Relocating NEED HELP!!!! (Indianapolis, Beech Grove, Westfield: extended stay, section, apartment complex)

[Sunsh9e]

Anyone who lives in Indy can you please help guide me to the best areas to live. I am relocating there this May from the west coast. I am 24 and female. I will be working in the arts or with one of the many different sports organizations and possibly the convention center. I have been looking into Beech Grove and the downtown areas. I wont have time to go to Indy for a visit before I move so I am looking for any advice I can get. I have a a small dog and will have my own transportation. I would only need a one bedroom that allows pets of course.What areas are safe? Which areas are good for dogs? what is the downtown area like? Should I be looking in a specific area? Any advice would be great!!Thank you for taking the time!!

[domergurl]

I'd look at living downtown itself or in Broad Ripple, a nice neighborhood on the north side of the city.

[Toxic Toast]

I would recommend Fountain Square; but honestly it is a neighborhood you would need to check out before you visit. It is improving and I like it; but it is not for everyone.

Beech Grove is a nice town. I would rent a house if I lived in BG rather than the apartments along Albany Street. BG is very safe, and you would be able to walk your dog in the neighborhood with minimal fear.

Of course, Broad Ripple and SoBro are great as well.

Downtown, you have the "core" of downtown, then you have neighborhoods surrounding the core. Old Northside, Herron-Morton, Fall Creek Place, Arsenal Heights, Cottage Home; etc.

[kittiemomch]

I live in apartments on the south side - I can be downtown in 10 minutes or less (except rush hour). I'm a couple of minutes from Beech Grove and I'm inside I-465. My apartments allow animals and do not charge monthly pet rent. I've lived here for 4.5 years - moved from the SF Bay Area.

My 2 bed/2 bath is $625 for 1000 sq ft. One bedrooms are less, of course. If you'd like to know more - send a direct message and I will send more specific information about location. I come and go at all hours - or go outside to the car late at night - and I feel safe here.

[BU191433]

I would seriously recommend you visit first before commiting to anything - and if you really just won't be able to visit before you start your job - then I would suggest living in a hotel for a month or two. (not sure if any of the extended stays allow pets) But mistakes are made whenever someone doesn't actually come in person prior to picking a place.

[sweetana3]

I live one block from the Apollo downtown and it is a lovely area. They have invested some money to repair the roof and it is a historic building. You could walk downtown (not during snowy weather) and you are within walk to Mass Ave galleries, coffee shops and a grocery. Lots of dog walkers in our neighborhood and no loose dogs. We have a neighborhood association where you can meet a lot of new people both homeowners and renters.

Parking lot for the Apollo is fenced and the area has gentrified. Houses from $200,000 to well over $500,000 both old and new. I have seen people with dogs but you would have to check their policy. I found their website: Van Rooy - better rental living

I would hesitate to recommend many of the others especially on Delaware without visiting them and checking carefully but have personal knowledge of this area.

Broad Ripple is great if you can find something similiar because all you could want is there and it is only a 15 minute drive downtown. There are a couple of parks to walk your dog, a French bakery, lots of places to hang out, etc. But I dont have a specific place to recommend. There are a few being renovated and some small gems. Stay as close to 62nd and 58th as you can. Both north and south of 62nd are interesting. You might end up spending a little more, but the walkability to so much would cut your driving a lot. There is a bus downtown but you would need to check the routes. PS: I love Broad Ripple but live downtown.

[Sunsh9e]

If I were to look at a map where is the broad ripple area versus where the downtown areas are? When I look on maps it is very hard to find the places you all are talking about. I really wish I could do the whole visit or stay in a hotel thing but I just don't have that option....

[Naptowner]

Originally Posted by Sunsh9e

If I were to look at a map where is the broad ripple area versus where the downtown areas are? When I look on maps it is very hard to find the places you all are talking about. I really wish I could do the whole visit or stay in a hotel thing but I just don't have that option....

"Broad Ripple" means different things to different people. Because it's desirable, you will see some apartments advertised as being in Broad Ripple that aren't. The heart of the area is between College Avenue and Broad Ripple High school along Broad Ripple Avenue, which is 62nd street to the east of the high school, and Westfield Avenue to the west of College. Broad Ripple used to be a little town way north of Indianapolis way back when the northern part of the city was still undeveloped, and the 'old' town, what is "truly" Broad Ripple, is north of BR ave to the White River, and south to Kessler. Here's a link to a Google map: 830 BROAD RIPPLE AVENUE, INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46220 - Google Maps

I picked India Garden because it's kind of the center of the strip. You can navigate around using street view and see what we're talking about.

What people call SoBro or South Broad Ripple is basically south of Kessler down to 52nd street or so, from a few blocks west of College to somewhere around Keystone Avenue. The farther south you go, the houses get smaller and smaller, and the neighborhood gets not so nice. The corridor around College is a little older, and there are some businesses at 54th and College and 52nd and College you might like, such as record stores, locally owned cafes and restaurants, and a few shops. There is at least one apartment complex named Broad Ripple something-or-other that is on 52nd street that is not very good, lots of Section 8. Many people will claim to be in BR or "Broad Ripple area" that are south as far down to 42nd street, which is pretty bad in spots. Hope this helps.

[Sunsh9e]

That helps a lot a lot.....can you tell me where the bad areas are downtown???? this is great for brad ripple..but i was going to look into dowtown as well.....THANK YOU THANK YOU sooo much that was a big help!!!

[Toxic Toast]

The "core" of downtown does not have any bad areas beyond what you would normally find in a large city's downtown. I tend to think of that "core" downtown area to be a box roughly bounded by South Street on the south, the White River to the west, I-70/65 to the east, and I-65 to the north. Downtown has developed south, so I suppose you could push the southern boundary down to I-70. The worst area inside that core might be the apartments right at 11 & College. West of the White River is Haughville. You will want to avoid Haughville. The areas south of downtown and I-70 are improving in parts. Bates-Hendricks is a neighborhood where there are efforts underway to improve the area. As you head further west, it is not a nice. East of downtown; stay west of State Ave; east of State Ave is where things start to go downhill. North of downtown; you are generally ok if you stay between Meridian and Central. South of 16th you could push that eastern edge to College; not having the chance to visit though; you would be better served to stay a few blocks west of College. Once you go north of Fall Creek, the neighborhood takes a general turn for the worse. There are nice pockets here and there, but for someone who is not familiar with the area, it would be a good idea to avoid guessing on those pockets.