Safe/good places to live between Mt Vernon & Loyola (PTSD)? (Baltimore: extended stay, sublet)

[marysella]

Hello all! My husband and I are young professionals in our thirties, no kids yet, who are moving to Baltimore. We know very little about the city and will be on a tight schedule. We will have three days to find an apartment to live with no help from a realtor so I am hoping you have neighborhood/complex suggestions.

I am working downtown near the Meyerhoff Symphony Center (which I think is in Mt Vernon). He is working near Loyola University Maryland. We are looking for a 1-bdr somewhere around $1k in a safe, walkable area with secured parking (willing to pay). I know that's a lot to ask for, but I am recovering from PTSD from a violent robbery some years back... but we're also not willing to pack up and move to the suburbs, I want to move on with my life and enjoy things while I am still young.

We are hoping for commutes under 15 minutes, but we know that might not be possible.

Thank you for helping! Looking forward to walking the inner harbor, going to orioles games, etc.

We live in Orlando, FL now so the weather will be a change.

[MrRational]

Originally Posted by marysella

I am working downtown near the Meyerhoff....
He is working near Loyola University Maryland.

We are looking for a 1-bdr somewhere around $1k...
We will have three days...

Find a sublet or extended stay instead (even in the 'burbs).
Take the time needed to find your niche.

[ktaadin]

I agree w MrRational--stay at a residence inn or some kind of temporary sublet to search places more thoroughly. I personally moved to Baltimore in the space of about 4 days and got pretty lucky, but I know others who haven't (crummy landlord, sketchy location after dark, hidden catches in the lease terms, etc etc).

Regarding location, how safe is safe to you? Nowhere in Mt Vernon is as safe as a sheltered suburb in Lutherville (for example) would be, but it's still a pretty safe area by Baltimore city standards-just use basic street smarts and you'll probably be fine. You're more likely to find parking in the more northern neighborhoods closer to Loyola, but then you'll lose walkability. Essentially, if urbanity/walkability is your priority, then pick Mt Vernon near Charles street (although 1K, with parking, might be a bit low). If better safety and ease of parking is your higher priority, try to find an apartment complex between Hopkins and Loyola, again near the Charles/St Paul corridor.

[james777]

My response echoes the two responses above; get a temporary place until you can get your bearings, then find a permanent place that meets your needs. I make this suggestion because the cities up here are different from where you are in that one block could be good and two blocks away could be bad. I would not recommend Mt. Vernon because of safety issues, but instead advise you to look at Charles Village, Roland Park, and Hampden. Bolton Hill is a very nice neighborhood within walking distance to the Meyerhoff, and a few apartments for rent there are listed on www.boltonhill.org. If you have trouble keeping within your price range, try the neighborhoods of Lauraville and Hamilton on the Harford Road corridor. All of those areas are a relatively quick commute to Loyola and downtown. A realtor should be able to come up with some options for you from the MLS.