Moving to Baltimore Coppin Heights Area...Scared as hell!! (Garrison: rent, crime)

[wondernites]

I was so ready to move to baltimore until I started to read about the crime! I cant get my mind around all of the shootings of kids and women out there! I have 2 boys ages 16 and 8. One daughter age 6. We are from Denver so we may talk proper to everyone out there.
I am sure people will be able to tell that we are from another state.

Is Coppin Heights a good safe area? Will my kids be safe at school. My 16 yr old is not a banger...will he be picked on? Help meeeeee! I want to move but scared as HELL!

[mrboltonman]

I don't live in that area but have driven on North Ave through Coppin Heights and it doesn't look safe around there.

Neat site I found:
Coppin Heights, Baltimore, MD Crime News

Not sure if that site is accurate but if so then give the house back or sell it.

[wondernites]

Thanks for reply. What do you think of Fells Point?

[barante]

Coppin State University was originally a teacher's college for blacks. About a decade ago it became part of the University of Maryland System, meaning that salaries were equalized and students could take courses at other member institutions. The university is in the midst of an incredible building boom. With the expansion of Mondwamin Mall, the whole area is changing.
The neighborhoods along North Avenue are iffy, although the university is spreading across and rehabbing blocks.
Go in the direction of Mondawmin Mall, however, and you see stable African American neighborhoods. The mall has the city's biggest supermarket and a Target. It also is a transit hub, including a Metro station.
The Mondawmin neighborhoods are improving but have many problems common to non-elite African American areas.
Another area that is improving is the Garrison Boulevard area, north of Gwynns Falls Parkway. It will take time but things are looking up.
You might want to search Mondawmin. I have discussed this in several posts.
Is there any particular reason why you are interested in Coppin Heights? Your question about Fells Point suggests that you really don't know Baltimore nor what you want. Sorry to be blut. Please explain.

[wondernites]

Well, my sister-in-law (whom lives in DC) has a newly rentovated property in Coppin Heights. We can stay there for FREE! LOL But after I read the crime reports, I started to look in other areas. We are moving there for business. The mall you speak of is my goal. I am in Fashion Forward Footwear. We had 2 locations here in Colorado but when the housing market fell, so did our business. Denver is a Croc's & Birkenstock city. Our customer base were mainly visitors and Black and Russian women. We had many customers ask to set the up a store in their towns because we are something new, even for the east coast. I think we would do VERY well there.
We sell now but mostly to the UK

You are right, I don't know Baltimore AT ALL! My husband is from NY.
He moved here (Denver) 6 Yrs ago to be with me. He never want to see NY again.... so his sister said...Try Baltimore.

[cool rob]

I agree, it is dangerous. But it has changed a lotttt! A lot of growth and development there with the Coppin State University and Mondawmin. I wish I would have bought a rowhouse on North Ave a few years ago when I attended Coppin State College (They have changed the name since then)... Might have made a couple bucks selling it back to developers. But Coppin Heights/West Baltimore and Fells point are on two very diffrent ends of the spectrum. However that does not discount the charm and history that both areas have, just in two very diffrent ways. However, you seem extremley uninformed, so I would stay away from the city if I were you and shoot for the county if you can afford it. Sometimes curiousity and naiviety (sp) can be very dangerous in the "big city". Good Luck!

[wondernites]

I am ashamed of myself! I should feel good about moving to a place that is "Big City" and mostly black, and I'm black myself!

Denver is not a good place for black owned businesses.

I believe Baltimore is! I know it is a great place with great people there working and going about everyday life.
The news and blogs make it seem as if you must carry a 9MM and a knife at all times.

I love the look and the homes in Fells Point. It is so new to me.....it looks like homes in the movies. I am ready for change but fear has got a hold on me!

I don't want to miss a chance of a lifetime over fear.

[oneworld25]

I agree with most other posters that Coppin Heights is not the best place to raise a kid. And while Fells Point is a very nice area it is also extremely expensive. If you could let us know whether you are looking to buy or rent and what your price range is, other posters on the board could be of more assistance to you. But I can tell you that Baltimore is most certainly not as bad as the media make it out to be. There are plenty of safe areas.

[jonjj]

Wondernites, I am not exactly sure what the boundaries are for Coppin Heights but if it includes the area around Gwynns Falls Parkway, that area is a very stable African-American community with a lot of progress occuring both at Coppin and the nearby shopping mall. Gwynns Falls Parkway runs the same way as North Avenue only it's about 5 blocks north of it.

[mrboltonman]

Google just came out with a new feature that you can explore B'more virtually. It's kinda cool but doesn't match exploring an area in person. The pics are also kinda old but still give you an idea of how an area used to be.

Bolton Hill Example
bolton hill baltimore - Google Maps

Once you click on the link Google Maps will pop-up. On the left side there are navigation tools. Grab the person and put it on the map. Once at street level click on the arrows on the map to move up/down the street. pretty cool