New UMB student choosing between Avalon Centerpoint and Park Charles (Baltimore: apartment complexes, leasing)

[subra038]

Hi all,
I will be moving to Baltimore in the fall to start grad school at the University of Maryland (UMB). I have found another girl in my program who I will be living with, and the two of us are looking for nice apartments that are preferably walkable to campus or a shuttle stop. Unfortunately I am not able to visit to try to find an apartment but my roommate visited Park Charles and Avalon Centerpoint. It is really hard for me to gauge either apartment from the website, and ratings of both places online are pretty mediocre. I'm hoping someone has input which can help me make a decision. Thank you!

[E18]

FYI: //www.city-data.com/forum/balti...nterpoint.html

I was recently looking at apartments in Baltimore and was explicitly told "NO!!!" about the area where Avalon is located. (I am also a young woman with a woman roommate.) We ended up picking Symphony Center. We haven't moved in yet, but it seemed really nice when we visited.

[psychofan]

If you'll be walking to class, then living in Park Charles will require you to walk through the area where the Avalon Centerpoint is located anyway for whatever it's worth. Additionally, the Avalon Centerpoint complex is a very new development, while Park Charles is substantially older (did not like it at all when I visited it). A drawback to an Avalon complex is that they require a large one-time "amenities fee" payment at leasing signing of $400 (at least here in Mont. Co., but not sure about in Baltimore) that they do NOT advertise and only tell you when you specifically ask or at lease signing.

Have you considered apartment complexes closer to campus like the Sail Cloth Factory, Greenehouse, Camden Court (very new), Marlboro Classic and Redwood Square, The Redwood? These are much closer. I personally lived at Inner Harbor Loft when I was a student at UMB and loved it. And knew someone at Marlboro Classic & Redwood Square and they loved it as well.

[jonjj]

Originally Posted by E18

FYI: //www.city-data.com/forum/balti...nterpoint.html

I was recently looking at apartments in Baltimore and was explicitly told "NO!!!" about the area where Avalon is located. (I am also a young woman with a woman roommate.) We ended up picking Symphony Center. We haven't moved in yet, but it seemed really nice when we visited.

The Avalon Centerpoint is fine.

[subra038]

Awesome, thank you so much for the recommendations!! Any other suggestions of apartment complexes?

[ck14]

Avalon Centerpoint is nice inside but it's located really close to Lexington Market and sometimes there are a few unsavory characters hanging around on Howard Street. I don't know anything about Park Charles. There's the Greenehouse, located on the corner of Greene and Pratt, 2 bedroom apartments start at $1500. There's also 39 West Lexington, Marlboro Class and Redwood Square, the Sail Cloth Factory Apartments, etc.

[harborview11]

Originally Posted by ck14

Avalon Centerpoint is nice inside but it's located really close to Lexington Market and sometimes there are a few unsavory characters hanging around on Howard Street. I don't know anything about Park Charles. There's the Greenehouse, located on the corner of Greene and Pratt, 2 bedroom apartments start at $1500. There's also 39 West Lexington, Marlboro Class and Redwood Square, the Sail Cloth Factory Apartments, etc.

OK wait a minute. A FEW unsavory characters in the area of Lexington Market? Be honest with people, c'mon. Virtually everyone within shooting distance of Lex Mark is unsavory.

[psychofan]

Originally Posted by harborview11

OK wait a minute. A FEW unsavory characters in the area of Lexington Market? Be honest with people, c'mon. Virtually everyone within shooting distance of Lex Mark is unsavory.

Horrible statement. I actually liked walking up to Lexington Market to grab a lunch between classes and occasionally for dinner and fresh seafood. Never had a problem whatsoever.