[dspastic]

I'll be moving cross country from Baltimore to Las Vegas in August, and I'm wondering if anyone has input on the University Crest neighborhood just east of campus. I've heard that this is the best neighborhood that is close to campus (important since it's the reason i'm moving there). Any other areas that I should be looking at?

I've heard that other areas near campus aren't so great... true? That said, I'm coming from innercity Baltimore so i'm pretty streetwise and not generally a scaredy cat.

the third and least important factor is that i'd like to live in an apartment that's part of a house / in community (closer to where i live in a rowhome now) rather than apartment complex usa.

my budget is somewhere in the 800-1000 / month range. i have a car, but bike mostly where i live now... would like to continue that if possible.

thanks in advance for any and all advice...

[cufanmail]

You can get from anywhere to anywhere in Vegas within 20 minutes. That said, I wouldn't live near campus if you paid me. Try Henderson or anywhere on the West side of town (West of Rainbow). You'll be safer and much happier!

[ScoopLV]

Originally Posted by dspastic

i have a car, but bike mostly where i live now... would like to continue that if possible.

One a scale of 1-10 where Foremaster Lane (our version of Skid Row) is a "one," I'd give the entire area around UNLV a "three" at best. It is simply one of the worst sections of town.

Considering you can live someplace nice for $800-1000 per month, why risk it?

The only advantage to living close to campus would be the ability to bike to class. (If your bike isn't stolen on the first day.) Just keep in mind that Las Vegas isn't just bike-unfriendly. It's bike-hostile. Route planning is of paramount importance. And knowing what streets are relatively safe for bicycling is the key to arriving in one piece. (And here's a hint, Maryland Parkway is not one of the safe streets.)

Las Vegas roads have a crazy mix of distracted drivers (driving while texting), drunk tourists, California speed demons, old people on meds, and immigrants who learned how to drive in Mexico City. Is it any wonder that most of the billboards around town are for personal injury lawyers?

[NLVgal]

Google crime stats on 89109. In most towns, the University area, is a good area. Not so in LV. I used to work off of Maryland and I looked at the sex-offender registry a few years back. 496 registered sex offenders in that zip code (and those are the law-abiding ones who actually register)

It's sad, because that used to be the hip part of town, but no more.

Riding a bike in the inner-city of the valley is Russian Roulette, if not outright suicide. Reserve the bike for lovely weekends in the burbs, or Charleston, or Redrock.

I found a good link for you. You'll note that the area you are considering is bad on all maps. http://www.donohueteam.com/Crime/

[anvilpw]

I made the mistake of living in the Tropicana and Maryland area when I first moved here. It was only me as I was scouting for my family so it wasn't that bad but I wouldn't have moved there on purpose. My wife even came out on a house hunting trip 2 weeks after I came out here and we stayed in the Monte Carlo instead of my apartment.

[NLVgal]

Originally Posted by ScoopLV

(And here's a hint, Maryland Parkway is not one of the safe streets.)

And that is no lie. I get scared driving my little car over there. I'm not sure I'd take a dare to ride a bike on MP for anything less than 50-100k minimum, and that would be for one trip. After dark, uh, no.

I am a certified chicken, though.