Looking for apartment near GT campus (Atlanta: apartments, insurance, crime)

[oneyuan]

Hi everyone,

I'm looking for a place to stay for the Spring semester 2012 starts in Jan. I'd appreciate if you can give me some tips or suggestions.

My preferences:

1, better walking distance to GT campus (I'm still thinking if I need to buy a car or not, since I'm an international student)

2, It would be great if it's close to Tech square/ Midtown


3, Not sure of about the price, if it's too high then I'd consider a roommate.


......


Look forward to hear some useful information, advice.... Thanks first~

[testa50]

Look for a roommate in Midtown. The cheaper places west of tech generally require a car, which is going to be a significant expense, and obtaining the car right when you arrive is going to be a hassle. Living close to tech square, you would not need a car. If you are comfortable biking, you could live a little bit further from campus in Midtown (cheaper apartments are east of Piedmont), and then bike in to campus on 5th Street (which is a nice, wide, low-traffic bridge that is safe for biking).

[oneyuan]

Thanks so much for your reply. That's why I prefer to walk to campus, cuz I might need to stay very late near Tech Square to study, plus so many slopes, I don't think biking would be a very good choice for a girl at night in Atlanta...

Also, I don't quite get it, could you explain a little why it would be a hassle to obtain a car....?

[testa50]

Originally Posted by oneyuan

Thanks so much for your reply. That's why I prefer to walk to campus, cuz I might need to stay very late near Tech Square to study, plus so many slopes, I don't think biking would be a very good choice for a girl at night in Atlanta...

Also, I don't quite get it, could you explain a little why it would be a hassle to obtain a car....?

Biking at night is probably safer than walking at night per unit of distance, but you probably would only walk short distances in well-lit areas anyways so it evens out.

Buying a car is just a hassle from the point of actually buying the car, getting it registered and the tag sorted out, keeping valid insurance, maintenance, paying for parking (not cheap on GT's campus, nor will it necessarily be close to your classes), emissions, etc. Walking would probably be less of a hassle, but also has drawbacks (you have to walk everywhere).

[MathmanMathman]

And I guess it is only fair to warn you that there has been a rash of crimes targeting Georgia Tech students, and female students are often the victims. The Home Park area is popular for off-campus housing but it is not safe. A dorm is probably a better choice.

As for biking, really, Atlanta is not flat but it's also not that hilly. If hills are a problem just make sure the bike has very low gears.

[roadtrip75]

Two armed robberies on October 15

Also there were three sexual assaults within 24 hours of each other a few weeks ago.

This crime wave on Georgia Tech students has been going on for about two years.

[testa50]

The crime angle also leads me to think Midtown near Tech Square is the best option. I haven't heard about anything happening on that part of the campus--probably because there is a lot of foot traffic at all hours.

[anothertntony]

You can see a list of GT-related crime reports as reported due to the Clery Act at:

GT | Police Department - Crime Alerts

The most recent report as I write this was a robbery on 10/29 in Tech Square.

[Math Commando]

Try 100 Midtown

[gt6974a]

When I went to Tech, I lived in several places but Home Park and Centennial Place were in walking distance to campus. Both places have break ins though