[IdentityCrisisMama]

Because of some new, crazy circumstances (my best friend/SIL is getting married to my father's best friend…who lives in Baltimore like the rest of my family) I'm considering whether I could make a good life for my family living in Baltimore.

Could you all give me some idea of what life is like for you and what the possibilities are in that area?

I found this:

http://www.baltimorevillage.org/

Which looks like a good start.

What is you feeling about which direction Baltimore is heading? Do you get the feeling like it's getting more progressive? Are there many opportunities to meet cool people? Is crime likely to decline? How does the economy look? Are public schools getting good support? Is public transportation getting better? Are there many interesting activities for families and adults?

My main concern is crime, finding a neighborhood where I might find like-minded people and can walk or bike to several things (including DC's schools) and a short commute to work.

I really appreciate the help, H.

 

[Elphaba]

...

 

[IdentityCrisisMama]

I KNOW!!! Crazy, ha? Good for me though...the more family in one place the better. I hope you had a great weekend. PMing you...

 

[phathui5]

Are there many opportunities to meet cool people?

Loads. There are plenty of places to meet up with people.

Is crime likely to decline?

I doubt it. I hate to sound pessimistic, but crime in Baltimore City is bad. Baltimore County isn't bad though.

How does the economy look?

It seems good to me.

Are public schools getting good support?

They get lots of funding, if that's what you mean. In Baltimore City, you couldn't pay me to send my kids to school there. I've had friends move to the county to avoid using the schools in the city. The public schools in Baltimore County seem okay though (it depends whether you mean Baltimore City or County).

Is public transportation getting better?

Not really. It's good in the city and awful in the county.

Are there many interesting activities for families and adults?

There are lots of things to do for both kids and adults.

 

[IdentityCrisisMama]

Oh, definitely Baltimore City. I grew up in Mt. Washington and then in Towson. I can't deal with the county because I hate to drive. I really *need* to be in a neighborhood.

What about city charter schools and/or city private?

 

[Artisan]

The schools are horrible, in both the city and the county. Maryland has really stringent charter school requirements, so there are not many around. You probably have two private school options: 1) superspendy college prep 2)Catholic

In terms of fun stuff to do, there is a TON. Maryland is very progressive in general, so you are likely to meet like-minded people. The traffic is not good.

 

[zipperump-a-zoomum]

Hi ICM!

Okay, here's my read on the situation:

1. Getting more progressive in the city, or at least staying the same.

2. Lots of opportunities to meet cool people. But, I live in a really cool neighborhood, and so that definitely makes things easier. But yeah, I think the city is small enough in someways to make meeting like-minded people easier that in the counties or in a bigger city.

3. Crime- I really don't find that I worry too much about the crime. I'm not sure it is likely to decline until we do something about the inequities in the city (racial, class related) and something about the addiciton problem (instead of locking everyone up, which clearly isn't working, imho.)
But, the crime is pretty limited to certain areas and populations. While the stats look bad, I think a whole lot of that can be attributed to gang-on-gang violence and drug related violence.

4. The city public schools are in really bad shape. They ran up a huge deficit, then cut a whole bunch of teachers, so even in the schools that are "good," class size went up. There are quite a few charter schools opening this year, some of which sound pretty much like your average public school, some of which sound like they have a different take on things. (There's a southwest school, a patterson park school, and a "city neighborhoods" school that I think is in hamilton area. There are more, but those are the ones I know about. You don't have to live in the area to apply or be accepted.)

5. I think there's a lot to do. You really don't go a weekend without a festival of some sort happening. Also lots or great outdoors stuff not too far away, and close proximity of dc.

6. The only thing that I think might drive you a bit crazy is the public transport. It really isn't all that great, and while you can get a lot of places on the bus, it's going to take you awhile. (But I was in DC before this, so my pov might be a bit off.)

Also, as a last plug, there are a ton of really good people working to make the city a better place to live. I have great hopes for b-more's future.

Kaly

 

[IdentityCrisisMama]

Could you all give me some neighborhood ideas? Ideally, I would walk to a cute little pre-k/kindergarten, a grocery/produce stand and a friend’s house :LOL

 

[zipperump-a-zoomum]

Mount Vernon is pretty cool- but also expensive. Lots of people like Federal Hill and Canton, but again, both expensive and I don't think there are tons of families there.

Patterson Park area is revitalizing, and there's walkable stuff, and it's more affordable right now. Butcher's Hill is near there, and that's supposed to be really nice, but again, a bit more expensive. Hampden has really changed in the past 10 or so years- lots of hip, trendy stores, cafes, etc. That's walkable too.
Charles village is awesome, walk to BMA, lots of other stuff.

Belvedere square is in the very north part of the city, on major bus lines, walk to library, there's a preschool right there that lots of people like, and the market itself has a produce stand/juicer bar, sushi bar, soup/bread/sandwich stand, italian deli, wine bar, and other stuff. It's not as city feeling as some of the other neighborhoods that I've mentioned, but it is really affordable. (Single fam. homes with 3 bedrooms have been going for 130 or so, townhomes less.)

Kaly

 

[nina93013]

>What is you feeling about which direction Baltimore is heading? Do you get >the feeling like it's getting more progressive?

It's basically a working class city. Dominated by middle of the road democratic politics. There are progressive organizations (see http://baltimore.indymedia.org/). If you mean progressive/alternative as in consumer items, yes there are plenty of health food stores, holistic medical practitioners etc. Baltimore will never be Berkeley.

>Is crime likely to decline?

Like any city, there is crime. It's not any worse here than DC. Crime isn't random in Baltimore and is concentrated in impoverished neighborhoods as you might expect.

>Are public schools getting good support?

No. There are charter and alternative schools that can offer a compromise. A few city public schools rise above it all and are very good.

>My main concern is crime, finding a neighborhood where I might find like->minded people and can walk or bike to several things (including DC's >schools) and a short commute to work.

I live in Bolton Hill (www.boltonhill.org). Many people walk to the train station to commute to DC. There is a neighborhood preschool, grocery store, parents' club.

 

[IdentityCrisisMama]

Thank you, everyone. I'll look around. I must say that I like what I see as far as housing goes.

As far as crime goes ~ I guess I had some bad experiences growing up there which is making me fearful. I don't think I'm going to be able to kick that but I can deal with it enough to give it a try. It's nice to hear that you don't feel threatened.

ZaZ, where do you live that you like so much? (if you don't mind my asking)

How often do you all drive? Do you feel a strong pull to drive everyday? Is it difficult for people to understand that you don't want to drive to meet up or whatever?

 

[IdentityCrisisMama]

Oh, and what's the deal with Hamilton? I don't even know where it is but the housing there is cheap.

 

[ayme371]

Hi,I grew up in the burbs ofbaltimore,spcifically HArford county. i have since moved to PA. But still have familyin the area so I visit there. I'll be honest,I felt absolutely no love loss leaving MD. The biggest thing frme was ALL THE PEOPLE. It seemed to me that no matter where you go in the surrounding Baltimore area there will be tons of people. Yeah some are cool,but I ran into lots of yuppie wanna be's living in Mcmansions.Sorry,I really don't want to offend anyone or put down the area you live in. This is just my honest opinion and personal experience.
Anyway, taxes are relatively cheap, ie. schools don't get as much funding as they should(I was a teacher there),public programs are minimal, etc.
Trying to find open space is a joke unless you go to western MD. Places to go hiking and biking that I went to as a child are so overcrowded its crazy. I took a class to survey local streams and they are in horrible shape mainly because there are so many impervios surfaces. Houses seem to pop up everywhere and areon top of one another. The area that I grew up in was once considered rural and now it is nothing but a sea of rooftops. Sorry, I do feel bad bashing the area. It can be really nice and full of culture in the right areas.
if I can be of any more specific help please let me know. I feellike I could write a book here. Good luck in making the best decision.

 

[IdentityCrisisMama]

No, that's fine, Amy. I'm actually totally okay with lots of people. Our 1st choice is NYC but because of this family issue I'd really consider Baltimore. But I like to hear your opinion.

My SIL just offered to pay for private schooling but my issue with that is that I don't want to be driving all over town in traffic getting DC to and from school, yk? I hear some of the county schools are great and have a bus but I don't want to live in the county.

I'm also kina freaked about about the commute for DH and for me when I start schooling (what's the local Uni,btw) or working. I just can't deal with the average amount of time I see spent in the car in that area.

But, see, I only know a small group of people who live there and they're in the county for the most part so I have a very limited idea of what life is like…which is why I'm asking you all.

I met a family who lives on Patterson Park in a fantastic home (an old embassy!) and they seem to have a good life. I could get into it…I just can't *picture* it, YK?

Oh, plus my sister is at MICA, my mother is a local painter, my step-dad is a carpenter, my father has lunch in Canton every day and my step-mom is at JHU! It would be way cool.

I've just got to get over the crime issue and find a way to not drive all over the place. Possible???

 

[ayme371]

I wish I could be of more help but I am not as familiar with city life as I only worked in the city for a few years, several years ago. From what I understand many parts of the city are revitalizing, just the public schools are still a little scary. There are many nice private schools though. Good luck!!!

 

[zipperump-a-zoomum]

The counties really do demand a car, a lot of driving, and bad traffic.

But I think that it is possible to set up a life in the city that allows for a lot less driving. (Not that we have, dp works in annapolis, and I my commute is about 20 minutes.

)

What kind of schooling are you thinking of? There's Hopkins, Mica, Loyola, College of Notre Dame, University of Baltimore, University of Maryland, city campus, etc, etc. Towson and Goucher are out of the city, but both are on major buss lines and have their own transport, too.

I do drive everyday- for work, and also because I live in the north part of the city (Belvedere Square/Govans area). Lots of the things that we like to do are further south in the city, and while I could take a bus it would take a wicked long time to get there. I love this neighborhood, everyone knows everyone, its very communal, and there is a lot I can walk to. But, if I had more money, I'd probably move somewhere closer to downtown. (Bolton Hill is awesome, btw nina. You guys have a great thing going on!) We bought our house for about 100 thou, and I just can't see being able to afford anything closer to downtown.

Kaly

 

[phathui5]

I forgot to mention that there is a good homeschooling community for if you move to the city and don't want to use city schools.

 

[elfie]

hey I too moved to PA from Baltimore, but we moved because we wanted some land and privacy and a Waldorf school and it was a lot cheaper in PA than MD. I love PA but theres plenty I miss about Baltimore.

It sounds like Charles Village/JHU/Oakenshawe would be a good place for you to look. the one big negative about those places is the crime, but if ya want to live in the city you'll deal with that everywhere. I lived in CHarles Village years ago and got my car broken into so many times. Maybe a place w/off street parking would help that.

If you have someone helping you out for school $$$, look into the Greenmount School (which you could walk to from some of those areas). It is an alternative education approach - I think they have a website somewhere if they are still around.

there is also a great farmers market on Saturdays on 32nd st. in walking distance of CV and JHU area. I still drive 1x a month from PA to go there.

My opinion is also that you will drive no matter where you live for something. he health food store is on one end of the city, good bands play in another, schools another, etc. the city imho is not well laid out for a "walking urban lifestyle" but if you figure out what you do most you can move to a place that limits your driving for sure.

We lived in Hampden. my dh grew up there,all his family is still there, we both owned stores on 36th street and we loved it there and there are a lot of nice cafe/restaurant and a pretty decent parks and it is filling up with more and more artsy types and more kids. But as the public schools are horrendously awful, besides the cafes and park - oh and the BMA , theres not much to walk to in a short distance (if your a good walker for a distance you can get to more, but I'm talking miles)

Hope this helps - haven't lived there in 3 years so feel free to correct me if things have changed that dramatically!

 

[elfie]

I wanted to add that Charles Village has a good community support for parents. I have a few friends who live there and have kids and love it because of it's sense of community - and it has the most beautiful city homes. you could definatly find a cheaper one and fix it up.

It's not all rosey though as with anything, so if you want I can try to get you in touch with someone who lives there and you can hear both sides. Plenty of people have moved away from that area- we did because of crime, but I think if your aware of it, it is not anymore of a problem than other places? I would think it to be similar to PAtterson PArk????

 

[wildmonkeys]

I live in Howard County, which has a great school system and tons of kids (if I have a criticism it is that children almost seem required here :LOL ) but we can get to the Inner H/Camden Yards in 15 minutes. My parents live in Federal Hill...great neighborhood and I hear the public school "Federal Hill Prep" has made strides in recent years, yet their neighbors on both sides send their kids to private school....

I think this is a great area to raise kids...the MD Science Center; Aquarium; Port Discovery; Balt/DC Zoos, museums, and parks & recs options are just awesome...

You can find progressive, liberal folks easily. I think crime & poverty are going to be persistent problems because there are some fairly basic economic issues in the city...(the discrepency in incomes between DC & Baltimre, lack of the industrial economic base Baltimore needs, etc.)

Bj
Barney & Ben