Going to School in Ithaca, NY (New York, Amherst: real estate, apartment, to rent)

[Maggie&Jerry]

I previously asked a similar question about Ithaca but did not get as many responses as I'd hoped for. I am attending the Finger Lakes School of Massage this Spring. It's a six month program, running January through June. I am moving from the suburbs of Albany, (originally from Amherst in Western NY). I am a 20 year old female, will be 21 upon arrival and I'm looking for some specifics on the area.

I am going to look at the area in a few weeks and I want to know what areas I should look at and steer clear from when looking to rent an apartment. I know the school is on Trumansburg Rd. but I don't know the area at all. I want to be, if possible, within a few blocks of the school so that I can walk to school and save on gas OR is it possible to live without a car if I wont be working (I have a loan to cover living expenses).

I am not much of a partier so I wouldn't be driving to go out a lot. I don't mind taking a taxi or bus when necessary, but I'd rather not bring my car just to save money. I am willing to pay up to 500 for a studio, 700 for a 1br if everything is included (utilities). Is this possible without being a 1BR in a 12BR house? I will be living alone, hopefully, so I want to be safe and secure. Is the area near my school safe?

Thanks so much.

[CarolL]

The massage school is on the outskirts of Ithaca (a beautiful setting, right on Lake Cayuga, just gorgeous site). There isn't much around there, and there really aren't any sidewalks or anything as I recall. (I don't live in Ithaca yet, but have visited many times.)

Because of the school's location, you would most likely need a car. Or check the bus route. Ithaca has a bus system (very inexpensive) that's very good. Since the hospital and a museum is out that way, the bus route probably goes that way. You may want to click on TCAT BUS : Home | Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit, New York.

Have you searched this forum for info? I assume you've looked here: Finger Lakes School of Massage: (http://www.flsm.com/student_life/housing.php - broken link). Have you asked the school for housing referrals? Have you checked craigslist? There are dozens and dozens of apts listed in Ithaca on craigslist.

I think I posted before that I seem to recall an apt complex about a half mile or so from the massage school, on the other side of Trumansburg Rd (aka Rt 96).

As for bad areas of town, someone else will have to chime in here. I've been going to Ithaca about six or seven times a year for the past four years, and I haven't seen any "bad", high-crime or scary areas, but I may not know the town that well (but I'm from Chicago, so my idea of a scary area may be different from someone else's). As I've looked at real estate there, neither my friends nor family in Ithaca have told me about any areas to avoid. But again, someone from Ithaca should chime in on this.

[CarolL]

I found this apt complex. It's within walking distance of the massage school:

ATTENTION MASSAGE SCHOOL STUDENTS! (http://ithaca.craigslist.org/apa/877050390.html - broken link)

[vlt_moon]

I graduated from FLSM in the Summer of 2007. I rented a bedroom in a farm house with utilities included for under $400. Unhappily the woman I stayed with no longer lets out rooms.
However as a FLSM student you have access to their website. Go under student and select housing. This will give you a long list of places that would be great for you.
I brought my own car so I could go home on the weekend but other students left their cars at home. They either walked, took the bus, or carpooled.
However it works you I know you will have a wonderful time. Ithaca is a wonderful place to live and study.

[vlt_moon]

Ah the hospital is about a five minute walk from the school. There is a path through the hedge near the earth museum. The only time it takes longer is when you can't cut across the lawns because of heavy snow fall.