Apartments In Carrboro (Chapel Hill, King, White Oak: rentals, condos, crime)

[Pupmom]

Two recent college grads are moving to the area. One is going to grad school at UNC , other is looking for employment. Undergrad professor suggested the Carrboro area. It was described as an area with plenty of young professionals in the area- also he stated it was on the bus route which the girls would like to use rather than driving everywhere.
We are coming down at the end of June to search for apts, but time is very limited and we want to have an idea of where to look. Suggestions were Villages, Bridges. We also see listings for complexes such as Royal Park, Chambers and Carolina.
Is this an area where they can walk to shopping (grocery, clothing, etc.). Can they walk to restaurants, clubs, etc? Is there night life in the area? Chain restaurants, etc. Can't seem to get an idea of all that is there by looking on the web so far. Any info is greatly appreciated.

[davidals]

Abbey Court, Ridgewood, Carolina, Royal Park, Kingswood I'd avoid, those first 3 especially. Abbey Court and Ridgewood are defacto housing projects with a smattering of college kids. I live 6 blocks from there, near Fidelity Court condos, and in the immediate vicinity of Abbey Court, I have seen drunk people run into traffic and get hit by cars, a shooting, open prostitution, various kinds of drug use and dope dealing - it's pretty much a free for all down there, so caveat emptor. It is far and away the most affordable living in southern Orange County. The only thing it has going for it. There's apparently a police substation being built for AC now. 5 years ago, I asked one of Carrboror's finest if they would consider a substation @ Jones Ferry and Davie (surely if Southern Village needed one - all the curfew violations and labradoodle hanky panky), and he and his partner got a great laugh out of that. Message: if it stays in this neighborhood, it's ain't a problem. Until it starts washing up somewhere else.

The neighborhoods north of there - Davie Rd, Fidelity St, Bim St, West Poplar are worth a ride through - a mix of price ranges, duplexes, single-family rentals, small complexes (like White Oak, Fidelity Court and Village Green). There's a very rich mixture of artists, hipsters, young professionals, families, grad students, a few undergrads, older small business owners - a real neighborhood, in other words, and the prices are a bit all over the place, but it is stable, and worth a look. Due to the presence of Abbey Court and Ridgewood (and OWASA) a few blocks away, I think the area isn't really going to be able to gentrify much beyong what it already has (which is good IMO), but the crime from those projects doesn't really creep much past Jones Ferry either.

Grocery - in downtown Carrboro, about an 8-15 minute walk to the east. Same for clubs and nighlife. It's a safe walk heading into downtown. There isn't much in the way of other shopping, except for the usual hipster nirvanas like Nice Price Books and a number of very upscale, small boutiques whose clientele is a total mystery to me. LOTS of very good eateries around the Weaver Street Market area, good indie beer store. Cat's Cradle is right over the tracks, next to the Arts Center and Amante's Pizza.

[scattershot]

Pupmom,

If you decide on a place in the area...please let me know.. I am also looking to move to Carrobor/Chapel Hill area..

Thanks