Living Close to Louisville SOM (Jackson, Clay: apartments, to rent, loft)

[zjc3d]

So I am currently trying to find an apartment to live in for next fall at the University of Louisville SOM. As of right now, I have narrowed my choices down to two options: St. Francis Apartments on West Broadway or Phoenix Place Apartments. Phoenix Place guarantees a washer/dryer and has free parking. But I have to get a two bed 1.5 bath because all the 1 bed 1 bath are taken. St. Francis, can't guarantee I will have a washer/dryer and I have to pay for parking. And it is $675. So basically, with parking and laundry, the prices will even out.

So I was wondering how nice each apartment is on the inside, and how close they both are to the SOM...in terms of walking minutes. Any other info would be great too. Thanks to anyone who can help.

Zack

[gocards1289]

Unfortunately neither one of these complexes are really within walking distance to the SOM, although St. Francis Place could be depending on how far you're willing to walk (about a 2 mile walk through some areas that can be rather sketchy at time to pass through).
I'd check out and look for a place to rent in the Old Louisville area, which is the neighborhood directly north of campus, runs from Cardinal Blvd (the street the SOM is on) north to around St. Catherine. It consists of old Victorian-style mansions (built in 1880's-1890's) that are divided into apartments, many of which are rented by UofL students. It is also a relatively safe area for the most part (as long as you don't go west of around 6th St). There are quite a few small apt. complexes around campus you may have already checked out (such as University Park on Eastern Pkwy) but some of these are rather sketchy.
Be sure to ask us if you have any questions

[stx12499]

Originally Posted by gocards1289

Unfortunately neither one of these complexes are really within walking distance to the SOM, although St. Francis Place could be depending on how far you're willing to walk (about a 2 mile walk through some areas that can be rather sketchy at time to pass through).
I'd check out and look for a place to rent in the Old Louisville area, which is the neighborhood directly north of campus, runs from Cardinal Blvd (the street the SOM is on) north to around St. Catherine. It consists of old Victorian-style homes (built in 1880's-1890's) that are divided into apartments, many of which are rented by UofL students. It is also a relatively safe area for the most part (as long as you don't go west of around 6th St). There are quite a few small apt. complexes around campus (such as University Park on Eastern Pkwy) but some of these are rather sketchy.
Be sure to ask us if you have any more questions

You are actually completely wrong here. The OP will be going to medical school, which is located at Preston and Muhammad Ali in the east downtown neighborhood known as Phoenix Hill. The area is very safe and not sketchy at all.

Phoenix Place is about 3 blocks to the UofL SOM. The only thing sketchy you walk by is the St John Day center for homeless which I believe is at Clay and Muhammad Ali. It is a suburban style complex, and the fact that some units are on the ground floor opens it to the possiblity of break ins, although I have not heard of any problems there.

St Francis is substantially nicer and more upscale, with more professionals. It is a secure building with a doorman, and it is a midrise so it has city skyline views in some units. St Francis is about a 5-6 block walk to UofL SOM. I would walk during daylight hours but recommend riding my bike after dark. The area is completely safe. St Francis is in a more walkable area. Within two blocks you have a microbrewery, Palace theatre and several small restaurants and a new small grocery and wine shop. 3 blocks away you have the nightlife chain monster Fourth Street Live. And 5 blocks north and you have the new basketball arena, the museums, restaurants, and hotel bars of main and market streets.

[gocards1289]

Originally Posted by stx12499

You are actually completely wrong here. The OP will be going to medical school, which is located at Preston and Muhammad Ali in the east downtown neighborhood known as Phoenix Hill. The area is very safe and not sketchy at all.

Phoenix Place is about 3 blocks to the UofL SOM. The only thing sketchy you walk by is the St John Day center for homeless which I believe is at Clay and Muhammad Ali. It is a suburban style complex, and the fact that some units are on the ground floor opens it to the possiblity of break ins, although I have not heard of any problems there.

St Francis is substantially nicer and more upscale, with more professionals. It is a secure building with a doorman, and it is a midrise so it has city skyline views in some units. St Francis is about a 5-6 block walk to UofL SOM. I would walk during daylight hours but recommend riding my bike after dark. The area is completely safe. St Francis is in a more walkable area. Within two blocks you have a microbrewery, and several small restaurants and a new small grocery and wine shop. 3 blocks away you have the nightlife chain monster Fourth Street Live. And 5 blocks north and you have the new basketball arena, the museums, restaurants, and hotel bars of main and market streets.

My apologies...I'm in the School of Music which is referred to as the "SOM" so that's what I thought they were referring to

[stx12499]

Originally Posted by gocards1289

My apologies...I'm in the School of Music which is referred to as the "SOM" so that's what I thought they were referring to

If the OP was going to the UofL main campus, your post would actually be very accurate. Again, welcome to the forum and stick around!

[gocards1289]

I'm a long time lurker who finally decided to join so I'll definitely stick around
St. Francis is very nice, a historic early-1920's vintage building (I think part of it used to house a high school)-the units are fairly new and the building was renovated fairly recently

[censusdata]

St Francis Aps are located at 3rd & Broadway, correct? That is about 6 blocks away.

There are some smaller loft style apartments which would be closer and in a safer area, namely the East Main/ Market area which is due north of the SOM / HSC - such as The Carlyle, Piazza de Felice, etc. Here is a website w/ all apartments & condos in the Downtown area
LDMD - Living Downtown - Louisville, KY


If the OP is willing to look at apartment houses I'd highly recommend looking in Butchertown, which is from 6 blocks away and further.

[gocards1289]

Originally Posted by censusdata

St Francis Aps are located at 3rd & Broadway, correct? That is about 6 blocks away.

There are some smaller loft style apartments which would be closer and in a safer area, namely the East Main/ Market area which is due north of the SOM / HSC - such as The Carlyle, Piazza de Felice, etc. Here is a website w/ all apartments & condos in the Downtown area
LDMD - Living Downtown - Louisville, KY


If the OP is willing to look at apartment houses I'd highly recommend looking in Butchertown, which is from 6 blocks away and further.

Yes that's correct, between 2nd and 3rd next to the McDonald's.
Much of the East Main/Market area is just as close as St. Francis.
Butchertown is a good area; only thing is you'd have to walk through an area that can be occasionally be sketchy with homeless people walking around due several homeless shelters around there (area I'm referring to is between the Medical Campus and Market St along Jackson, Hancock and Clay). But now that the Clarksdale projects are gone I'd feel safe for the most part in that area during the day-as stx12499 suggested ride a bike during the evening and you'll be fine.
If you're into art there's quite a few art galleries and small shops along East Market-in fact there's a "trolley hop" that runs through there on select Fridays (maybe the first Friday of the month?).

[censusdata]

If they're considering St Francis might as well look at the Gaulbert Building Apartments as well, since it's right across the street - I believe they are a little cheaper

[missymomof3]

Originally Posted by gocards1289

My apologies...I'm in the School of Music which is referred to as the "SOM" so that's what I thought they were referring to

That's what I thought myself! What do you play? All three of my kids are in orchestra, the girls play violin and the boy plays cello.