Is it Safe Enough? (Baltimore: insurance, crime, townhouse)

[Haftred]

I am thinking about moving to a rowhouse near 27th and Maryland Ave (I work at JHU Homewood). I know Howard St. and Remington are not too nice, and anywhere below 25th street is not so nice either. Honestly, how safe would the area around my house be? What precautions should I take while walking, especially at night (perhaps nowhere in baltimore is safe to walk in at night?). I don't know much about living in the city.

Thanks in advance.

[Queen_E]

no one can tell you whats safe and whats not. My advice...go to the neighborhood at different times of the day and night. Drive around. See who, if anyone is out and about. Drive by at 10pm, 3am, whatever. I'm a resident of patterson park, formally of mt. vernon and I have always had certain places I have no problem walking at night. The places I didn't venture were not neccissarily unsafe...just unfamiliar. Get to know the place and the fear will go away.

[losingmylycosa]

The areas around Remington and the Charles Village are relatively safe (relative to many other areas in the city). I've lived nearby for a number of years now. However, the thing you really have to worry about is people hitting your car. Both my girlfriend and I had our cars totaled on the street by drunks and we're not alone. The problem with the north-central region is that it has too much through traffic. There is also a lot of vehicle larceny, so be careful about leaving things in your car or your doors unlocked.

If you've never lived in a city before, you would probably be better off starting off in nearby Hampden. It is a much safer, quieter community. We are moving out of the Charles Village because it is too noisy and the parking situation sucks. Then you've got Union Memorial emergency traffic all the time, so the area sounds like a war zone. I would imagine the same is true of Remington, plus it really isn't as nice - there are a lot of meth heads walking around and I think there was a murder a couple weeks ago.

Honestly, there aren't many places that are safe to walk around at night - anywhere. Except maybe if you live in Sparks. However, being a veteran of urban living I have had my adventures...

[MDrex]

Hampden is a great area. I've lived there for over 3 years now and really like it. I feel that it is very safe, its quite and if you have a dog there are tons of other people to meet walking. The Avenue is great, lots of cool shops and places to eat. And the parks are also nice.

Plus it is very easy to get on 83. You can be anywhere from Arundle Mills to Wegmans in Hunt Valley in under 30 minutes (outside of rush hour).

[Local Expert]

Have you thought about moving a little north into the county. For example, You could look into Rodgers Forge or Gaywood. nice townhomes priced under 300K. Not sure of your price range. But if you can afford there, you have stable values and you are still close to JHU.

[kinkytoes]

Hmm. So you need to pay 3K per month including taxes and insurance for a townhouse and then pay for gas, a car payment and car-repairs? Also, what's there to do for a young (or young-at-heart) person in those areas?
I say nah.

Remington is sort of low-brow but it's close everything you may need and it may be fairly safe. A friend of mine lived there several years ago and her neighbors were old white "hon"'s but they kept an eye on her house and were pretty nice! I guess they didn't have jobs, but they were pretty old and friendly. Just being nice folks even though they were poor and the neighborhood--as someone mentioned—may not look very chic.

You can look down nearer Mt.Vernon or closer near Charles village for a bit snazzier neighborhood that's closer to restaurants, transportation and shopping. In the central area of the city you're pretty safe between JHU and downtown. As someone mentioned, the major crime is car-related. Not sure if there are many actual car *thefts* though.

I would recommend staying as close as possible to Charles and Saint Paul streets if you're worried about your personal safety. BTW, there was a break-in, assault and theft at my office in Sparks a couple of months ago! So much for Sparks being safe. . .
If this is your first time living away from home, these tips my help:
http://www.morganhilltimes.com/opinion/229004-avoid-being-a-crime-target (broken link)
http://www.eminnetonka.com/news.cfm?story_id=AvoidVehicleTheft

Good Luck.

[chippeebobippee]

Hi,

You ask some good quetions. I agree with the first poster that wherever you are thinking of living, check out the neighborhood thoroughly at various times of the night and day, weekends included. Get a big dog. There are several nice blocks close to JHU. I live on one in Waverly that is very quiet. There are blocks in Guilford and Charles Village though that make my flesh creep at night. It all depends on what you are looking for as well as price range. Shoot me a private message and I will chat with you that way, especially since when I was first looking to move into the city in 2000, 27th and Maryland Ave is one area we looked a lot.

[medfieldbum]

Um, if he's thinking about 27th and Maryland, seriously, I don't think Rodger's Forge or Gaywood are in his universe. Besides, apparently he wants to walk to JHU. And, if he's worried about city life, perhaps Waverly isn't a good fit. He probably needs to ease in to one of the professionally managed buildings around JHU to get his feet wet.

[chippeebobippee]

There has been more crime, including murder, in the area surrounding Hopins than in Waverly over the past couple of years. I've lived here eight years and no issues for me or my family. I look out my window and see my alma mater and can walk to it with 15 minutes, bike in less. Something to consider before dismissing Waverly. On the othr hand, if a person wants to spend thousands of dollars to live in the county, somewhere I moved from because of the drug dealing and violence, go for it. I have felt much safer here than I did in Baltimore County...one of the "good areas".

[rudy_d]

That area is generally pretty safe. The vast majority of crimes are crimes of opportunity, like breaking into a car for something left in plain sight or stealing something from a porch. But, like just about anywhere else, you should stay alert if walking at night. If you are walking at night, sticking to 28th and 29th Streets as well as St. Paul and Charles, which have considerable traffic, would probably make you less vulnerable.

Working for JHU, you might also be able to take advantage of the escort van that provides students with rides around the neighborhood.