best neighborhood choice for young-ish urban couple relocating from nyc

[NJ2MDdude]

Originally Posted by kristinalb

thanks for all the info! i will check out the neighbors listed. fells point seemed very touristy when i visited. is that impression correct? looking at the map, i think that i may have been in both otterbein and federal hill on my last visit, thinking i was in federal hill the whole time. i must look into that neighborhood.we definitely plan on getting a car. my husband will work on pratt street downtown. i have no idea of my plan yet. hopefully at least one of us can walk or bus to work.

I'd say Federal Hill and Otterbein gives you maximun flexibility in terms of accessibility. Your husband should be able to walk to work from either location, and, with the MARC Camden line nearby, you can take the commuter train to DC if a job opportunity becomes available there.

[Woodlands]

THe portion of North Ave between Maryland Ave and St Paul is coming along. I also park sometimes at the North Ave Light Rail and scurry across the bridge for the walk to Penn. I cant wait until they do something with the bridge not only because of the traffic zooming by but it does feel a bit isolated once you get up on it.. the bi level sidewalks make for an interesting jaunt. Occasionally you run into various "characters" on the bridge who try to stop you for a couple bucks but that about the worst encountered. Granted, all of this has been during bankers hours or the early evening.. I have not traversed the area at late evening or night to make a comparison. But eventually if they can tie in North Ave at a minimum between Bolton and Res Hill to down past the Schools Central Office...they will have a good size area to work with.

[diamondeye]

Like another poster recently said, you can also check out the core downtown area, there's the Park Charles , Charles Towers, and 39 W Lexington. Those are the only real high-rise apartment buildings close in. A new Superfresh has opened right at their feet and seems to be a focal point for that 3 block radius. Personally, I would kill to live in 39 West Lexington, just to look out my window and be in a forest of skyscrapers (I come from DC and we can't have skyscrapers, so they're somewhat an object of fascination to me), and the SS/Granite make it a cut above the other two apartment complexes. Anyway, I just love the whole "downtowniness" of it all. But I would caution you, there ain't much goin' on here after dark. Sure, there's the Mick O'Shea's block, but that's about it for post Happy Hour entertainment in the business district. That said, the harbor is certainly walkable from there (choose your walking route carefully).

My best advice is, when it comes to Baltimore, avoid comparisons. It'll never be New York or DC. Hopefully Baltimore will just live up to its own fullest potential.

[kristinalb]

we researched all the hoods you listed and will be coming down for little tour soon -- many thanks all!

diamondeye, you make an excellent point about avoiding comparisons.

[ginbelt]

Originally Posted by HandsUpThumbsDown

Okay Ginbelt - you've named 1 block of the 10-mile North Ave. Crossing North ave on st. paul, Maryland, howard or Charles (for the very popular and fun 1700 block) is certainly safe- but moving laterally is still not advised, in my opinion.

I've walked along North ave from the light rail station to Charles and 20th many times to get to the Chinatown bus - it is not a route I would want my mother to take without escort.

The "MICA" corner of Howard/North is definitely coming along. Joe Squared has good pizza and beer but slow, disinterested service (as with most hipster establishments). Good live music, too. Hopefully the whole corridor will benefit.

So yes, one block of North Ave is coming along ... but west of Howard and East of Charles, it is still one of the most dangerous east-west routes in the city, and probably the nation (moreso than Edmondson Ave, I would argue).

Just trying to be honest for these nice folks who are moving to our city.

No problem. I'm pretty much there with you on most of what you write above, but then what you wrote above is a bit different than "North Ave is an absolute no-go, day or night" which was the statement that moved me to respond initially. There was a time, not that long ago, either, when that statement would be tough to challenge. But North Ave has been in the news lately, and not for bad reasons...ie, that part of it is indeed coming back, and many hope that it will spread east and westward.

I've walked North Ave at 1 in the morning before, from Charles Street all the way to Eutaw Place....didn't have one problem, but as you said, doing this repeatedly probably isn't advisable. I'm also a six foot two male. I live only a few blocks from North Ave, and in Baltimore, those couple blocks can make a world of difference -- that is also somehting I'd stress to these newcomers. And, again, there is a difference between a place where you buy your house to live, and a place you might visit occaisionally....ie, I personally wouldn't live directly ON North Ave, but I have no problem walking parts of it, or going to bars/restaurants/theaters on parts of it. So your advice about "no go" might be good if it applied strictly to buying a home!

Then again, if North Ave comes back like sections of Washington and NY have, those mansions lining the avenue will be million dollar properties one day. They have SO much potential....that whole street does.

[ginbelt]

Originally Posted by jonjj

kristina,
If you look at the top of the thread, many neighborhoods in the city are listed. Think about the specifics of what you want and maybe we can be more helpful. I lived in Boston before moving here and I actually think Bolton Hill reminds me the most of that city. But, Butchers Hill and Patterson Park have similarities as well. The closest thing to NYC ( and that is a long-stretch) would be the Mt. Vernon neighborhood or downtown living in one of the condos. One other area I think you may like would be Brewers Hill along the waterfront in southeast Baltimore.

Agree about Bolton Hill/Boston-- many have compared it to a roomier Beacon Hill.

Also agree with Mt. Vernon and downtown Bmore being the most similar to NYC. I've also overheard more than one person remark that the brownstones and 1920's-era apartment towers on Upper Eutaw Place and Madison Avenue (above North Avenue, just below the park) reminded them of parts of NYC (Park Slope, Harlem, etc). That area does NOT have the amenities yet, though -- it's pretty much a bedroom district at this point, as is Bolton Hill for the most part.

[Jennifer L.]

Check out Canton as well. I lived there for years and loved it. Walking distance to great bars and food. Also, right next to both tunnels so you can get out of the city on 95 or 895 quickly.