Why so many homes for sale in Catonsville? (Baltimore, Columbia: crime, houses)

[Linksnut]

I have lived in Catonsville for many years, and currently have a home built in 1940 in what would be considered 'old' Catonsville. There are a number of areas and subdivisions that claim they are part of Catonsville (such as those east of I-695 or north of Rt. 40 west) that bear no resemblence to Catonsville proper, or what I call "old Catonsville". These areas are apparently the ones being refered to here as becoming 'ghetto' influenced. The original neighborhoods of true Catonsville have some of the most sought after real estate in the Baltimore suburbs, and we love our home and it's location. My advice: don't be turned off to Catonsville by less desirable areas that claim they are part of Catonsville...concentrate on the area between I-695 and Ellicott City along both sides of Frederick Road...stay away from bus routes...find out where any section 8 housing is...get an alarm system REGARDLESS of where you live, if it's within 5 miles of the city line. Good Luck!

[barante]

I am not sure what to make of the recent discussion about Catonsville going ghetto. I visit people there regularly and see no evidence where I go.
Various posters might consider the following: Catonsville has an old black settlement along Winters Lane. It's been there probably a century or so. In fact, the area along Route 40 near the beltway intersection used to be black housing until it was rezoned for gas stations. etc. So it's not like African
Americans have appeared in Catonsville all of a sudden.
The Catonsville-Westview area houses one of the most diverse populations in the metro area. Just visit Hmart, a busy Korean-owned supermarket that caters to all ethnicities.

[janetvj]

It bothers me that some seem to equate diversity with "going ghetto".

My BF rented a second floor apartment in one of Catonsville's big old houses when I met him 15 years ago. I knew nothing about the area until then, but soon fell in love with the charm of the old houses and the tree-shaded sidewalks, as well as the little "downtown" area on Frederick Road with it's shops and restaurants. I really liked that the neighborhood was so walkable and felt so safe. The one thing that did seem to be missing was diversity. I'm not talking about the Route 40 corridor, but south to Edmondson Avenue and Frederick Road. There were a handful of people of Asian heritage, but other than Winter's Lane there were very few African-Americans.

About 6 years ago my BF gave up his apartment and moved in with me, so I haven't been back to that side of town in a while. I hope the "going ghetto" comments aren't some type of code for saying that the area is becoming more diverse, which I would consider to be a positive thing.

[barante]

I drove all the way on Edmondson Avenue through Catonsville to Oella today and I saw three or four For Sale signs, not unusual for this time of the year.
I would like the poster who brought this up to specify where the signs can be seen because I go to the Hilton area every week and I see no signs there, either. In fact, many owners are doing very expensive rehab in their substantial old houses and new, very exensive houses are being built near Patapsco Park.

[mica]

There are more than a token amount of blacks and Asian's in Catonsville. That's code for 'diverse'.

[barante]

How much is "token?" Antero Pietila's Not in My Neighborhood: How Bigotry Shaped a Great American City documents how a smattering of African Americans -- 5 percent -- was enough to lead to wholesale white abandonment in Ashburton. The same in Edmondson Village.
Those things happened in the 1950s. Has anything changed?

[dad2paisley]

I lived in Catonsville for 14yrs and when I first moved there, it was nice and not a lot of crime, traffic. Now, the area has changed. More traffic, higher taxes, crime and not to clean. It's still a pretty safe area for the most part.
I am planning on moving within the year though. Need to find a bigger house and a bigger lot.

My family lives in Ellicott City which is a nice area. Little pricy but nice. Columbia is nice but taxes are a bit high.

Owings Mills, Towson, Randlestown areas are nice.

Good luck.

[barante]

My advice to anyone looking for a house in the Baltimore area is to visit the neighborhoods at various times of the day and talk to residents.
The previous poster, for example, complains about "higher taxes" in Catonsville, yet mentions Towson and Randallstown as "nice" neighborhoods without complaining about their taxes, which are identical with Catonsville's. (A review of posts also would show that many people seem to feel that Randallstown is not that "nice.")
I also find it difficult to understand -- without additional information -- why anyone would want to leave Catonsville "for a bigger house and a bigger lot," when Catonsville has such houses available for very reasonable prices, compared to Ellicott City or Columbia.
Until someone convinces me otherwise, I list Catonsville as one of the most desirable spots in the metro area.

[dad2paisley]

Originally Posted by barante

My advice to anyone looking for a house in the Baltimore area is to visit the neighborhoods at various times of the day and talk to residents.
The previous poster, for example, complains about "higher taxes" in Catonsville, yet mentions Towson and Randallstown as "nice" neighborhoods without complaining about their taxes, which are identical with Catonsville's. (A review of posts also would show that many people seem to feel that Randallstown is not that "nice.")
I also find it difficult to understand -- without additional information -- why anyone would want to leave Catonsville "for a bigger house and a bigger lot," when Catonsville has such houses available for very reasonable prices, compared to Ellicott City or Columbia.
Until someone convinces me otherwise, I list Catonsville as one of the most desirable spots in the metro area.

I have friends who live in Towson and really like it. My sister lives in Randlestown and she likes the area she is in.
Ellicott City and Columbia areas are booming now with jobs, housing etc.
Just giving the person some ideas about the local areas.

I need a bigger house and lot because of my family has grown and also want to be more in the country. My 2.5 bed rancher is getting kinda small for all of us.

I agree, talk and look in the areas you want to visit. Also, talk with the local police in that area about crime, etc. I did that when I first moved in and they were more then happy to tell me about my area I moved into.

[Plumeria99]

TomLennox is right. This is most likely why. Expanding ghetto and crime by racists. If there are kids involved you either have to send them to private school or they''ll get shot or attacked in school by violent and hateful kids.. whose parents act the same way. Ugly truth.

Catonsville neighborhood itself is still holding strong but it's the school's that can be iffy if you have kids. Section 8's, low standards of these people large contribution for the exodus. We all want to be safe

What areas will you be working in.