syd1

Hi,
My husband is being transferred down to NC for a year and we're really looking forward to moving. Hopefully we'll be able to stay longer. My question is, can anyone recommend an apartment complex or townhouse complex (do these exist) that we can rent? Ideally, we're looking for something close to Duke but we've heard mixed things about Durham. Also, we have a baby so it would be nice to be near some infrastructure to take walks, run errands, etc. I've seen so many apartment complexes online and they all look terrific but it's so hard to tell which are better suited to young families rather than college students.
Any advice would be most appreciated! Also, how long is the drive from Chapel Hill to Durham?
Thanks!

mille125

I currently live in durham and work at Duke. You are correct about Durham. There are many areas that are "shady" or hit or miss. Most of these are near downtown durham. Southern durham has many affordable apartments and houses an is a pretty safe area. These areas include woodcroft, hopevalley farms, etc. Just about any apartment complex in this area is acceptable. It takes me 10-12 minutes to get to Duke and the traffic is manageable. Chapel Hill is 7-8 miles from Durham but you will find that property taxes are higher there. In fact many people who work at UNC live in durham instead of chapel hill. I hope this helps. If you have any additional questions feel free to email me at mille [email protected].

syd1

Thanks so much for your quick response. It's hard finding a place when you don't know anyone in a city. I'll check out your suggestions today.

ncgrrl

I agree with Millie125 about southern Durham. Look for something that says on/near Highway 54 or I-40. Chapel Hill in general caters more to students than apartments in Durham.

Most apartments are in 3-story tall buildings with apartments on all three floors. There is one complex of townhouse-style apartments on Fayetteville road (yes, near 54 and 40). These apartments look like 2-story homes next to one another, just entrances on the first floor. I don't know the name of the place off the top of my head, but I drive by it almost everyday and can get the info for you. One issue, this is the part of Fayetteville Road (a/k/a Fayetteville Street) that is about to be widened.

syd1

That would be great -- thanks --btw, what is 55 and 40? I'm assuming a highway?

msmiller

I work at the medical school at UNC, and many of our residents live in "Finley Forest." It's on the outskirts of Chapel Hill between CH and Durham; Duke would probably be 10-20 minutes away depending on traffic. Many of the residents are married and have young children, so I think it's a development geared more to young families than undergraduate students.

Another area that I know of is off of "American Drive," which is off of Hwy 751 in Durham. Same as above--young professional-type families--and literally a stone's throw from Duke (and Duke Forest, which has miles of walking/running/biking trails).

Welcome to the area! It's a great place to live, I think. Well, except for the heat in the summer...

ncgrrl

I-40 is the interstate running by Chapel Hill and southern Durham. Highway 54 was the road for east-west travel before the interstate was completed and is parallel, for the most part, to I-40. People here sometimes drop the Interstate part of the road name.

Highway 55 runs from somewhere north of Durham south into Wake county. There is an interchange at I-40 in eastern Durham County. It is also the unofficial western border of the Research Triangle Park. I wouldn't look for anyplace east of 55.

I'll try to remember to stop by the townhose style apartments tonight. By the way, I think they are pink. About all apartments around here have banners announcing rent specials. No matter where you decide on, try to work a deal for a couple of free months or no security deposit because there are too many aparment complexes in Durham.

syd1

I don't mind the pink. I'll have to check with my husband though
thanks!

ncgrrl

First, I have never been in the apartment complex, so I don't know more about it than the name and that you don't have to climb two flights of stairs to get to some apartments.

Second, I'll say it's more mauve than pink. Don't know if that concerns the hubby.

The townhouse style apartment complex I mentioned yesterday is called Pine Ridge. Like most developments, the land was clear cut, therefore not many pines. And I don't think there is a ridge nearby. Anywho, there is a banner out front saying apartments from $520 and the phone number is (919) 484-1000. There are at least half a dozen apartment complexes withing a mile of this place, but I don't think any of the others are townhouse style.

Be careful of gated apartment complexes. They may not be as safe as management claims. I had a friend who used to live in one complex on 54 that sort of had a gate. The gate worked for the residents who had a cardkey to get in, but the residents couldn't beep open the gate for guests. I don't know if emergency services had a card key, but it would be a concern for me. There is also another complex that I pass going to work and the gate is almost always open. What type of security is that if the gate is open?

Good luck in your search.

Cassandra

Welcome, syd!

One area you might check is west of 15-501 off of Morreene Dr. south of the Durham freeway (147) interchange -- try putting "Forest Oaks" into Mapquest and you'll see where I mean.

The drive from downtown Chapel Hill to Duke west Campus is about a half-hour, but suggestions that you might not want to pay the premium to live here are probably correct, although if you are willing to take a slightly longer commute, there are some less expensive (and less student-y) complexes west of CH. By student-y, I mean more the undergrads than the grad students -- lots of grad students would be young with a baby, like you. There isn't enough undergrad housing at UNC-CH, so there are undergrad enclaves in a lot of the Chapel Hill apt. complexes nearer downtown, and it can get a bit -- er -- hectic.

If you boil down your on-line search to a few complexes, maybe you could post the names here and get your Fodorite "spies" to check them out!

ncgrrl

Another option is Flint Ridge apartments in Hillsborough. Hillsborough is about 20 minutes away on I-85. Don't know much about the place, but I think they have townhouse style apartments. The place is older than anything in southern Durham. Hillsborough is a charming, historic town.

syd1

Hillsboro sounds nice -- though it may be a bit too far for those 3 am drives to the hospital on call. Would love to check it out anyway.
So, any spies out there...feel free to comment on these:
Alexan Place
Alexan Farms
Alta Trace
Alta Crest
Southern Village
Bradford Place

I can't tell you how helpful you've been already. Thanks so much!!

mille125

when i was an intern, i stayed at springfield apts on university. Pretty nice apts with reasonable rent (500-600). Mostly working families and college teachers. No more than 10 min to duke (and that is on a day with the worse possible traffic). Lots of stores close by (three or four shopping centers, some restaurants, a movie theater within 1-2 blocks) Very safe area. You should check it out. The only reason I moved is because I was getting married and needed a bigger place. Easy ride home when i was post call.

syd1

Hi Millie,
Just tried to send you an email but it got sent back to me for some reason. In any case, sounds like you're in a similar situation as us (or at least was at one point!)
Would those Springfield apts be good for 3 of us (me, husband and 4 month old baby). I also work from home so I need a space of my own. Guess that's why I was interested in the townhouse suggestion. Actually, we're coming down to the area this weekend to check things out so I may just look at all of this stuff.
AGain, thanks for all of your suggestions.

ncgrrl

Southern Village is too far away from Duke.

Not sure of the Alexan properties or Bradford Place.

I think the Alta xxx is at the intersection of Mt. Moriah and old Chapel Hill. Good location, don't know much about the apartments. The two roads are overtraveled back roads and have some congestion at rush hour. Pretty close (within a mile or two) of the Springfield, Beech Lake places Millie125 mentions.

mille125

i think springfield might be a good fit for you. [email protected]


not MILLIE but MILLE

ColletteRI

I moved here about 3 years ago, work at Duke and live in Northwest Durham... Do not discount Durham - it tends to be unfavoraby compared with Chapel Hill and Raleigh... but Chapel Hill is very pricey housing ... Durham more reasonable. I also kind of like my area... it takes me about 15 minutes to get to Duke, door to door ( and that includes riding the bus from the parking garage to the hospital)., but it feel sort of like you're in the country. There are many developments sprouting up ... not a lot of upscale shopping but that's just a quick ride to south durham ... Personally I would avoid that area,near the new mall and even Woodcroft... I find it a bit too congested. Don't know where you are moving from but be prepared to be disappointed with downtown Durham... I think they are trying to perk it up but it is right now pretty non-descript. Good luck.

mille125

I forgot to add one thing. Since you or your husband or both are Duke residents you get a pretty sweet deal from the banks for housing (this is why a lot of residents own homes). Most of the local bank participate including but not limited to Wachovia, CCB, First American. Good luck

ColletteRI

I have a friend who lives in one of the Alexan properties.... off Garrett Rd in Durham... it is nice.. typical new apt building but definitely upscale, close to Duke. I think it is Alexan Farms..This is just my opinion but one reason Durham has the bad rep is that it is the more racially diverse of the Triangle towns... to me it is just like other cities with good and not so good neighboorhoods.

tomstace

We just moved from Chicago to Chapel Hill. We did a lot of research regarding where to live..we're currently renting at Meadowmont Village and love it. It's a bit pricey, but in my opinion it's worth it. Let me know if you have any questions!