Where to live in Mobile, AL? (apartment, crime, quality of life)

[downtowndoll]

First off, Bluegal will be commuting from the USA Health building that is in Midtown on Spring Hill Avenue. Not USA on University.

Very good advice about other places in Mobile from posters. (I had thought about Yester Oaks but wasn't sure if it was still okay. Glad to know it is.) Traffic from that area is pretty bad, though. Dauphin Street from Sage to I-65 & Spring Hill Road from Florida to I-65 can be bad and you never really see why it is clogged. Airport also can be grueling but at least you can pass people,usually!

Obviously, my personal choice is to live in Midtown, but it seemed that the original poster might be uncomfortable trying to find the right place in that area. Personally, I would not want to have to figure out which apartment to live in around Midtown, especially if I was single and female. There are apartments that look fine and that definitely are not. And some that don't look good and are great.

I drive across the Bay often, using the Causeway(the lower, older road) rather than the Bayway, and can reach Fairhope 7 times out of 10 in 20 minutes. (HWY 98 has the highest number of drivers who won't get out of the left lane!) Yes, I'm going over the speed limit but only by about 5 miles per hour. Big deal.

Daphne or Spanish Fort takes 10 to 15 minutes, if you are attending school at USA(Medical School) on Spring Hill Road in Midtown. This location is practically downtown. I meant the areas right by the interstate not closer to Fairhope.

You'll go down Spring Hill Road to Broad, then left on Government Street heading downtown. Go through the old Bankhead Tunnel and stay on the Causeway. Believe me, it's much faster. Plus the bonus of not getting stuck in the newer Wallace tunnel and/or Bayway traffic in the event of the frequent wrecks that occur due to the poor design of the curve at the newer tunnel. Many people are not aware of this other route. It's a pretty peaceful drive. The Bayway is too INDY 500 for me.

I myself had never used the older tunnel and the Causeway when I lived in West Mobile. I didn't realize until I moved to Midtown what a great location I'm in here. The Eastern Shore Center is 15 minutes away and I never drive past SteinMart in Mobile.
I just thought Daphne would be an easier fit at first with this med. student. Then she can get her brain around where she prefers to live.

[Dragynwing]

if you're going to live across the bay, commuting the Causeway is the only way to go. i pet sit for a lady who lives in Spanish Fort (right around that newish outlet center) and it takes me about 20 minutes to get from the Bankhead Tunnel to the entrance to their neighborhood. i would suspect that the drive to Daphne would be an extra 10 minutes or so. my biggest worry would be coming from the Bankhead Tunnel to the medical center if it's raining. we don't tend to get too many storms during commute time, but i personally hate driving in downtown/midtown and the Bay during a bad storm.

[yukon]

Originally Posted by Dragynwing

oh! just though of a couple more. Yester Oaks (between Airport and Dauphin just west of I-65. probably looking at a 15 minute commute one way) and Windsor Apartments (just south of Airport west of I-65. maybe tack on an additional 5 minutes). between the two, i would recommend Yester Oaks just for the easy access to Dauphin Street.

I think access from Yester Oaks to Dauphin Street has been closed, or at least it was when I was in Mobile at Christmas. Only access to YO was from Airport.

[DR K]

Our Son Is Soon To Be Stationed With The Uscg In Mobile On South Broad Street As I Recall. Can Anyone Give Us Some Advice On Where To Look/not Look! For A Fairly Affordable Apt? The Government Is Only Giving Him $600 Towards The Basic Housing Allowance. Thanks A Bunch,and If You Want,you Can Directly Email Us
Kerry

[bullittman]

the usa springhill campus in in mid-town. you can get very near it as long as you stay away from north of it and east of it. just west of it is the mobile infirmary medical center. find a place just west of the campus or south-southwest of the campus and you will be able to find a place very close and should have no problem.

[downtowndoll]

Oakleigh Garden District would be even closer. The back part, southeast of Selma, is spotty but would be cheaper.
Leinkauf district is reasonable, stay close to Government/ Church Street area.

[seemaajay]

Hi, would like to get feedback about Timber Ridge apartments in mobile AL. We will be moving in June from omaha (Nebraska).thanks in advance

[oscottscotto]

Originally Posted by seemaajay

Hi, would like to get feedback about Timber Ridge apartments in mobile AL. We will be moving in June from omaha (Nebraska).thanks in advance

Never lived in those particular apartments, but have lived in that area. It's a great, completely safe area of town. It is in West Mobile, so it will be a more suburban area (don't know if that matters to you or not). It is only a couple of miles away from the U of South Alabama, which also a plus. Hillcrest Rd. can get a little congested in the afternoons and that can be annoying to drive in. Besides that though, it should be a good place to live. The apartments themselves are located in a wooded area separated off about a quarter-mile from the main thoroughfare of that particular area (Hillcrest Rd/Airport Blvd).

I hope I am remembering the correct Timber Ridge .

[IShotBigfoot]

My suggestion, as a former USA student & life long Mobilian, would be to look at west Mobile. Commute time would be longer, but the quality of life & surroundings are greatly improved. Plenty of good & safe apartments on Grelot Rd. I suggest west of Hillcrest. Crime rates decrease significantly as you head west, that is until you get to the extreme western county.

[midtownruth]

Midtown is great. I have lived here for 24 years safely. Neighbors are nice, etc. A nice house is coming up for rent 2 doors down from my daughter's on a quiet street. I'll send you the phone number.