Relocating to Savannah in August (yeah, another one of *those* threads) (Isle of Hope: section 8, rentals)

[uniquelysteph]

I'm still poking around all the threads here, so please don't flame me if this has already been asked.

Fiance and I are moving to Savannah from Philadelphia (Center City) in August.

He has a professor job lined up at AASU. I work at home writing obits.

We don't have a car, and have no plans of buying a car, so we're looking at living in downtown Savannah (or another area of the city with things... restaurants, grocery store, coffee shops, etc. within walking distance), but near a bus line.

When I lived in Cincinnati, I lived really close to the University of Cincinnati, in an area mostly of undergrad students. (I knew that going in; didn't help that I was older than the average undergrad student either.) I'd like to avoid a repeat experience of that in Savannah, so where do we need to live to avoid having college students as neighbors?

What unsavory parts of the Historic District should we avoid? In Cincinnati, it was Over The Rhine (while that area is undergoing renovation--lots of condos and lofts have opened during the past few years--and the young professionals are moving in... it's still predominately a poor area and is still known for higher crime rates, shootings, etc.) In Philadelphia, we always recommend avoiding North Philly and anything past a certain street (which I can't remember) in West Philly for the same reasons.

Thanks bunches!

-- Stephanie

[ellie]

I guess your husband will ride the bus to work?

There's no part of the Historic District that you should avoid, per se, however, try not to rent a home next to or across the street from section 8 housing. I think one new poster did so. We haven't heard from her in awhile...

You'd be happiest living close to the Kroger so you can carry your groceries. Close means within a couple of blocks. Or you can simply steal a cart like most locals do and leave it in the lane for the collection guy to come and find.

[tigafan]

Downtown you will have college students everywhere. If you both don't have a car, I would recommend finding someplace near AASU. Windsor Forest is the neighborhood that AASU is located on the outskirts of and it does have some rundown homes, but honestly, there are pockets of some really decent homes. You have a Publix, buslines, Staples, fast-food, Walgreens, gas. I've lived there (long time ago with my dad) on both sides of Abercorn. On the AASU side, we lived far in the back and had a decent home and great neighbors (this was a rebuilding time in my dad's life). Years later we moved to the other side, again far in the back. It was a great home with really great neighbors, our own pool, etc, it was close to Tibet. Always felt very safe in both. Funny, it seems the closer to Abercorn, the tinier and, um, not-well-tended-to the homes seem to look. I would look in the farback corners of Windsor Forest. He would be close enough to bike or bus. And college kids don't really tend to live there unless with parents. Downtown they are everywhere b/c of SCAD.

I don't live in Windsor Forest anymore, more Isle of Hope, but thought you might find this helpful.

[Pamela_S]

You really should consider a car if your husband will be working at Armstrong and living downtown. Also, I think in general, unless you are a SCAD student, it would be tough to live in SAV without a car. Everything you need for day-to-day staples is pretty much a car ride from downtown: Petsmart, Home Depot, Target, WalMart...etc. You get the picture.

Windsor Forest is convenient to Armstrong but I agree with what was said about avoiding the edges of the neighborhood. I live in Windsor Forest and my house is great, it is very quiet, safe, and I have good neighbors. You need a car in Windsor Forest though. It would be inconvenient to ride your bike to Publix, Kroger or Target...and what do you do if it is raining?

I'm from NJ, grew up right outside of Philly and lived in pretty much all the major cities in the NE, including Philly. Savannah is really a small town compared to the cities in the NE. The "mass transit" system here is not anything at all like it is back home because there are technically not "masses" here that need transit. Limited buses, no subway/Patco/Path type of transit. Unless you never, ever have to leave downtown and don't mind riding a bike around in the rain, my honest advice to you guys is to consider a car. O

[Padgett2]

It's one of those, "you can't get there from here" kind of things. Coming from the Historic District, he would have a problem getting to a bus route that would take to AASU. I would forget the HD as a place to live unless you have a car or he doesn't mind walking in all sorts of weather. . Not to mention that it will be much more expensive than out nearer the college.

The Campus itself is sort of spread out. Depending on the building in which he would be spending most of his time, he could still have an awkward and time consuming walk from a bus stop.

[gamecock43]

I think there is a bus route from downtown to Armstrong. I have an Armstrong kid living next door and he has no car. (I live downtown) Takes the bus everywhere. But I do think not having a car would be a HASSLE! I can only wonder how many bags of groceries you can carry at a time on a bus, or a walk. Anyways- if you want to be in the HD, the Kroger on E. Gwinnett street also has a Suntrust bank inside it. There are rentals in that area, but that's all you will be within walking distance as far as running errands. It's pretty residential. There are a lot of strip malls in the Armstrong area though.

[ellie]

I've heard that it takes nearly an hour on the bus to go from downtown out to Armstrong. Actually it only takes 50 min. But the bus only stops there once an hour in the afternoon and only twice in the morning during business hours. Chatham Area Transit - 14 Abercorn

To put it nicely, to live downtown and work out on the southside without a car would suck.

[tigafan]

But to live in Windsor Forest where there IS a bus route and to work at AASU IS feasable. Heck, the bus even has the little bike thingy on it. You absolutely COULD bike from a house to grocery store/etc. in Windsor Forest. I have done it. More people should. I would not EVER want to live downtown and bike everywhere. Just put a bullseye on your back. What to do when it rains? Just what all other people do when it rains....ride the bus or use an umbrella.

[ellie]

Originally Posted by tigafan

But to live in Windsor Forest where there IS a bus route and to work at AASU IS feasable. Heck, the bus even has the little bike thingy on it. You absolutely COULD bike from a house to grocery store/etc. in Windsor Forest. I have done it. More people should. I would not EVER want to live downtown and bike everywhere. Just put a bullseye on your back. What to do when it rains? Just what all other people do when it rains....ride the bus or use an umbrella.

Trouble with living out there on the southside is that every cultural or social event that is held downtown or elsewhere will become an ordeal to get to. Can you imagine going out to a series of weekend events and then either riding the bus, calling a cab, or bumming a ride to get home? It would be easier to live downtown so at least only one partner is making the long ride daily.

Steph could become very socially isolated if she doesn't live where there are coffee shops and things to do. The southside is nothing but a commercial strip surrounded by suburban 70's style neighborhoods.

[Pamela_S]

Originally Posted by tigafan

But to live in Windsor Forest where there IS a bus route and to work at AASU IS feasable. Heck, the bus even has the little bike thingy on it. You absolutely COULD bike from a house to grocery store/etc. in Windsor Forest. I have done it. More people should. I would not EVER want to live downtown and bike everywhere. Just put a bullseye on your back. What to do when it rains? Just what all other people do when it rains....ride the bus or use an umbrella.

Feasible but certainly not ideal.