Looking for a 3BR rental within 30min commute to JHH, Green Spring Station (Lutherville) (Baltimore: apartments)

[charlesincharge]

Hello,

We're a family w/ 2 small kids relocating temporarily to Baltimore this summer for my wife's fellowship at JHMI. (She will work mostly at JHH but also Green Spring Station/Lutherville also). We're currently located in the Puget Sound area outside Seattle. After pouring over previous C-D posts, I embarked on a five-day neighborhood scouting trip in March. I initially focused on Baltimore City and Balt. County neighborhoods to the North, visiting neighborhoods along I-83. I started around Charles Village, then north to Roland Park, Mt Washington, Rogers Forge/ Anneslie, Mays Chapel, and finally Lutherville.

Sadly, I now feel that my earlier hope for quickly locating a place has given way to the realization that it may well be a couple more weeks of looking. We had hoped to find a modest 3BR w/ off-street parking in the $1,500 - $1,750 bracket but I've come up empty so far. Based on my experience so far, I think most of the places mentioned above are too posh for our budget. I need to explore other neighborhoods before I increase my rent budget.....

At this point, I have the following thoughts & questions:

a) In my price range, I'll probably need to look further out (i.e., outside city lines) for a 3BR with parking, but where? Should I go further north to say, Cockeysville? What about east (White Marsh) or West (Catonsville, Ellicott City)? 30 mins in traffic is my outside limit for commuting, I think.....

b) Around the JHU Homewood area, can I expect to find any 3BRs rentals w/ parking? Don't bother?

c) I loved the row houses in Hampden and Charles Village (Guilford Ave) but there seems to be no off-street parking. Anywhere. So not an option as long as I intend to bring our family minivan along?

d) I have been warned there's very heavy rush hour traffic coming into the city (esp I-95 to/from Ellicott City, Catonsville). What kind of commutes into the hospital can I expect from, say, for Catonsville outside I-695/beltway? Does it fall within my 30-minute commute target?

e) I've noticed relatively inexpensive apartments in White Marsh -- is the early AM/late night commute into the hospital/downtown via Hwy 40 (Pulaski Hwy) from the east, no worse (i.e., no more dangerous) than driving in from the west, along Orleans St/E Monument to/from I-83 or N/S along York Rd/Rte-40/Greenmount Ave?

f) I thought of ditching one of our two cars, but I myself expect to have an erratic commute to yet indeterminate clients in the greater metro area (I'm in public accounting). Due to preschool drop-off/pick-up logistics, I assume we'll have to keep both our cars.

g) From reading the previous threads in this forum, I understand that local crime, i while pretty rampant, is mostly drug connected. I take this to mean that I might manage this risk by staying clear of certain places......

I'll be back to Baltimore in a couple of weeks. Please wish me luck!

[Michael21214]

I can't really answer many of your questions, but have you looked into Towson (zips 21204, 21286), Parkville (21234), or northeast Baltimore (21214)? Those all should be within you commuting range.

Off-street parking is certainly not a given, but should be possible in those areas.

[PG2005]

I went to JHU Medical Campus and worked at JHH.

A,D. I can't imagine a commute from Catonsville, with traffic, would be less than 30 minutes. I lived in SW Baltimore (which is obviously closer) and it would take me a good 45 minutes in traffic to get to JHH.

Mapquest says it would take 21 minutes, that's with no cars on the road. Don't count on that. Ever.

Most of the rentals in the homewood area MIGHT have one designated spot for parking and then it's hit or miss. A friend of mine lived there and paid $1400 for an old 2 bedroom rental. Keep in mind the cost of utilities to cool an old home, hardly any insulation and leaky windows in most of those places.


Feel free to PM me. I'd love to offer any help I can. DH made a poor choice for housing and it was H*LL!

[DDNJ2010]

hi, im in a similar situation, looking for suburban apt within 'easy' drive to JHH.

thanks for your posts!