The successful school bond levies of November 2004 assured that middle school kids living in the North area will enjoy modern facilities.

"We're proud of our new building. We were very fortunate to be the first to experience the remodeling. It's been great," Jody Mimmack, principal at West Middle School, said about the newly remodeled school.

"The learning environment meets the needs. Productivity is up; the learning space is much better. It's cleaner, safer … there's more room."

West Middle School may have been the first, but East Middle School is scheduled for remodel this summer. The construction of the new Fruita 8/9 school that serves kids who live west of 25 Road means that soon, all middle school kids from the North area will benefit from new facilities. The new construction of Rimrock Elementary, between Shelledy Elementary in Fruita and Appleton Elementary in the north end of Grand Junction takes the population pressure off the elementary schools, as well.

Don't have any kids at home? The north area could still be a pleasant place to call home, with easy access to the interstate and the airport, and nearby health facilities at both St. Mary's and Community Hospital. Shopping at the mall or downtown is convenient, while coffee shops and restaurants along Horizon Drive assure that sustenance is never far away, whether patrons want the comfortable predictability of a chain or the original flair of a home-grown favorite like Pantuso's.

Pantuso's has been a north end landmark since 1980, and owner Chris Blackburn wouldn't have it any other way. Although they draw business from the out-of-town guests staying at hotels on Horizon Drive seeking relief from the big restaurant chains, that's not the bulk of their business.

"We get a lot of locals, primarily from the north end. It's a neighborhood restaurant," says Blackburn.

Neighborhoods in the north end are varied. Older neighborhoods, built before areas were annexed into the city, may feature big yards, mature trees, less uniform construction, and no sidewalks. Newer neighborhoods may feature high-end homes, smaller lots, and smaller housing developments, because there aren't large tracts of land still available for development.

"There's a smaller percent of new single family housing than in Orchard Mesa, Fruitvale or Fruita," says Bob Lee, director of building inspection, "But there is still quite a bit, real small parcels that are hidden amongst other subdivisions, from 2 to 15 houses."

Arcadia North, a new development of 10 houses along G Road, is typical of the north end development. The homes have upscale features like granite countertops, wood floors, RV parking and three car garages. The smaller yards in these one-level homes make them ideal for those who don't want to be slaves to their landscaping in the summer.

There are still traces of the agricultural heritage in the north end. The sheep pasture that borders the Arcadia North subdivision and the small farms tucked away in neighborhoods remind residents that not so long ago, this was an agricultural area on the edge of town. And the edge of town still isn't far from most north area neighborhoods, in spite of the nearby city convenience.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
• Appleton Elementary School, 2358 H Road
• Pomona Elementary School, 88 25½ Road

MIDDLE SCHOOLS
• West Middle School, 123 W. Orchard Avenue

HIGH SCHOOLS
• Grand Junction High School, 1400 N. 5th Street