where to live near riverdale park (Columbia, Greenbelt: apartment, crimes, safe area)

[dkf747]

Originally Posted by PGC301

If you do end up in Crofton, this is the fastest way I can think of to your job:

-Get on Rt 3 South
-Take the exit for Rt 50 West
-Take the exit for Rt 410 North
-Turn left on East/West Highway*
-Turn right on Kenilworth Ave
-Turn left on River Rd

Depending on traffic, I'd say it would take about 30-45 minutes each way

*at the point where you say turn on East-West hwy it is actually Riverdale Rd.

[PGC301]

Thanks for clearing that up. im alot more familiar with Hyattsville than Riverdale, i've always thought of 410 as E/W hwy. i forgot it has a few different names

[dvw20748]

You might want to look for an apartment in College Park Md or either Laurel Md both are about a 15 minute commute from Riverdale Md.

[lscalder]

I do think Laurel is a good option but what is your issue with Hispanics. They are not all criminals. I do not have any Hispanics living in my community or close by but if I did I would not judge them all as illegals.
Hispanics are not the only illegals in America. America have Asians,Blacks,Canadians,Europeans,Indians that are in this country as illegals. So maybe the Chinese restaurants you eat from might have illegal Asians working there.

[anybodyelse]

You definitely need to see the area and the apts before you commit to anything. I'm afraid the MD suburbs are going to be a rude shock compared to bucolic western MA. While Crofton may seem "rural", that is only because it used to be farmland before being plowed up and carpeted with suburban housing developments. I suppose if you get a rental on the edge of town facing outward, you could pretend to be in a rural area:-) The College Park Metro stop is a very short and safe walk from the USDA bldg on River Rd (presume that's where you'll be). Have you considered saving yourself the hassle of driving through traffic (the worst part about the MD/DC/VA metro area) and instead choosing an apt within walking distance to the Metro? If I was new to the DC area, not interested in buying right away, a single or a couple not needing to live where the schools are great, not overly concerned about the risk of theft to my small collection of worldly possessions, and street smart enough to keep my person safe in an urban environment (no walking late at night alone, always choose apts on upper floors with secure entrances), then I would take the opportunity to live in any number of vibrant urban places in and around DC which are close to the Metro and within walking distance to shops and cultural events. Save the rural feel for when you have a family to protect. I'm making some assumptions here, but you sound young and single and smart.

[anybodyelse]

MARC train from Laurel DOES go to College Park metro stop area, so I think it would be easy for you to commute from Laurel to USDA Riverdale using public transport to your job from Laurel, as long as you live somewhere convenient to the MARC stop in Laurel. Also would make it easy to get into DC for cultural events and it's easy to switch from MARC to the Metro to travel around to other places on the Metro line. Keep in mind the Feds will subsidize your public transport to work, plus you won't have to pay for parking. USDA and others charge for parking.

[dkf747]

Originally Posted by anybodyelse

MARC train from Laurel DOES go to College Park metro stop area, so I think it would be easy for you to commute from Laurel to USDA Riverdale using public transport to your job from Laurel, as long as you live somewhere convenient to the MARC stop in Laurel. Also would make it easy to get into DC for cultural events and it's easy to switch from MARC to the Metro to travel around to other places on the Metro line. Keep in mind the Feds will subsidize your public transport to work, plus you won't have to pay for parking. USDA and others charge for parking.

+1. I think Laurel, or points north of there, and use the MARC train is a great idea. The MARC stop is one one side of the station and River Rd on he othe side. You just go down the escalator, through the station, and up on the other side.

[goalieinplantbio]

Hi everyone, thanks for the suggestions and opinions. Ironically, I looked into the Laurel area due to the simplicity of my commute via MARC to the USDA building (and yes, you are correct anybody else. The USDA building is on River Road). I've found a couple of apartments in Laurel that I'm interested in. These include Foxfire and Deerfield Run. I also found what seems to be a nice apartment in the historic area of Laurel. Is there anything you guys can tell me about these three places?

[kjg1963]

Originally Posted by goalieinplantbio

Hi everyone, thanks for the suggestions and opinions. Ironically, I looked into the Laurel area due to the simplicity of my commute via MARC to the USDA building (and yes, you are correct anybody else. The USDA building is on River Road). I've found a couple of apartments in Laurel that I'm interested in. These include Foxfire and Deerfield Run. I also found what seems to be a nice apartment in the historic area of Laurel. Is there anything you guys can tell me about these three places?

I would stay away from Foxfire or any other apartment complexes on Route 197 in Laurel. That area is not the best. It has the highest concentration of apartment complexes and all the problems that come with a dense population. I would try for something in the Historic District. This is where I live and it is a fairly safe area and has more single family homes than apartment complexes.

[bowian]

Originally Posted by kjg1963

I would stay away from Foxfire or any other apartment complexes on Route 197 in Laurel. That area is not the best. It has the highest concentration of apartment complexes and all the problems that come with a dense population. I would try for something in the Historic District. This is where I live and it is a fairly safe area and has more single family homes than apartment complexes.

I second this re 197 apts. I drive through that way often enough for my kids' acitivities to not like what I see. Basically, I see a lot of younger people walking around or hanging around with nothing to do. Not that they're bad ... I wouldn't know. But you know the saying about idle hands...

There are apt. complexes on Contee. I don't know if they are any better. I thought I saw a complex in the historic area, just off Route 1, but I could be wrong. The historic area does look quiet.