Law student looking for an safe haven (Jacksonville, Princeton: affordable apartments, rentals)

[Tupperpatr]

We are headed to town this weekend to look for an apartment for our daughter as she will be attending Florida Coastal this fall. We are thinking that she should settle within a couple miles of Florida Coastal. Thoughts? Price range - $600 to $800 for a one bedroom. As her Mom I am most concerned about her safety. She is interested in being close to a gym as working out is a huge part of her daily routine. We will be working with a apartment finder recommended by the college but I would love to hear some ideas from those who live there. Thanks so much in advance.

[riveree]

Hi Tupper,

If you can afford the higher end of your quote - go closer to the $800 end, you will find a much better selection.

Rentals in Jax are not cheap and it's hard to find something decent and safe for $600, even $700 can be tough. As a female living alone, it's worth the extra $ to find a nice, safe place.

I would suggest 2 things:

1) there have been some recent posts about apartments for people attending Florida Coastal...try pulling up some searches here on the Jax forum

2) the list from the school might have some decent choices...have you explored them online? You might want to post a few names and addresses on the forum and ask for feedback on those locations.

A lot of the apartments have their own gyms too.

[Tupperpatr]

After looking at some of the apartments suggested by the agent in Jacksonville, they all look pretty nice, but I'd like to hear feedback from anyone who know anything about these apartment complexes. We're leaving for Jacksonville tomorrow, so we'd appreciate the help!

Colony at Deerwood, 10010 Skinner Lake (Zip, 32246)

Green Tree Place, 9480 Princeton Square Blvd (Zip, 32256)

Hunters Ridge, 10100 Baymeadows Rd (Zip, 32256)

Paradise Island, 8787 Southside Blvd (Zip, 32256)

Royal Oaks, 10023 Belle Rive Blvd (Zip, 32256)

Thanks again to anyone who can offer comments, feedback or suggestions!

[crystalblue]

try here

Apartment Ratings - Apartments for Rent with Ratings and Reviews from Actual Renters

some good info

[HeavenSoldier]

Hey Tupper let me know what you choose. I'm currently looking at Royal Oaks at 10023 Belle Rive Blvd (Zip, 32256). God Bless

[Tupperpatr]

HeavenSolider -
After looking at 5 apartments, we settled on Colony at Deerwood. Hunters Ridge came in second. Colony at Deerwood was a larger apartment and they had a deal running where the first month was free or we could prorate that amount over the term of the lease. What I found so confusing were all the special offers that were available for just that day or maybe that week, if you signed the lease that day.

Best of luck with your search.

[vetmom4]

Originally Posted by Tupperpatr

We are headed to town this weekend to look for an apartment for our daughter as she will be attending Florida Coastal this fall. We are thinking that she should settle within a couple miles of Florida Coastal. Thoughts? Price range - $600 to $800 for a one bedroom. As her Mom I am most concerned about her safety. She is interested in being close to a gym as working out is a huge part of her daily routine. We will be working with a apartment finder recommended by the college but I would love to hear some ideas from those who live there. Thanks so much in advance.

Looking for place for my son in Jacksonville to share an apartment. He will be attending Florida Coastal School of Law - has your daughter found anything?

[Tupperpatr]

Vetmom4:

We were in Jacksonville 2 weeks ago and settled on Colony at Deerwood. Seems like a beautiful place. Good luck with your search. The rental agent, Kim, mentioned that they had had three other Florida Coastal students sign leases that same weekend we were there. Our guess is that it will take her about 15 minutes or so to get over to the college with traffic. The only danger is she will be right across the street from the beautiful outdoor mall!! $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$!!

[HollyKays]

We need some advise as we are from out-of-state. Our daughter will start at Florida Coastal in August... Any suggestions for safe, affordable apartments? Anyone looking for a roommate?

[chriswufgator]

Originally Posted by HollyKays

We need some advise as we are from out-of-state. Our daughter will start at Florida Coastal in August... Any suggestions for safe, affordable apartments? Anyone looking for a roommate?

My honest recommendation is to get a place in Riverside or San Marco, which are great historic neighborhoods with character. While you will have a 15-20 minute commute to school, the quality of life is SO much better that the benefits more than outweigh the minor commute.

The Baymeadows area is overcrowded, congested, and road-ragey. Every business, store, restaurant, etc., in that area is just some some corporate chain dive in a strip mall. In fact there is really nothing much over there except strip malls, generic overpriced apartments, and gas stations. The folks I know who live in the Baymeadows area all wind up coming over my way to go out to eat, go out at night, do the museums, etc.

I'm a fellow FCSL'er, and lived briefly in the Baymeadows area way back when I first got to town, and really hated it. Eventually, I moved to Murray Hill and then to Riverside. Now I can walk to restaurants and shops, I live in a great historic building that's very safe, and there are great places to jog, play tennis, etc. That 20 minute commute has without exaggeration increased my quality of life tenfold.

I would take with a grain of salt the advice that people give about how you 'have' to live close to campus, as it's really more trouble than it's worth. After all, you only spend a few hours a day in class, most of your work and play time is spent at or around your home. There is just not much to do around Baymeadows, except go to tinseltown, or eat at chilis/fridays/outback/fill-in-whatever-other-chain-restaurant. Your daughter will find herself driving over here or to the beaches all the time anyway, so she may as well live in an area that has more to offer. Baymeadows is really just strip malls and office parks. I decided I'd rather drive 20 minutes to and from school once each day, than have to drive 20 minutes each way every time I want to eat out, go out at night, see a show, etc. It actually works out a lot better living where there are things to do, and then driving to school, than the opposite.