Not to be a broken record, but alas! I am another hapless student that will be moving to Baltimore in the upcoming months and looking for recommendations on neighborhoods to live in. For context, I'm a young professional in my early 30s and will be moving from Los Angeles. Which areas are the best for a diverse, young-ish demographic and close to places like Johns Hopkins or the University of Maryland? I prefer the delusion of living in a safe neighborhood and would like access to things like coffee shops, restaurants, and grocery stores. Walkability is usually important to me, but since living in LA, it's not so much a deal breaker anymore. I appreciate any kind suggestions!
Comments
clebo99 t1_j7khd7d wrote
Lived in Baltimore for 25+ years. Some possibilities:
- Mt. Vernon. I'm there now. Very walkable to almost everywhere. BTW, Baltimore is very good for biking.
- Locust Point. More expensive but great neighborhood and super safe.
- Fells Point. Where most of the bars are. Parking sucks but walkable.
- Canton. Safe and lots of stuff around there (about a mile east of Fells Point).
- Federal Hill. Near the inner harbor. Lots of things to do there and walkable.
- Hamden. Kitchy area of the city. Lots to do around there.
- Pigtown. Not ready yet. Still in transition. Close to the casino.
Baltimore is a really fun town and you should love it.
(edit......Canton is east of Fells Point).
[deleted] OP t1_j7m4tyl wrote
Thank you for this! A concise rundown- I love it. And yes, Baltimore is so charming and I miss city life. I'm sure i will love it! Thanks for the info!
clebo99 t1_j7m6102 wrote
If you like live music, Fells Point has 7-8 places on the same block with bands playing all day Saturday/Sunday. It's a lot of fun. Fed Hill is usually for the <30 crowd. Fells Point is >30. Canton is a bit of a mix. Locust Point is a little more for newly married couples/families with small kids before they move to the county for public schools.
Enjoy!!!
[deleted] OP t1_j7mac05 wrote
What are your extended thoughts on Hampden? I see you wrote there's lots to do there. It's kinda where I'm leaning towards at the moment
clebo99 t1_j7mc85z wrote
So Hampden is great. It's kind of like the "beatnik" part of town but in a good way. Lots of diverse people there. Very affordable. "The Avenue" is famous for their food/bars. It is very close to Hopkins Campus (vs. Hopkins Hospital which you do not want to live near). Very good area and you really can't go wrong there.
The only issue is that it is up against Remington which is still a neighborhood in transition. That is the one thing about Baltimore in that one block can be really good but 2 blocks away is sketchy. Even where I live, 5-6 blocks east of me and I'm not walking there at night........But as like most cities, just be aware and you will be fine. Specifically, as long as you aren't buying/selling heroin, you will be ok.
[deleted] OP t1_j7md8m8 wrote
Good to know! It sounds very much like Chicago which is where I'm originally from. Beautiful city but things change from block to block. I think Hampden, Mt. Vernon, and Fells Point sound like the best options for what I'm looking for. I appreciate all of your insight! If I think of anything else do you mind if I bug you again? haha
[deleted] OP t1_j7mdku5 wrote
Also, I'm surprised, no one mentioned Charles Village. I remember when i visited, a student at Hopkins recommended that area. Thoughts?
clebo99 t1_j7mrnn2 wrote
Charles Village works as well but there is a little bit of sketchy around it. It is a lot like Chicago. My daughter goes to school there and loved the town as it reminded her of here.
sxswnxnw t1_j7jek9b wrote
Which Hopkins campus: hospital/medical school campus or Homewood or Bayview?
Mount Vernon and adjacent neighborhoods without more info. Wherever the Hopkins shuttle goes is easiest.
[deleted] OP t1_j7jfl23 wrote
Thank you for your response! Mount Vernon seems like a great option from older posts I have read. I hear, however that it doesn't have many grocery stores...? Is that true?
sxswnxnw t1_j7k7hp8 wrote
The largest grocery store is Streets and there are several smaller ones. If you're looking for like a Ralphs-like or Vons-like supermarket experience, you will not find that in any of the neighborhoods near either of those universities.
I am using close loosely now, but the closest to Homewood is probably Abell, Waverly, and probably Hampden. The closest to University of Maryland is probably Federal Hill. Bayview has a Streets Market nearby. And Hopkins Hospital's nearest grocery is probably Safeway or Whole Foods. And to be clear I am using grocery store as to mean medium or small vendors that sell mostly food and a good quantity of fresh food but has some general household items ot and do not specialize in cuisine of a certain ethnic group.
If the grocery stores are the main draw, maybe map them on Google, but there just aren't a whole lotta lotta walkable grocery store situations near universities in Baltimore.
benignlystained t1_j7jkweb wrote
There’s a handful a few blocks away from each other (Streets Market, Po Tung Oriental Grocery, Abinet Ethiopian Market, J&R Food Market, Mt. Vernon Supermarket, Eddie’s of Mt. Vernon - just to name a few).
Ill-Detective-1362 t1_j7jtyij wrote
What about recommendations near University of Maryland?
sxswnxnw t1_j7k6lez wrote
For University of Maryland my answer is Mount Vernon or Downtown.
ladyliferules t1_j7kl6dm wrote
Ridgely’s Delight is right there.
baltosteve t1_j7l2fyq wrote
UMB has a decent shuttle service to many areas. www.umaryland.edu/shuttlebus/routes/
[deleted] OP t1_j7k04u9 wrote
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wolfbear t1_j7lhkfq wrote
I just bought in hampden cuz it reminds me of my glory days in echo park in 2011-2012. Great restaurants, book store, record store, bars, etc
[deleted] OP t1_j7m4h8z wrote
The essence of life! *Moves Hampden to top of my list*
bookoocash t1_j7majx4 wrote
If you want to live near Hopkins, Hampden has a huge grocery store called Moms that I walk to from my home every week. Plenty of restaurants and shops within walking distance too.
S-Kunst t1_j7k0inm wrote
Sadly you will have to go to Europe for those storybook - towns with their cafes and walk-able streets. They also don't exist in our suburban areas either as there, one needs a car for any activity.
Both Hopkins Medical and Uni of MD have created black-hole environments around their doorsteps. Unlike many other colleges/universities which create active civilian settlements. Their contempt for the neighborhoods in which they reside is mostly due to their practice of taking over anything in their path and their ownership of dilapidated buildings, which they see as tear-downs.
sxswnxnw t1_j7k6got wrote
Lol this is funny but not.
Yes, ngl, when I first read this I thought to myself, "This sounds like Montreal, really," and kinda rolled over and went to sleep.
Not quite Europe, but similar.
[deleted] OP t1_j7mfbnr wrote
I'm essentially describing parts of Chicago here or maybe Toronto.? I don't even have these things in close proximity in LA so there not so much demands. Also, I didn't know that about the impact the Universities have had on the surrounding communities.
Brief_Exit1798 t1_j7k5s7t wrote
I've lived in south baltimore , riverside and federal hill since 1998. Walkable, coffee shops, nice restaurants and safe for a big city. I love it here and plan to be here until 70 years old at least.