Atlanta Apartments?

[SilentButDeadly]

I may be doing a co-op in Atlanta starting mid August or so. I am wondering if anyone has some suggestions on where to stay while I am there. I will be working on Peachtree St. a little south of five points. A couple of things I am trying to figure out.

1) Is there a safe environment anywhere in Atlanta? I stayed downtown at a hotel the other day and it was just insane how many times people tried bumming things off of me or asking me if I wanted to buy drugs.

2) Is there anything for a decent price in Atlanta that coincides with question above? I know the cost of living is high.

3) Would you suggest living a little ways outside of Atlanta and just pay a little extra money and time for the commute? You have to factor in the time in the mornings because of traffic and depending on how many miles I have to travel, the amount of money for gas per week.

4) Are there any suggestions for living in a big city like this? I have to consider everything. I am good with a budget as I have been doing it for a while. I will be bringing in 1600 - 1850 per month after taxes first rotation, so 800 for rent would be about the most I would be able to pay.

The reason for a safe place is for my girlfriend. I just don't feel to safe walking around Atlanta with her sometimes especially taking the marta with her. There are some crazy people down there... Anyways some extra knowledge from actual people would be great!

 

[George P Burdell]

Originally posted by: SilentButDeadly
1) Is there a safe environment anywhere in Atlanta?

NO. But while crime here is high, it is mostly petty crime.

2) Is there anything for a decent price in Atlanta that coincides with question above? I know the cost of living is high.

You DON'T want to live in the downtown area. Your best best is Midtown and around Georgia Tech. Virginia Highlands and Buckhead are better, but pricier and furthur away from five points. East Atlanta Village is making a comeback and you might find something there, but I'm not sure about safety.

3) Would you suggest living a little ways outside of Atlanta and just pay a little extra money and time for the commute? You have to factor in the time in the mornings because of traffic and depending on how many miles I have to travel, the amount of money for gas per week.

You would have to live significantly far away (OTP or outside I-285) to make cheap rent, but you'll end up sinking more coin into gas. Atlanta traffic is bad. Very bad. It doesn't help that most A-town drivers drive worse than a monkey high on whiteboard markers. Also, OTP life is boring.

4) Are there any suggestions for living in a big city like this? I have to consider everything. I am good with a budget as I have been doing it for a while. I will be bringing in 1600 - 1850 per month after taxes first rotation, so 800 for rent would be about the most I would be able to pay.

If you want a single bedroom place, $800 will get you a small 1-bed or studio in a ok gated community. If you're willing to get a roommate, look in a 3-mile radius around Tech. Many students sublet their apartments when they leave for internships/coop terms, so you'll get into a good gated community if you're willing to put up with a roommate.

To give you an idea, I've lived at a great gated community for the last two years with two friends and our rent for a 3bed/3bath is $1600. If you're looking to save some coin, look at student housing. You'll find places for as low as $400 if you're willing to stay in older homes in homepark.

If you have more money, live closer to Emory because they have more fun. If not, live near Tech. We'd love the company

The reason for a safe place is for my girlfriend. I just don't feel to safe walking around Atlanta with her sometimes especially taking the marta with her.

ATL is not a pedestrian city. You shouldn't be walking on the streets (in the downtown area) unless you're in a big group and its day time. Our public transport sucks so we are slaves to our cars. The only time anyone takes MARTA is to travel to/from the airport.

There are some crazy people down there... Anyways some extra knowledge from actual people would be great!

You don't know the half of it... :evil:

 

[GoatMonkey]

I'd recommend an area with lots of younger people for you. So, look near the colleges. I lived near Emory at an apartment complex called Arbor Hills. It was pretty nice, lots of young people, a pretty good number of hot girls at the pool most weekends. The road it's on gets packed every day around rush hour though. My friend lives over there now, I think he pays $750/month.

There are a lot of nice new tower type apartments in the Buckhead area now. Most likely they are having trouble filling them, I think it's a little overbuilt. There is no longer a good bar scene in Buckhead if that matters to you.

Virginia-Highlands is a nice area, but you could have a hard time finding a nice apartment there for $800/mo.. It's mostly older houses and older apartments in that area. That is the area around the intersection of Virginia Ave. and North Highland Ave.. There is a row of pretty good bars over there.

The Midtown area is nice also. If you could find a place near Piedmont Park you'd probably be doing pretty good. At least during the day, I don't advise going near the park at night. Midtown is known for its higher than average percentage of non-straight people. There are a lot of clubs and bars over in the Crescent Ave. area.

Most of the best bars and clubs are in Midtown or Virginia-Highlands.

Just don't live OTP. It's really like you're in exile. I lived out in Alpharetta when I first moved to here. There is really nothing out there except your standard suburban restaurants and shopping.

If you're ITP you can take a cab to pretty much anywhere you want to go without worrying about who is going to drive home.

I sound like an alcoholic with my advice, but you're young and you should be out on the town. Drink up and take a cab. A $20 cab ride is a lot cheaper than $1000's on a DWI.

 

[Descartes]

I think you're being a bit extreme, and to be honest George, I think you're making it worse. Downtown sucks, no doubt. Midtown is perfectly safe, and perfectly walkable all up and down Peachtree NE. I lived in a condo right there for a couple of years, and never had a single problem. People are always out, there's plenty to do and it's perfectly safe. The same precautions exist for Atlanta that there would be for any urban area in any city.

As for OTP living being boring, I again disagree. Most people simply don't know what to do OTP, and instead just pass it off as boring. If it's a bar life you're looking for, then certainly OTP the offerings are slimmer than midtown, Va Highlands, etc; however, there's outstanding eating OTP, plenty of outdoor activities, etc. Just depends on your priorities.

So, in short: Don't think you're seen all of Atlanta just because you spent a little time downtown. Atlanta is huge, and there's a lot to see. The vast majority of it is perfectly safe and with reasonable living options. Just avoid the tourist concentrated areas (i.e. downtown), but that's sage advice for any city.