Cant decide between Smyrna/Vinings or Sandy Springs/Dunwoody area...suggestions? (Roswell: apartment complex, rent)

[futureATLien]

I've been living here for about 8 months and I may have a job offer in the perimeter mall area. I live a considerable distance away and I would have to move closer to the job eventually. I know 285 is ridiculous during rush hour, but i like an apartment complex on South Cobb drive. There's also some apartments I like on Powers Ferry Road, I'll consider as well. The obvious choice would be to pick something near the area, but I don't have a huge budget and the apartments I can afford are on the northern end of Roswell Road, in Sandy Springs. So what is the logical choice, given my circumstances?

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by futureATLien

I've been living here for about 8 months and I may have a job offer in the perimeter mall area. I live a considerable distance away and I would have to move closer to the job eventually. I know 285 is ridiculous during rush hour, but i like an apartment complex on South Cobb drive. There's also some apartments I like on Powers Ferry Road, I'll consider as well. The obvious choice would be to pick something near the area, but I don't have a huge budget and the apartments I can afford are on the northern end of Roswell Road, in Sandy Springs. So what is the logical choice, given my circumstances?

If it were me, as much as like the Smynings area, I would move closer to the Perimeter Mall area.

I've only driven the stretch between Paces Ferry and Ashford-Dunwoody a few times on 285, mostly for classes or whatever, but I know I wouldn't want to do that every day. You're driving into the sun if you time things wrong, and the traffic can sometimes be annoying. Not that bad, but I'm used to none at all, so...

[futureATLien]

Ive also been looking at places between 400 and 85. Would that be a better commute?

[berkeleylake]

I would rent a place as close to work as possible. Areas near 400/285 would probably be best for driving to the perimeter. From Smyrna and South Cobb, it's just a bit too far.

[futureATLien]

ok, I really hope things come through for me so I can move. I really like the perimeter area versus the southside(where I live now)

[cittic10]

I would rather live in sandwoody, commute or no commute.

I'm not a Cobb fan to begin with but whatever the extra cost don't forget to factor in the gas money saved. That could be - what? An extra hundred bucks a month maybe? Maybe more if you've got a guzzler.

[erick295]

I've lived and worked in both places. I think you'd deeply regret living in Cobb and working in Perimeter. Because of the river there are only two ways to get from one to the other, 285 or Heards Ferry. If you had the opposite situation you'd be fine because you'd be going against traffic, but by going east in the morning you'd be on the wrong side of the road. You'd face a similarly horrific commute if you worked in Perimeter and lived near 85. I would definitely stay near 400 if I were you, because even if you found 400 or Roswell to be too congested there are several alternative routes, as well as MARTA.

You should look up historic trip times. Georgia Navigator has removed this feature but you can tweak the traffic layer in Google Maps to see where congestion has been at certain times of day.

I don't know what your budget is but there are quite a few older properties around the mall that are about $1 per square foot, especially if you look south of 285 or around Chamblee Dunwoody. You'd miss most of the 285 traffic if you went between Ashford Dunwoody and Chamblee Dunwoody because both directions have dedicated exit lanes (not to mention the various back ways you could get there).

[amor924]

There are some apartments around Peartrees donwoody RD (close to marta statation)...You might find something in your price range.

or a little far,,but you can avoid using freeway at all...Roswell RD north...close to Dunwoody place, a lot of apartments with good price.

[ATLTJL]

Sandy Springs/Dunwoody beats Smyrna/Vinings all the way.

Both of them slaughter the southside.

[Saintmarks]

Sounds like going closer to work is the best solution, but I will offer this point to ponder. Since you are currently on the southside, do you still have connections there that you will be visiting regularly? Church, friends, family? If so, Smyrna/Vinings will have you on a quicker shot going that way, a better point in between.

If there is nothing on the southside to go back for, then yes, look closer to your work.