Future UIndy grad student looking for best areas to live in (Indianapolis: apartments, homes)

[bmorge2]

I will be moving to Indy soon to attend grad school at University of Indianapolis. Can anyone help me figure out some good areas to look for apartments. I am coming from an area of Chicago flush with young working professionals and college students/recent grads and would like to move to a similar area. Safety is a large concern, school districts are not, I would like to be close to campus but being downtown does not look to be too far away to be out of the picture. I would like to be in a fairly happening place but price is also a consideration. Any help is greatly appreciated.

[grmasterb]

Originally Posted by bmorge2

I will be moving to Indy soon to attend grad school at University of Indianapolis. Can anyone help me figure out some good areas to look for apartments. I am coming from an area of Chicago flush with young working professionals and college students/recent grads and would like to move to a similar area. Safety is a large concern, school districts are not, I would like to be close to campus but being downtown does not look to be too far away to be out of the picture. I would like to be in a fairly happening place but price is also a consideration. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Budget? Will you have a car?

[domergurl]

Coming from Chicago, you'll find downtown Indianapolis very affordable.

[Thomas46032]

Fountain Square perhaps? I've never found the neighborhoods right by U of I to be terribly appealing, but Fountain Square is just enough removed from downtown Indy that you'd be able to get to the campus pretty quickly without having to fight a lot of traffic. At the same time, you're still a long walk away from everything downtown has to offer. Plus, if you're bringing a bike you'll be able to hop on the Cultural Trail and get wherever you'd need to go.

Fountain Square seems to be getting better by leaps and bounds recently, lots of new businesses and devolopment happening there. It's worth a look.

[bmorge2]

I will have a car to get me to campus so someplace where parking is not a big issue would be ideal. As far as budget I would feel comfortable in the $400-$600 range. From what I have been hearing Broad Ripple is a good place to look, otherwise some have recommended the Southport or Greenwood areas if I wanted to stay closer to campus and not be downtown, which I am on the fence about now. Heading down there this weekend to check out the city and feel it out a bit. Thanks for any help you can provide guys

[grmasterb]

Originally Posted by bmorge2

I will have a car to get me to campus so someplace where parking is not a big issue would be ideal. As far as budget I would feel comfortable in the $400-$600 range. From what I have been hearing Broad Ripple is a good place to look, otherwise some have recommended the Southport or Greenwood areas if I wanted to stay closer to campus and not be downtown, which I am on the fence about now. Heading down there this weekend to check out the city and feel it out a bit. Thanks for any help you can provide guys

The drive from Broad Ripple to UIndy, IMO, would be a pain. If you want to live near nightlife and be able to get to campus reasonably quick, I would try to find a studio in or adjacent to downtown.

Southport/Homecroft is a nice residential area close to campus, and Beech Grove and Garfield Park have charm as well, but there won't be much in the way of nightlife.

[domergurl]

Are Riley Towers any good??? I had friends from grad school who lived there and liked it.

[Broadrippleguy]

Originally Posted by grmasterb

The drive from Broad Ripple to UIndy, IMO, would be a pain. If you want to live near nightlife and be able to get to campus reasonably quick, I would try to find a studio in or adjacent to downtown.

Southport/Homecroft is a nice residential area close to campus, and Beech Grove and Garfield Park have charm as well, but there won't be much in the way of nightlife.

To the OP you will find the best nightlife in Downtown along Mass Ave and Downtown in General
Indianapolis will be able to cater to your needs but living in Broad Ripple which also has a nightlife but is more catering to Butler is ok but the drive is a pain.
I recommend something in Fountain Square or Downtown. Riley Towers are nice

[chalcedony]

Originally Posted by Thomas46032

Fountain Square perhaps? I've never found the neighborhoods right by U of I to be terribly appealing

Hear, hear.

This has always seemed like a huge missed opportunity. The University Heights area just south of campus is actually pretty nice, with some attractive homes on wooded lots. But it seems to be in an economic slump, and most of the neighborhoods just north of U of I aren't in super great shape. Yet there are several big, mostly vacant strip malls in the area. It really could become a walkable hub if a developer partnered with the university for some reasonably high density student housing to redevelop the strip malls, which are nearly all past their prime. It could be a great little area but seems to be coming up short of its potential.