Suggest where to live in Baltimore
 

Hi all,
I've gotten great advice from fodorites in the past so I was wondering if anyone could suggest neighborhoods to live in Baltimore. I will be working at Johns Hopkins Hospital and would like to find a modern, safe apartment not too far from work. I am a thirtysomething woman and single. I have read that Canton, Fells Point and Federal Hill are nice areas. Any specific apartment building recommendations? I think that I like Federal Hill area best on what I have read.I like areas where there may be a few restaurants nearby and which is reasonably safe to out a night in. Also, any suburban areas that are 20 minutes max out of the city worth looking at.
Any help would be appreciated. I am moving in June. Thanks!

Hi travelergal, We visit friends in Charm City and see apartments that look nice located at the beltway and Charles St. exit. Sorry can't be more specific. We also visit the Hampden area off Falls Road and 37th St. and eat at Cafe Hon-it is a working class area that is developing into an artsy place. Good luck!

Fells Point, Federal Hill and Canton can be very expensive. But Fells Point can be some fun, at least twenty bars and more if memory serves. danco is correct about Hamden. Formerly a neighborhood with Southern roots, it is gentrifying and is only minutes from Hopkins. Hopkins itself is encouraging development in the neighborhoods surrounding the hospital but such an enterprise will take some time.

My oldest son has had two open-heart operations at Johns Hopkins and will have another in three weeks. My respect for that institution is extremely high. You have chosen one of the great hospitals in the world for which to work. But just beware of the cafeteria food. It was the worst food I've ever eaten.

PS- Almost all the women of Baltimore over fifty use the word "hon" in addressing people, expecially men. Sadly, I think the custom is dying out.

GeorgeW: Good luck to your son for the operation. I look forward to working at Johns Hopkins. Thanks for the input.

Anyone else have any suggestions?

Our daughter attends Johns Hopkins U. and lives in an apartment building called Wyman Towers, in the Charles Village area, just across the street from the U. It's not especially close to the hospital, but she goes to the hospital a few times a week for her research work, and she takes their free shuttle which runs quite frequently. Maybe you could use it, too, as a hospital employee.
The three neighborhoods you mention we have all visited, as they have nice restaurants and places the university kids hang out. Federal Hill, especially.
Towson is a nice neighborhood north of JHU, that has apartment housing and lots of students, but I think that's getting too far from the hospital for you.
Good luck and congrats on your job at Hopkins. A really class place.

Hi, Travelergal-
It's a bit hard to make recommendations without knowing more about you. How much are you willing to pay? My friend just moved into a condo at Spinnaker Bay,which is in the Inner Harbor East area,walkable to good restaurants,Whole Foods,gorgeous views,etc.They also have apartment rentals.It's a beautiful place.

travel:

I lived in the City of Baltimore from 1987-89 @ 1010 St. Paul Street. It is in-between Inner Harbor and Johns Hopkins whose location is around 33rd Street? I use to go to many many Orioles games at Memorial Stadium and saw Johns Hopkins Hospital signs. You may want to check if the apartment complex is still there. The rent was reasonable when I lived there $390/month for an efficiency and its a security bldg with effic, 1 & 2 BD apts. It was a 10 story building and I lived on the 5th floor. Baltimore is such an enjoyable walking city.

I think moving to Baltimore really requires going there and seeing how comfortable you are in an area. Some of the nicest areas of Baltimore change character dramatically in just a block or two.

Hi Travelergal,

I worked at JHMI from 1999-2002 and if I could do it all over again, I think I would try to find a place in either 1)Mount Vernon (my top choice) 2)Federal Hill or 3)Fell's Point. All three are decidedly urban have access to some nice restaurants & pubs, have charm and you could get to work quite quickly from any of these.

Mount Vernon is just north of the Inner Harbor and was in the 1800s the center of Baltimore life. My reason for picking it would be that it's central for all forms of transit (the Hopkins shuttle passes in front of the Peabody Institute, the Metro, the Light Rail and Penn Station are all within walking distance) and I find the architecture charming, hearkening back to another era. You could also walk to the Lexington Market, the Inner Harbour and Federal Hill from here. Mount Vernon is the center of Baltimore's Gay community. The area was not so expensive yet when I lived in Baltimore (I lived further north in Charles Village), I believe in part due to problems of theft and that it's sitting not too far from higher crime areas and the penetentiary.

For Federal Hill, you have the Cross Street Market (with tasty, fresh seafood) and lots of charming stores & restaurants at your disposal. Fell's Point has the Broadway Market (smaller than the others I mention), a bit of a tourist quotient and some equally great stores, cafes and charming streets; my coworkers and I would even walk down here from the hospital in what's about a 20-minute walk.

I hope you enjoy Baltimore. When I first moved there, I hated the city, but after a few years, its charms had worked their magic on me.

DAN

I think it is really a good idea to come and visit also to help you make your decision. I live in Balto. in the "burbs" and the neighborhoods in the city really do change within a couple of blocks of each other. Why not make an appt. with a real estate agent. They could show you around to many places in a short time.

From a convenience standpoint, Canton is the ideal location for Hopkins hospital, only minutes away. The area has just about everything you're looking for, but as noted, it can be pricey. It's worth checking some of the so-called "fringe" areas as the redevelopment areas are growing almost daily.

My husband and I rented a row house in Canton from 2000 until 2003 while he was attending med school at Hopkins. I loved the neighborhood. We could walk to restaurants, bars, the library, Patterson Park, a beautiful old Polish Catholic church, the waterfront and water taxi, and, when it was warm, Fells Point. We had friends who lived in Federal Hill and I really like that neighborhood as well, although you'll have to contend with downtown traffic to get to Hopkins. I agree with the recommendation of Inner Harbor East as well. A lot of our friends were living in Butcher's Hill because it was cheap, but there were safety issues since it was just starting to come up. I personally would not live in Fells Point -- too many loud drunks on the weekend.

Keep in mind that "safety" is relative in Baltimore. When I first went there to look at apartments I kept telling my husband, "We can't live here -- it's two blocks from a horrible area!" But it's next to impossible not to be.

Hi all,
I just returned from a short trip to Baltimore to seach for an apartment as per my inital posting. I had a friend who lived in the Standard in Mount Vernon (St Paul St. and Centre St.) who liked the building but did not know about the area much. I thought the area seemed a little isolated and restaurants a few blocks away. I live in NYC right now, and was even though I read about Baltimore, I was suprised to hear from many people during my visit about the problems with car theft and safety, even in busy areas. I liked Canton, but there are not too many apartment building there, mostly rentals from people who own houses. Fells Point seems fun, but is very loud at night. There is also a lot of construction on the harbour and many previous apartment buildings have turned into condos.
I am a single gal and would like recommendations on safe places in town to live. Since I can not purchase a place, I would prefer a building with a doorman/secure entryway and indoor parking. I am also considering Columbia , Maryland and Charles Village area. Any recommendations in these places as well. Thanks for your help!

This is a very safe (but expensive) place with a doorman. You can catch the water taxi in the nice weather.
http://www.southbaltimore.com/HarborView/index.html

I've lived in Baltimore in recent years, and my husband lived there for 3. I like Canton and Inner Harbor East the best. Columbia is too far a commute, unless you really have a compelling reason to live THAT far away (and it's not really cheap enough to justify it). There are some great loft-style apartments in Canton and the Inner Harbor. Federal Hill has some great restaurants, but I didn't really know anyone who lived there. My brother and sister-in-law lived in Inner Harbor West, which was convenient, but also sketchy after dark (i.e., I've seen empty crack vials left in public areas of their nicer townhouse community).

Honestly, JHU hospital is in a rough area, so I hope that you will be driving to work. Baltimore public transportation is OK (not too familiar with the buses, only subway and lightrail), but you shouldn't really take it at night. I used to take the subway to work, but I refused to take it after the end of the rush hour. So, therefore, it doesn't really matter that you pick the closest Baltimore neighborhood if you're driving.

We lived a few months a couple blocks from the Inner Harbor, and later on in the northwestern suburbs. The Inner Harbor is nice, and the improvements are spreading slowly outward, but at night, when there's not an O's game, you would not want to be downtown alone. Our parking garage seemed to have at least two thefts (broken windows for whatever was visible inside) a week, and we wouldn't walk the 3-4 blocks to the Inner Harbor on non-game nights. I wish I was being facetious.

As was previously recommended, you really should take a few days to see the city to see where you feel comfortable. In Baltimore City, you are always less than a half mile from a less than desirable neighborhood.

Hi travelergal,

You did the right thing going down to Baltimore and giving the city a look to check out neighbourhoods. Having lived there for 3 years and I have a few comments on your initial impressions.

Fell's Point area around the main strip on Broadway I expect would be loud at night... but a few blocks east would not be so loud. However, it would be mostly rentals from people owning rowhouses, which you seem not to prefer.

As far as Mount Vernon being isolated, IMO things don't get much more central than Mt. Vernon. Walking distance to downtown/Inner Harbor/Federal Hill/Lexington Market and all forms of public transit. I found I felt more isolated in Charles Village (although not too bad), but then again I didn't have a car.

As far as kgh8m's comment on city transit, I took the system not only at rush hours but also evenings & weekends and while the buses/metro can be a bit infrequent esp. on weekends, I managed ok. If you're not African-American, you will notice at times that you're the only person who's not African-American who's riding the entirety of all the metro wagons (or bus). Being all of a sudden a visible minority is intimidating for some folk, but as a white male (and pale to boot), I took the metro and buses frequently for those 3 years without incident. Having lived in Nigeria in the past (although nothing like Baltimore in so many ways) perhaps leaves me less fazed being pale white in a sea of black faces than most white Americans. The metro/bus experience might be scarier for any female though, on this I cannot speculate much but I did have a few coworkers who used the system without incident.

Good luck whatever you decide.

DAN

Symphony Center Apts sound nice and in a decent area. I drive by alot and they had a grand opening with balloons. It seems nice and has indoor reserved garage parking. Here is a link. You'll be 10 minutes from the Hospital.

http://www.davidsbrown.com/residenti...ny_center.html

The Belvedere Hotel, on Charles Street, rent apartments. They are a very swanky place that I think you would feel very safe in while getting to know the city. They have a doorman, parking, and are in a nice area. It is a popular venue for ritzy wedding receptions-the first floor has several ball rooms. I am sure its not cheap, but I have friends who lived there and they were not Onassis'. I also kinda think they may rent on a monthly basis.
That way you could live there for a while and once you get a feel for Federal Hill, Fells Point, Canton (that would be my recomendation) you can rent a row house, maybe find a room mate by then.
Good luck!
-Katie

Ewww the thoughts of living halfway between Baltimore/D.C. in Columbia isn't my idea of nice arrangement. I know that the MARC local stops around or at Columbia. Don't remember kind of just remember Bowie, Odenton, BWI stations but someone I conversed with on the train lived in Columbia. If you want to feel isolated live there, its just yuppie suburbia.

There are few places in Baltimore city that can be safe, good location and not to loud. Federal Hill can be nice but I would suggest looking outside the city. There are some great places that are 15 minutes from the city and you can take the light rail into the city. Some places I would suggest are Pasadena, Glen Burnie and Millersville. These locations are safe for a single women. Living outside the city can be much cheaper also. The apartment rental prices can a 1/3 less.

Jiff:

I was a single woman in Baltimore who lived at 1010 St Paul Street in the late 1980s which is in the city. It wasn't a bad area and I never felt threatened by the atmosphere of the area. I live in a security building so that helped. Just because you are single doesn't mean you have to be the target of crime, its called using common sense when you walk around the area.

Someone who would suggest living in Glen Burnie or Pasadena is 180 degrees from a city person.

Glen Burnie and Pasadena is far from the country. There are more resturants in Pasadena and Glen burnie then there are in Baltimore city. I know because I live in Glen Burnie and work in Baltimore. This area has been built up alot in the past 10 years. We have everything from the movies, bars, night clubs, bowling, golf and some of the best resturants around.

I lived in Fells Point for 10 months. It is a charming area. Baltimore is a great place, tons to do. Always be vigilant though. It is a dangerous city for a single woman. In the 10 months, my car window was smashed, car broken into twice, apartment broken into, a guy followed me outside from a Chevy Chase Mcdonalds in broad daylight and tried to get into my car with me. He cussed at me and hit my car with his fists when I would not let him in. I backed up and drove straight at him, three times until he went back inside. I was followed to work a few times too. One day,I had just bought a new high chair and I took up my groceries first, by the time I had returned (3 mins tops), my car had been broken into, the high chair stolen, and not a soul in sight. The crook was nice enough to re-lock the door after he was done, though.

Always look around, watch what is going on. Lock your doors as soon as you get in your car, at traffic lights people will try to get in your car. There are no "good" neighborhoods. Don't go anywhere alone at night. Carry pepper spray. You won't see them but they are watching you, looking for an easy mark. I think the Glen Burnie suggestion is a good one. I moved back to Nebraska.

Try Done-dalk, HON.

"at traffic lights people will try to get in your car"

When did you live there? As I said before I lived in Canton and drove up around the hospital on my way to work for three years (at 5:30 in the morning one of those years) by myself in a new car and nobody ever tried to get into my car. I also used to drive through East Baltimore to get to Towson because I didn't like the highway and while I kept the doors locked I also never had a problem. There are a lot of things I didn't like about Baltimore, but I would have flat out hated my time in Maryland if I had lived in one of the suburbs.

Jiff:

There are plenty of restaurants in Baltimore City both ethnic and non-ethnic. The point is I had a friend live in Glen Burnie (met her on the train) and when taking the MARC local it took quite some time to reach her stop after leaving Baltimore. The point is there are many pleasant charming places to live in Baltimore to put up with the hassle of commuting to the country. Especially if someone is from say NYC like I believe the poster told us.

The marc is one of the longest ways to get into the city. If she would hop on the light rail she could be there within 20-25 minutes tops. If she drove it would only take about 15-20 minutes. I take the light rail in every day and it has never taken me more then 25 minutes and that was a on a REALLY busy day when there was a game in town and a convention. I will admit that is is not Baltimore city but it is not the country. I dont even think there is a farm within 25 miles of here. Within the Pasadena/Glen Burnie aea we have 7 malls and a million resturants. I dont know what kind of place you would call the country but when I think of country I think of cows, horses and chickens. Also it is alot cheaper to live in the Glen Burnie/Pasadena area. The car insurance is MUCH cheaper. When I lived in the city years ago my car insurance was double what I pay today. All of those factors can come into play when someone is on a budget.

You should think about Charles Village - the neighborhood next to Johns Hopkins Univ.'s Homewood campus, also home to the Balto Museum of Art. I lived in Charles Village for 15+ years and now live just up the street in an apt bldg (The Carlyle: 410-467-9890) that also houses an 80-room Quality Inn & Suites, so you could easiily 'stay' and check it out. (500 W University Pkwy, 410-889-4500) Yes it's an older building, but I love it for many reasons, including my terrace, lots of windows, large rooms and closets, the people, the Lebanese restaurant downstairs, too many to list...It is often used by JH vistors, patients' families, etc. (my sources say it's 5 miles to the Hospital) and both the apts and hotel are reasonably priced. The JH shuttle bus stops here on its route and goes to and from the JH hospital and other JH facilites throughout the day, I believe. This is a very safe area(Charles Village/Roland Park), there are lots of rentals, including numerous apt bldgs w/indoor parking, front desks, etc. to make you feel comfortable as a single woman. See this page for a comparative listing put together by Hopkins University of the area's apt bldgs: http://www.jhu.edu/finaid/elecserv/a...ewood_area.pdf
...And there are many reasonably priced and tasty eating-out options plus grocery stores, a weekly farmers market, pharmacies, movies, etc. within walking distance. Good luck. PS - I love Baltimore and hope you do too.