Moved to Maryland (Baltimore, Columbia, Ellicott City: housing, rental, lease)

[nicholmn]

I just moved to Baltimore from Connecticut, we are temp. living in the inner harbor - I was looking for a small town with shopping, restaurants, etc.. some sort of town center and I cant find anything. Please let me know are there any small towns near or in baltimore where there is a town square to go get coffee, shop, dinner, etc.... We want to rent for the first year and our price range is 2000-2500 per month.

[Gabrielle]

Historic Ellicott City would qualify in terms of a town center with restaurants and shops, but I am not sure about what the rentals there would go for.

[7th Direction]

Originally Posted by nicholmn

I just moved to Baltimore from Connecticut, we are temp. living in the inner harbor - I was looking for a small town with shopping, restaurants, etc.. some sort of town center and I cant find anything. Please let me know are there any small towns near or in baltimore where there is a town square to go get coffee, shop, dinner, etc.... We want to rent for the first year and our price range is 2000-2500 per month.

With a budget of 2000-2500 a month, Ellicott City should be no problem.

You may want to consider Columbia - it is composed of smaller "villages" with a town center. You can get a very nice apartment in Columbia and be within walking distance to The Mall in Columbia (including restaurants, movie theater, shopping), and the Restaurants on the Lake (Lake Kittamaquindi), Merriweather Post Pavilion, Symphony Woods and several bike paths.

You also have the option of going to White Marsh, which is north of Baltimore. It has a large "town center" with outside shopping and restaurants. I believe with your budget, you can go just about anywhere around the Baltimore area and get a nice apartment.

[sobo16]

Originally Posted by 7th Direction

You also have the option of going to White Marsh, which is north of Baltimore. It has a large "town center" with outside shopping and restaurants. I believe with your budget, you can go just about anywhere around the Baltimore area and get a nice apartment.

Keep in mind that this White Marsh "Town Center" is artificially created, and it is not within walking distance of any housing. It's nice and has plenty of stores and restaurants, but it's not a town center in the traditional sense.

[7th Direction]

Originally Posted by sobo16

Keep in mind that this White Marsh "Town Center" is artificially created, and it is not within walking distance of any housing. It's nice and has plenty of stores and restaurants, but it's not a town center in the traditional sense.

I thought there were apartments near the town center...?? I don't get up that way much so I might be wrong. There is also an 'artificial' town center in Bowie and I KNOW there are apartments nearby (a friend of mine lived in one of them). I just assumed the White Marsh town center was the same way.

BTW: The "town centers" in Columbia are artificial too, though. Most towns in Maryland, unless they've been around for a while (circa 17th-18th century) have artificial "town centers".

[marcoulter]

Originally Posted by nicholmn

I just moved to Baltimore from Connecticut, we are temp. living in the inner harbor - I was looking for a small town with shopping, restaurants, etc.. some sort of town center and I cant find anything. Please let me know are there any small towns near or in baltimore where there is a town square to go get coffee, shop, dinner, etc.... We want to rent for the first year and our price range is 2000-2500 per month.

Bel Air has a town center but it is about 25 miles from Inner Harbor. It's not as congested as Columbia or White Marsh. If you like the city, Federal Hill and Mount Vernon in downtown Baltimore are good candidates. These areas have been "restored" and "cleaned up."