Safe, but hip family-friendly Balto neighborhoods?? (Baltimore, Ellicott City: apartments, for rent, houses)

[KrisHen]

Hi all... I'm a married mom of two toddlers moving to Baltimore (from Cincinnati) for a year (for my husband's job). He works in Owings Mills, which I find (no offense) to be a little boring, antiseptic and too far removed from town (especially New Town).

Any suggestions for areas we might look to rent that have TREES, houses with a little character, a fairly funky (read: liberal) demographic, yet that are SAFE (so I could comfortably take the kids for a walk in a stroller)?

Anyone have anything to say about Mt. Washington or say, Ellicott City??

We can spend up to $1500/mo. (given that we're maintaining our house in Cincy).

[barante]

Mount Washington/Cheswolde would fit the bill. Lots of liberals (if that's what you want). Pleasant, good location.

[koofie]

Originally Posted by KrisHen

...Owings Mills, which I find (no offense) to be a little boring, antiseptic and too far removed from town (especially New Town).

Any suggestions for areas we might look to rent that have TREES, houses with a little character, a fairly funky (read: liberal) demographic, yet that are SAFE (so I could comfortably take the kids for a walk in a stroller)?

ROFLMAO! I totally agree with you about New Town. Luckily I live in the older section of OM. I'll be watching this post too, as I am looking for the same things. My only problem is that my husband and I want a larger lot - I want an area for a large vegetable garden

[carebear1970]

Good luck trying to find a home in Ellicott City for 1500 a month

[carolott]

I pay that much and I live in Pigtown.

I do think that if you can up your budget considerably, Mt. Washington would be a great neighborhood for you.

[rfried]

You might want to check out the areas around Johns Hopkins-- Oakenshawe, Tuscany/Canterbury, some parts of Charles Village-- mostly apartments and attached houses. But lots of character, and liberal leaning. Roland Park is another option, just north of there, but definitely more expensive. Here is a link to the Johns Hopkins Gazette with some listings that are somewhat in your ballpark, though I'm not sure how big of a place you are looking for. It comes out every week.

Johns Hopkins Gazette | August 6, 2007

[barante]

There are plenty of garden apartments in the Cross Country/Greenspring area. Mount Washington Apts., Fox Glen, Falls Village are just three of them. They seem to be in excellent condition and I am not aware of any problems. There is a feeder bus both to light rail (Mount Washington) and the Metro (Reisterstown Road Plaza).
Alternately, I would suggest Old Pikesville (Ralston, I think, is the official designation. Streets like Sherwood, Hawthorne. Within walking distance of the restaurants and stores on Reisterstown Road. Supermarkets: Shoppers, Giant, Safeway. Aside from these, there are now two organic veggie stores in the area -- Whole Foods (in Mount Washington) and Fresh something (at the new Quarry Lake, off Greenspring Avenue).
Ralston/Old Pikesville does not have apartments but some of the houses might be for rent.
And since religion has been raised in the context of Pikesville, let me assure that everyone is welcome. Pikesville is nowadays regarded as a stereotypical Jewish village. Yet there is not a single synagogue that I know of in Pikesville proper. However there are plenty of churches, including a huge Catholic one.

[JaBradshaw]

Hampden, Roland Park, Federal Hill, south side of Patterson Park, Mount Washington.

[southbalto]

Originally Posted by KrisHen

Hi all... I'm a married mom of two toddlers moving to Baltimore (from Cincinnati) for a year (for my husband's job). He works in Owings Mills, which I find (no offense) to be a little boring, antiseptic and too far removed from town (especially New Town).

Any suggestions for areas we might look to rent that have TREES, houses with a little character, a fairly funky (read: liberal) demographic, yet that are SAFE (so I could comfortably take the kids for a walk in a stroller)?

Anyone have anything to say about Mt. Washington or say, Ellicott City??

We can spend up to $1500/mo. (given that we're maintaining our house in Cincy).

I'd recommend Oakenshawe. Adjacent to Guilford and Charles Village.

This is a picture of typical Oakenshawe rowhome:

[Be More]

I keep forgetting about Oakenshawe when I mention neighborhoods...I love that area.