty of options from which to choose; everything from modern, gated communities with all of the amenities of home (washer, dryer, dishwasher, etc…) to studio apartments just steps from the railroad tracks (you’ll get used to the noise).

Another plus is the proximity to a (recently remodeled) supermarket and cheap eats.

The campus is within a short walking distance of this area, but if you go the apartment route, do yourself a huge favor by getting a bike—there’s a nearby path that heads straight to campus. Of course, you can always take the bus, which is free (with student ID) and stops at a bunch of sites along the thoroughfare.

One of the downsides to living in this area is that walking home after dark—like after a night on the town—probably isn’t the best idea. Chico is known as a fairly safe place to live, but recent random violence (including on the bike path) shouldn’t be ignored. Fortunately, there are plenty of taxi cabs and pedi cabs in town to get you home safely for just a few bucks.

In fact, no matter where you live, it’s best to avoid walking home at night—especially alone. Going through university grounds may seem like a good short-cut, but it’s not. A student was attacked and raped last year near a high-traffic area on campus.

The Avenues (west)
A little bit of everything is found on the north side of campus.

Closest to the university is a mix of classic craftsman homes and old apartments on Warner Street and West Sacramento Avenue, inhabited primarily by students. But deeper into the Avenues (on the west side of the Esplanade, pronounced “es-plan-aid”) you’ll find families living next to students living next to families … and the farther north, the newer the neighborhood becomes until it hits mid-60s student-free suburbia.

However, most students live in the area between Enloe Hospital and West Sacramento Avenue (better known as “West Sac”). Housing in this area tends to be fairly reasonably priced and some of the rentals have giant back yards, perfectly suited to large gatherings.

Warner Street and the Esplanade are the best routes to campus. Be sure to head around Chico High School, which is oddly sandwiched between the university and the Avenues. The upscale mansion neighborhood is also positioned between the university and the high school, but rentals there are few and far between (unless you want to live in some professor’s converted garage in an alley).

As in any city, Chico has its sketchier areas. One of them is the street behind the Safeway shopping center, right next to the railroad tracks off of West Sac. Columbus Avenue is one long cul-de-sac that is a frequent call heard on police scanners for burglaries, violence and drug-related crimes.

Last spring, for example, a taxi driver who picked up some men on the street, was robbed at knifepoint, and then cut and beaten.

Downtown East

Over the house-party scene? Want some peace and quiet? Maybe you should check out the streets east of downtown.

This is another region that houses families alongside students, making the area a bit more serene than some of the other districts. Walking to classes from the east-side streets is a breeze, plus the route is lined by quaint, colorful craftsman houses and Victorians.

Housing in this region can be pricey, but renters will also find the occasional reasonably priced duplex, cottage or apartment.

By far, the biggest bonus of living in this area is the proximity to Bidwell Park, which was donated to the city of Chico by Annie Bidwell, wife of Chico-founder John Bidwell. Lower Park is a gem year round. Big Chico Creek (the same waterway that you find on campus) runs right through the park, and a swimming pool is built into it at the One-Mile Recreation Area.

Be sure to get to know destinations within the park (One-Mile, Sycamore Pool, Cedar Grove, etc …) because chances are you’ll end up there for a barbecue or some other function. With paved and dirt trails, Lower Park is popular with many recreational enthusiasts, including bicyclists, skaters, roller bladers, and those who enjoy getting off of the beaten path.

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DYK … that it’s against campus policy to ride your bicycle on campus? Stay off of the sidewalks downtown, too; riding there is illegal, so stick to the streets.

Another benefit is living close to the year-round farmers market, organized each Saturday at Wall and Second streets (right across from the News & Review office; pick up your free copy every Thursday!).

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DYK … that many local bars will give a free drink on your 21st birthday? Just beware: A succession of “rail” drinks will lead nowhere good.

Older students who become downtowners are particularly fond of the area, which is closer to some of the bars that don’t attract the just-turned-21 party crowd. In other words, over time your appreciation for this neighborhood will grow.

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DYK … that your first apartment in Chico will likely blow? Unless you’ve had informed locals guiding your way, keep an eye out for “roommate needed” listings to make a switch after semester break.