What about? (Atlanta, Roswell, Alpharetta: budget, apartment complex, condo)

[twiceblessed]

Can anyone tell me about any of the following places? Are these safe areas?

Alara Highland Park - Dunwoody

Autumn Ridge - Roswell

Gables of Sugarloaf - Duluth

Collingwood - Alpharetta

I will be working off of Peachtree Industrial Blvd in Duluth. What would my commute times be like?

I am looking for a 3 bedroom apartment. Do you have a better suggestion?

[Jomaark]

I don't know what your budget is but maybe you should try and rent a condo.

[rackensack]

Autumn Ridge is just across East Roswell Park from me. Very safe area -- as good as you're going to get in an apartment complex. The positives for the location include that the Autumn Ridge complex backs up directly onto East Roswell Park, with woods, trails, playgrounds, tennis courts, a disc golf course, softball/baseball and soccer fields, plus the East Roswell Recreation Center, with a wide range of activities available for all ages. Sometime in the next several years, a new branch of the Atlanta-Fulton County Library is slated to be built on what's now park property.

While the park acts as a buffer to shield the complex from the traffic and noise of Holcomb Bridge Road, you're still within easy walking distance to a shopping center with Kroger, Rite Aid, and Kohl's, as well as full-service Mexican and Italian restuarants, a Moe's Southwest Grill, a jazz/blues bar with a full menu, small independent coffee shop with free WiFi (there's also a Starbucks inside the Kroger), a dry cleaner, UPS store, etc. There's also a new multi-use development going in on the northwest corner of Holcomb Bridge and Eves Road, also within easy walking distance, that will add more retail and dining options. There's a full-service U.S. Post Office just a short walk down Eves Road also.

The only real downside to the area is the traffic on Holcomb Bridge Road. I've had mornings when it has taken me 25 minutes to drive the two and a half miles from my house to GA 400. It's not much better going the other way once you pass Nesbit Ferry/Barnwell going toward the river, which would be the way you'd head toward Peachtree Industrial Boulevard. If you have any flexibility in work hours, that could help with the commute time. If you have to be at work between 8 and 9, I'd think you'd need to allow for at least 45 minutes -- it'd be a bit less most days, but there'll be a day or two a week where it could take that long. Depending on how far up PIB you'll be in Duluth, it might make sense to look at alternative routes -- when I was working with a client near PIB and Abbott's Bridge Road, I took Scott Rd/Old Alabama/Medlock Bridge/State Bridge to PIB each morning and could count on about a 20-25 minute trip time.

I've been inside one of the apartments at Autumn Ridge once -- only saw the living room and kitchen, which looked exactly like any of thousands of other apartments built in Atlanta in the 80s and 90s. It seemed clean and well-maintained inside, but I arrived at night and didn't notice much about the exterior up close. I have generally heard very positive things about them from people who live there.

Don't have any first-hand knowledge of any of the other places mentioned.

[twiceblessed]

Thanks for the great information about Autumn Ridge. You were very helpful. Safety is tops on my list!

Thanks again.