Nice and quiet apartments for new postdoc at U of M (Ann Arbor: homes, neighborhood)

[redcurry]

Hello,

I'm starting a two-year postdoc position at U of M (central campus) in
September, and I would appreciate any help in finding an apartment to live in.
I'm looking for a quiet area in a good part of town, yet not too far from the
university and grocery stores (or farmer's markets). I'm finishing up my
doctoral degree at MSU right now, and I live in a pretty nice apartment. It's
one bedroom, but it has a big kitchen (important to me). I like the fact it's
got central air and the office/maintenance crew is great. I have one cat, so
it's important that they're cat-friendly. I currently pay about $800/month and
I could afford paying a few hundred dollars extra for my new place (but above
$1200 would be too much). I'm single, so it doesn't matter to me whether it's
close to family-type places (school, city library, etc.)

Thanks!

[karen_in_nh_2012]

I'm surprised no one has chimed in so I thought I would to bump this up.

I lived in Ann Arbor when I was in grad school but that was awhile ago now. Most of the apartments RIGHT near central campus were converted single-family homes so they were NOT quiet unless your neighbors were quiet. If they were even "normally" noisy, you'd hear them.

I hope you find something ... I loved my years in Ann Arbor! (And I had two cats and had no problem finding apartments that allowed them, although I had to pay "cat rent." They were worth it. )

[DallasReeves]

Close to the hospital: You might have some success with Island Drive Apartments located off Maiden Lane. My wife had several of her post-doc friends who lived there - and they all had good experiences. It's a little on the price side, but seems to be pretty decent.

Downtown-ish: Kerrytown is a good area, with a good number of young graduate students. It would probably be a little bit more on the quieter side compared to Central Campus, which is where a vast majority of the undergrads live. Not too sure about the price range, but I think with your budget you could find something decent. As a bonus, it's located close to the Ann Arbor Farmer's Market, which is popular with locals. Lots of cool shops and a unique look to the neighborhood.

Central Campus: If you want a quiet place, this is probably not your best option. It's by far the most active area on campus in terms of student activity. A large percentage of the fraternities and sororities are clustered in the Hill Street / Forest / Church St area. There's a good amount of housing options available though. If you don't mind the noise and want to be closer to the South University strip (restaurants, nightlife, bars) - this could be a good option.

These are just a few thoughts about some of the areas. Feel free to send me a message if you have more questions! Lived in Ann Arbor for over 10 years, as a student and now a resident.