Reservior Hill/Druid lake (Baltimore, Fairmount: for sale, real estate, foreclosures)

[Dbatiste]

Hello, I am looking to live in Reservior Hill near Druid Lake. Can anyone tell me if this area? Is this a pretty good neighborhood? Im not looking for something perfect, but I would like to avoid the heavily drug infested areas with 6 or 7 abandoned buildings on 1 block. The internet pictures look good, but I will not visit the place till next week and would prefer not to waste time in a bad area. The street is called Brookfield.

[jonjj]

Reservior Hill has tremendously improved over the past years but it still has a way to go. There are blocks in the area that are great and the people really like it there. They host a house tour every year in the summer complete with a wine bar. There are other blocks that are iffy at best. It could still be called a "transitional" neighborhood. Some compare the neighborhood to a donut in that the blocks on the perimeter are great but the center needs a lot more investment.
Having said all that, the homes in the neighborhood are spectacular and huge. There has been a huge investment in the neighborhood although the recent downturn in real estate has slowed the progress down. I predict that one day this neighborhood will be one of the finest in the city. I would drive/walk the area to get a sense of it-both day and night. Brookfield is more in the "center". Still, I wouldn't outrule it. It depends on how much you can handle. From your previous posts, are you from Brooklyn? If so, you may like it.

[barante]

jonjj summed it up nicely. My recommendation, if it is possible, is for you to drive around. Reservoir Hill was doing quite nicely before this Depression hit. There are now lots of once-overpriced houses for sale, many still overpriced. Meanwhile, several rehab projects have stalled.
In the long-term, if you are buying, you will do well if you know what you are doing.
Google Reservoir Hill and see what it brings up. If there are organizations, they probably have newsletters or an office where someone can put you straight.

[Dbatiste]

I'm checking out the area in a few days. If it is similar to Brooklyn, then it's definitely something I can deal with. Not to mention the properties are really cheap compared to NY. The idea of living mortgage free is exciting.

[barante]

Sounds good. But please check the prices carefully. Lots of foreclosures. But Eutaw Place is a Baltimore gem and once the economy turns around -- and it will -- Reservoir Hill will be going strong again.
Druid Hill Park is Baltimore's Central Park. The city has spent a ton of money on improving walkways. A good gauge of a neighborhood's standing are joggers. Plenty of them.

[Billiam]

^^ You know i always thought of Patterson Park as Baltimore's Central Park haha

Yea, Jon did a great job summing it up. The neighborhood is pretty big and has many high ups and low downs. The houses though, even though some may be in not perfect shape, defeinently compete as some of the nicest in the city. Beautiful park too (stunning!)

Also, great access to 83, downtown is what 5 mins away with it?

Good luck! I look forward to Reservoir hill becoming one of Baltimore's greatest neighborhoods in the future

[barante]

Patterson Park is probably Baltimore's best (i.e. safest, userfriendliest and happeniest) park at this point but at 137 acres it does not hold candle to Druid Hill Park, which is 745 acres. That is not the basis of my calling it Baltimore's Central Park, however. Druid Hill's status as such is recognized by academics because it was established soon after New York's Central Park and Philadelphia's Fairmount Park.

[Woodlands]

Originally Posted by Billiam

^^ You know i always thought of Patterson Park as Baltimore's Central Park haha

Yea, Jon did a great job summing it up. The neighborhood is pretty big and has many high ups and low downs. The houses though, even though some may be in not perfect shape, defeinently compete as some of the nicest in the city. Beautiful park too (stunning!)

Also, great access to 83, downtown is what 5 mins away with it?

Good luck! I look forward to Reservoir hill becoming one of Baltimore's greatest neighborhoods in the future

They are digging foundations for new townhomes in Penn North next to Res Hill not to far from Pennsy and North Ave but on the south side (not sure what that area is called) There is a new plaza with a fountain.. the street has been repaved and there are new "vintage" street lights in the area. Its a start but it still has a ways to go....

[Billiam]

That is great news! Are the new townhouses in druid heights near the corner of Division and Baker street sort of area? Such positive news! Exactly what the Baltimore community needs

[Billiam]

BTW here are some photos of the neighborhood - both good and bad

http://washingtonhistory.com/Baltimore/images/baltimore_brown_sm.JPG (broken link)
Kelsey & Associates "The House History People" (http://www.washingtonhistory.com/Baltimore/index.html - broken link)

http://www.voanews.com/english/Archive/images/us_baltimore_reservoir_hill_neighborhood_site_bric k_houses_3dec03_eng_150.jpg (broken link)
Young Urban Pioneers Want to Save Run Down Baltimore Neighborhood - 2003-12-03 (http://www.voanews.com/english/archive/2003-12/a-2003-12-03-15-Young.cfm?moddate=2003-12-03 - broken link)

http://csmedia.mris.com/platinum/getmedia?ID=90099225224&LOOT=50000881745 (broken link)
Real Estate Round-Up — Recently Reduced in Reservoir Hill (http://urbandiscoveriesblog.com/2009/08/18/real-estate-round-up-recently-reduced-in-reservoir-hill/ - broken link)


Real Estate Round-Up — Recently Reduced in Reservoir Hill (http://urbandiscoveriesblog.com/2009/08/18/real-estate-round-up-recently-reduced-in-reservoir-hill/ - broken link)


Real Estate Round-Up — Recently Reduced in Reservoir Hill (http://urbandiscoveriesblog.com/2009/08/18/real-estate-round-up-recently-reduced-in-reservoir-hill/ - broken link)


http://www.joserivas.com/Util/Disabled.aspx (broken link)

http://kcmproperty.com/attachments/CropImages/cfab374a01ca8f73319eddf7a9f7124d.jpeg (broken link)
http://kcmproperty.com/attachments/CropImages/cfab374a01ca8f73319eddf7a9f7124d.jpeg (broken link)


flickr


Live in Baltimore - Reservoir Hill


Baltimore City's Past Present and Future

http://www.beefbaltimore.org/scope_files/image002.jpg (broken link)
Economic Impact of Baltimore City’s Project SCOPE (http://www.beefbaltimore.org/scope.html - broken link)


Baltimore69

great site for a few neighborhoods - Urbanohio.com Gallery > Neighborhoods


Baltimore part two, You don't want to miss this! (huge thread) - SkyscraperPage Forum




Couldn't find enough photos of the gritty side though