Moving to Huntsville for 5 months, need help! (Madison, Enterprise: appointed, apartment complex)

[RachealCostanzo]

My husband will be going through his AIT at Redstone Aresonal in Huntsville. I'm going to be living off based for the 5 months while he is there. I need to find a place to stay for the 5 months he is there.

1) Does anyone know of any nice places in good areas? I'm not to worried about price. I heard about Overlook apartments and got terrifying reviews. Here is the address for the Overlook Apartments just in case anyone needs to the zip code or anything:

Overlook Apartments
1500 Sparkman Drive
Huntsville, AL 35816

2) Is there public transportation or a place where I can rent a car?

3) Whats the area like near Redstone Aresenal? Are there markets or malls? Any good restaurants? I love Japanese food.

4) What's the crime like there?

Thank you all for your input, i'd much rather get personal opinons rather than a websites say so.

[Charles]

You can look at rentals on Cragislist and valleymls

Do you have kids?

Here are a couple posts and comments.


http://www.city-data.com/forum/hunts...areas-hsv.html

Originally Posted by katchrist

Northwest Huntsville is crime ridden.

Originally Posted by Reactionary

#2 - In general, NW / SW HSV are wastelands. The schools suck, there's too much crime, and the housing is rundown.

Generally - avoid the area within these bounds: west of Memorial Parkway / US231, north of Airport Rd / Johnson Rd, east of Patton / Ardmore Hwy / AL53, and south of Bob Wade Lane.

Originally Posted by Huntsville_secede

The Madison part by Shelton Road is crime ridden too, I can think of a few incidents that have happened in the last year, including somebody being stabbed and attacked dozens of times, and Rite-Aid being robbed. But I personally don't like the "North Side" in Huntsville especially that horrible Wal-mart on Sparkman... and the area around Bob Wallace/Triana.

Originally Posted by financelife

I lived in the 35805 zip so I know the scoop. I know what you mean by "bad parts." 35805 is one of the "bad parts." Don't listen to people about revitalization efforts and all that rubbish. Someone mentioned the warehouses on 9th ave! LOL. hahahaha, that's where the homeless, the prostitutes, and crack heads are. Loves it.

I actually LIVED there, WALKED there daily with friends, etc, when growing up. And because I was already comfortable with the area, I bought a $50K house there 4 years ago. Yes, wife and I heard gun shots. Yes, there were random crackheads knocking on our door or asking to cut our grass. Yes, we had a drunk neighbor banging on our door in middle of the night because he didn't know where he was more than a couple of times.

Originally Posted by jillygrace

I must tell you that I am a native of Huntsville. I do know the area well. If you plan on working for Redstone you may want to consider SE/SW Huntsville. You will be close to an Arsenal gate and the school systems are better that way. 5 points area is a beloved area of mine. The houses are gorgeous and quaint. You will not find another area where all of the homes have beautiful character except for downtown. Mtn. Gap, Weatherly, Challenger/Grissom are the best schools.

[RachealCostanzo]

I don't have kids, oh! Craigslist I completly forgot about that thanks

[Elizabeth_G]

I would zone in on Five Points, if you don't have transportation. You can walk to Star market, banks, etc.
If you do find a rental on Craigslist, be sure to verify they ARE the owner or reputable management company. There have been a few scams where the person advertising the home and did not own it, then skipped with the renters money. Most are reputable, but just check it out before money changes hands.

[caution]

As a retired military guy (to include years teaching 'AIT' at a DoD school) I would suggest you not follow him while he is in initial entry training (or even if he's prior-service just going to reclassify).

Five months is nothing, and he won't have much time. Depending on if he's IET or PS, he'll have to "phase up" before he can even go see you on weekends.

Just my $.02.

[deesonic]

Well thanks, Charles, for bringing all those nonsense posts back up. I live in SW Huntsville in 35805 and it's not that bad, especially if schools are not a concern. There are several decent rentals in the area. One things for sure, you'll be very close to post.

I gotta ask though...I'm prior military and went to AIT while married too (although in Texas). I had to stay in barracks for two weeks and then was allowed to join my wife who had secured an off-post apartment. Is your husband staying with you or in barracks. If he's living off post, one piece of advice... DON'T LET HIM BE LATE FOR A PT TEST! Holy mother of God it ain't pretty to be late for a PT test when you're in AIT.

[gsp4ever]

I would not live in any apartments on Sparkman Drive. There tends to be a lot of crime in that area and there would not be anything much within walking distance that would be safe.

You can rent cars here, though many places are near the airport. There is also an Enterprise location on Hwy 72 W/University Drive. I'm not sure about public transportation, though I do see some smaller "city bus" type of vehicles and cabs around town. Most everyone drives cars in Huntsville so it'll be a small hassle if you have no car for transportation.

Off the top of my head, I'm thinking that you might try the Reserve at Research Park for temporary housing. It is essentially located near the corner of Enterprise Way and University Drive--behind the Target Shopping Center. There is another apartment complex (don't know the name) right behind it and a Residence Inn, too, nearby. There would be a several things within easy walking distance (restaurants, WalMart, Target, etc.). This area borders the Cummings Research Park, so there are lots of sidewalks and it's a relatively safe area. It is less than a 5 minute drive to Gate 9 of Redstone Arsenal and is close to the Bridge Street Town Centre and Madison Square Mall (a bit more of a walk--probably about a mile or so to Bridge Street and a little less to Madison Square) You'd have some movie theaters close by, too.

Redstone Arsenal is very large and covers much of the SW quadrant of Huntsville. So,it's hard to simply answer the question about what the area is like. The area I mention above is the area around Cummings Research Park (and that's near one side of the arsenal) so there are corporations there with fairly expansive green lawns. The University of Alabama in Huntsville is near the arsenal as is the Huntsville Botanical Garden and the US Space and Rocket Center (tourist sites) In other areas, you may find some residential areas near the borders of the arsenal.

Japanese restaurants...hmmm......you'll probably be disappointed with what you find here. Most are the non-authetic type where the chef flips the knives and about 8-10 people sit around a big table. There are several of those in the area of University Drive. Might try Mikawa which is near the intersection of University Drive and Old Monrovia Road (you have to look for it--sits behind a car dealership near a Hobby Lobby store) I haven't been there in quite some time but you could order off the menu. They had a pretty good Bento Box at lunch. Maybe someone can give an update on the status of Mikawa.

[33458]

NO to The Reserve at Research Park...that's where we stayed...let me be clearer - ENDURED until we found our house.
We had requested a first-floor apartment because I have a toddler who had just had her fill of basic dance classes and tap was still in her blood...I thought, ya know...be courteous, just in case...

The neighbors above us dropped used condoms on the walkway, puked on the stairwell, left their toddler-on-up children alone (or ignored) much of the day and most of the night, all running amok, and when elders were home, smokin' weed on the upstairs balcony. I know because I know, m'kay? Had unappreciated late-night visits and furniture moving, screaming tantrums (the adults) and car alarms going off...and the people next to us on the ground level were buddies so they all traveled to and fro.
(It was SoFl all over again...but with an accent.)
The walls are very thin, if you get my meaning. Not even 'white noise' was enough.

It may be simple luck, who you'll get for neighbors, but my main problem was despite the office stating such incidences should be reported to them...more than once...
management did SQUAT and to avoid possible repercussion we did not push it further.

We happily broke our lease, had great incentive to find a house, asap.

[gsp4ever]

Originally Posted by 33458

NO to The Reserve at Research Park...that's where we stayed...let me be clearer - ENDURED until we found our house.

Well, we lived there, too--for 18 months. No problems. Nice neighbors. Never had problems with the office staff. You can't beat the location, especially if you have no car. I have known many relocatees who have lived there on a temporary basis in recent years. I still miss the location. I enjoyed running in the Research Park (and walking the dog) and we used to walk to Target and Ol'Heidelburg and Rosies for dinner. Plus we were soooo close to work. Hubby even rode his bike to work.

I have two friends who live there right now. One has just relocated to Huntsville and is in a temporary housing situation while looking for a house. The other one has been there about a year. Again, no problems from either. If you don't like this complex then look at the one right behind it (I don't know the name)

[33458]

I stand by my post. It was ridiculous.

Luck of the draw, as said before. We were in a bad building with folks most don't want for neighbors.

The office staff was "nice" - yes - but did nothing about the problems as reported.