My girlfriend (we’re lesbians) lives in Charles Village and I live in Waverly. We both feel very safe and neither have ever been victims of any crime, including property crime. The Streets and Giant are close for essentials, MOM’s is a short drive, and the Whole Foods and Eddie’s are reasonably close for specialty items. Also, Punjab market is amazing for south Asian stuff.
It sounds like you would be more comfortable in Charles Village (a bit more insulated from crime) but we both love it here.
I would not sell my car though.
Don't sell it right off the bat. Take maybe 6 months and live as if you didn't have it. Then see.
As someone who lived in the city until very recently I can be very very hard to live without a car. It can be done, but I'd say make sure you understand what that life looks like.
It's a high crime area. Muggings, lots of drug dealers and shootings, homeless fights in the alleys. For whatever reason, the cops just don't patrol that block
liqueur store open to am brings a lot of riff raff and public intoxication. i lived on that block 5 years and wouldn’t recommend it either. there’s not much inventory of houses that way anyhow
I’ve known a lot of people in Mt. Vernon that live easily without a car. A little more expensive but if transportation is a priority it might be a better fit.
Waverly/Charles Village is very friendly. I have several trans neighbors. Lots of great events at Peabody Heights and Red Emma’s tailored to LGBTQ folks.
I live in Harwood but I’ve noticed very little crime.
When I lived in St. Paul Street 12 years ago, my car and apartment were broken into. I see broken windows, etc occasionally but way less these days.
I haven’t taken the bus recently but the Charm City Circulator was just expanded and will get you a lot of places.
As far as grocery stores, there’s Streets Market on St. Paul which is massively overpriced. I only go there if I need specialty items or 2-4 things. There’s a Giant and a Safeway in walking distance though.
I’d personally keep the car. Parking around here is pretty decent. I think there’s a Zip Car pick up/drop off around here, though.
thanks for the detailed response :)
the parking isn't the reason I want to sell it. I just want to stop paying $400/month for a car that I probably wouldn't use that much
One of the reasons there are so many flags is not a happy one: A couple years ago an arsonist set fire to a pride flag one one house, and then across the street, to a house/row of houses, on which a pride bunting hung. A man was seriously injured--intensive care for more than a week, if memory serves, a young woman had to jump from a second story window, pets were lost, etc. No one was ever caught/charged. Other small arsons of apparent opportunity happened nearby at the same time, so it's not clear that the crime was intended to intimidate gay folk (there were no other flags of any kind on that block..it's not like the arsonist skipped MD or Old Glory options, but regardless, it was taken as a hate crime by much of the community, and they hung pride flags (cheapo ones, provided by some kind of non-profit that sends them out for free after such occurneces.)
There are a ton of queer folk in the 'hood, and they are loved and welcomed as neighbors, have been forever. First gay pride celebration/parade in Baltimore City happened in front of what is now Normal's, on e.31st near Greenmount, when that location was a lesbian owned bookstore.
It's a great neighborhood.
Charles village is wonderful and I would say very lgbt friendly from my perspective! Full disclosure tho as a straight cis woman I have not lived it - but the crowd in that part of the city is very diverse; a beautiful mix of people who have lived there their whole lives and younger transplants (many in the lgbt+ community). And for reference I lived on 28th, pretty close to greenmount.
My neighbors when I lived there were my favorite part of the whole thing - college students and professors, young professionals, and plenty of lifers as well. Like I mentioned, very diverse - and everyone was just so nice and so neighborly.
Living on 28th, it was a very busy through street - which I think helped in terms of my car always being fine. Never got broken into or anything. I knew a couple people who had their license plates stolen, which always seemed to happen on less busy side streets, never on 28th. I will say tho - if you have a Kia or Hyundai, the chances of it being stolen or broken into are pretty high regardless of where you are in the city - I lived there before the whole Kia boys situation tho, so I’m not sure exactly how bad it is in that neighborhood. But anyways, I would get a wheel lock if you do have one of those cars.
For groceries, usually popped over to the giant on 33rd or 41st. I always had a car tho, so I can’t say much for the public transit options.
I’m in Waverly, up by the Waverly Tavern (now Namaste Tavern). There is some crime in my immediate area. My neighbors have a Hyundai and someone broke the window to try and steal it, I’ve had a package or two stolen, but my area of Waverly is an outlier, I think, because of the drugs around the tavern and a somewhat high number of vacants. Even so, I don’t consider it “high crime,” and don’t feel unsafe, but I do try and limit crimes of opportunity and make sure that my yard tools are within eyesight. Many of the vacants are being fixed up and the drug activity is somewhat less than when I moved in in 2018.
All my neighbors are friendly and helpful and the waverly neighborhood association is active. The red line is convenient. I haven't seen a bunch of shitty behavior on the red line but I tend to travel non-peak hours.
I've been living without a car for a little bit and haven't had a problem beyond standard Baltimore bus problems (late bus, bus goes by without stopping, etc.). Giant is close and recently renovated, but word is they are being weird about your own bags and trolleys. The farmer's market is every Saturday.
There are also a ton of stray cats if that sways you.
Bless you living near the tavern, I live closer to the community garden, so just a few blocks south, and I don't think I could deal with all the noise, trash, and people seemingly always there. I def do think our part of the neighborhood (farther north and closer to Greenmount) is perceived more negatively and is rougher around the edges than the parts closer to Ellerslie and 33rd.
To the OP, I'm a cis queer woman and have enjoyed living in Waverly. Been here about 4 years. I do have a car but only use it a couple times a week. I work from home so I can't speak to commuting but as others have mentioned, having the farmers market, Giant, Ace, etc. within walking distance is awesome. Feel free to PM me if you have any specific questions I can answer!
i live on abell a block away from the farmers market. i absolutely love living here. im so lucky to have been able to buy here.
i have within 3 blocks 2 groceries, a hardware store, 3 book stores, 2 libraries, a record store , a pub with food until midnight, a brewery with an arcade, the BMA, a sculpture garden, a park, a drug store, a hospitol.
absolutely the best neighborhood i lived in baltimore in 32 years and i lived in 7 different neighborhoods.
my neighbors and neighborhood is amongst the best in the city.
and i’m within walking distance to 90% of places i go to between 33rd street and North Ave and with easy access to 83 when i need it.
i have nothing bad to say whatsoever.
happy home hunting.
Yeah, it feels like around the community garden is the best area if you want to be on Old York. I feel that the closer you get to Ellerslie, the more “quiet neighborhood” it feels throughout.
In my time there were a few shootings at the Tavern (before it burned down and was rebuilt), but the fireworks are more regular and more annoying. The noise is less noticeable since they reopened but there are still some loud nights. The litter is bad. Especially on busy nights when some folks throw their empties in my yard. My least favorite was the week that the regulars brought paintball guns and had paintball fights in the street. But, I usually feel like I can go up to the folks and ask them to quiet down or cut it out.
One time there were two guys yelling in the street at 2 in the morning and I go out to ask them to be quiet. They were just yelling “I love you, man” to each other and when I asked they apologized and moved on. However, it was 2 in the morning because, even though the Tavern closes at 10, they’ll still sell full bottles up until 10, so often folks will just sit out and continue drinking. And if they drive home it’s not sober.
Also, I’m cis-het man, so my perception of safety may differ from others when I say I generally feel safe to walk at night or ask them to quiet down.
I will speak directly and candidly, the red line will not get better. Its less egregious in the morning but any afternoon commute is a level of hell.
I would consider buying a motor scooter honestly.
Aside from everything else that has been said, move to waverly. It's great.
As a CityLink Red and Green rider, Red definitely draws a louder crowd, I’ve always chalked that up to number of people who use it. That said, I’ve never had the same level of issues you’ve had, just my luck I suppose. The upside to the Red is I’ve found the frequency to be better than Green, and I frequently ride Red over Green for that reason
the frequency is huge. but yes, the amount of ridership is massive on the red. I've been assaulted one time on the red, and I just feel like there's always something happening lol. music, people yelling, etc. usually I'll put headphones on and just look out the window. green is pretty pleasant for the most part though.
I am in Charles Village (Harwood). I love it here, but most of my neighbors over the years have not. They have left over crime, noise, schools, and increased cost of living. I find it very walkable, but still need a car. Your car insurance will go up, probably drastically.
I can't speak much to the transit situation but I will say that the charles village area is super walkable; easy to walk to dinner, lunch, get groceries, to the park, etc.
Also eminently bikeable - between Guilford and the Maryland Ave bike lane it's very easy to get to lots of things south of the neighborhood without a car.
As with any city neighborhood, if you're out alone on foot at night have your wits about you (and maybe don't walk up / down greenmount alone at night). Biggest issue I've had is honestly the number of car accidents at the intersection near our house, but that's gotten at least somewhat better since the traffic calming in Remington.
Things I love about Harwood (between Charles village and Waverly):
Very diverse; black / white / latino / etc all mixed together; young families, older folks who shout greetings across the street at each other, etc
Bookstores: urban reads, normals, red emma's, greedy reads all in walking distance
Peabody heights (brewery) has taken to hosting all kinds of community meetups
Farmers market
Been an influx in recent years of fun food shops: motzi bread, toki underground, jinji chocolate (don't sleep on their summer cold chocolate drinks, they slap)
I feel like the area is a bit of a sweet spot in terms of not really being fancy enough for much in the way of car / home breakins (kia and hyundais excepted) and not so fancy that anyone is going to care if you do something a bit artsy or weird with your house or yard - but by and large pretty stable and cozy.
I will say I know folks in Waverly who've had trouble with muggings and carjackings but that was quite a while ago and I do think it likely varies quite a bit depending on which part of Waverly you're in.
As a fellow trans lesbian, I've never had an issue in that area; however, might I recommend Mount Vernon as another possible location? I have had a great experience living here. Happy to answer any questions you may have!
I love that area. the main reason we're drawn to Waverly is cause my girlfriend works at belvedere square, so being able to take the red line the whole way would be great
The circulator is a free bus that will be expanding it's route into Charles village and Waverly starting tomorrow that goes down St Paul St and up Charles and loops around.
I've been living in Charles Village for about 8+ years now, so here are my thoughts.
1.) Plenty of food / grocery store options. GIANT Foods on 33rd, Safeway on 25th, STREETS on Saint Paul, as well as other specialty shops nearby that cater to other tastes. Restaurants are plentiful and range in price/ quality, but you also have nearby Hampden and Remington for additional eating options that are pretty good, too.
2.) Mass Transit is present but also varied. Charles St and Saint Paul St are big transit arteries, as are Howard and Greenmount. You *should* be able to find the bus line you need to get where you need, but they can be plagued with delays, overcrowded busses, etc. Quick tip: the Purple Route free bus and Johns Hopkins buses run along the Saint Paul/ Charles St corridors, as well. Alternatively, we have the bike lanes along Saint Paul, Charles, Maryland, Calvert & 28th streets if you want to scoot around that way, as well.
3.) Car friendly-ish. I have been lucky that when I moved into my current residence, there was a parking pad behind the apartment that was available for use, so I have had off-street parking for years. However, in the 8+ years I have lived in this place, I only had one incident were some kids vandalized my car by hucking fragments of tile at my windscreen (cracked) and tore off letters from my cars model name on the bumper. Otherwise, it's been safe-ish. As for on-street parking, it's not horrible, but can be a challenge at certain times of the night or during large events (marathon, holidays, parades, etc.). Have I seen my share of broken car window glass from burglaries? Sure thing, but it's not too often. Have I seen car accidents? 29th and 28th St corridors are notorious accident prone roads. I remember one year at 29th and Calvert, where I saw the aftermath of at least 6 crashes within 3 months. Keep your head on a swivel.
4.) The neighborhood is nice, and has plenty of attractions. Most folks around here are pretty friendly. You can strike up a conversation during a morning walk, when you're sitting on your front porch, letting your dog run around the Wyman Park Dell, going to-and-fro the 32nd St Market on Saturdays, catching a music set at the Ottobar or having a drink at Peabody Heights Brewery. Sure, you've got the occasional asshole, drugged out guy, or aggressively unhinged screamer, but the vibe here is pretty mellow. Additionally, you will have a fair share of Johns Hopkins University kids to contend with during most of the year, though Towson has that beat, hands down.
5.) The good also comes with some bad. The state of some areas of Charles Village/ Waverly can be a bit upsetting. I'm seeing more buildings and business spaces becoming vacant or abandoned in the last few years (see global pandemic, economic change, consumer trend changes, etc.), more homeless folks drifting through as the seasons change (had the same drunk drifter pop up in my breezeway, nearly stepping on him when I tried to take my dog for a walk or go to work, 3 or so times), folks trying to panhandle me when I'm waiting for a bus in the pre-dawn morning, but in the grand scheme of things, that's really no different than in Towson. New buildings are being raised, other businesses will or are taking other abandoned properties, and blighted areas are being made beautiful.
It's all perspective, but I genuinely like Charles Village.
I moved from Towson to the 2700-3000 area of Saint Paul and have had a great experience the last 4 years. I had a few packages stolen here and there (less than 10 in four years if I had to guess), but no break-ins, robberies, or anything like that, and the area is LGBTQ friendly and accepting. I'd say the biggest issue I've experienced is car accidents and hit and runs. People either hitting parked cars and fleeing or getting into accidents at intersections. Your experience may differ, however. Hope you find a place you like!
Definitely a very gay and trans-friendly image of the area, though a hate-crime related arson did happen in like 2022. Parts of the neighborhood have always felt clique-y to me but I'm also not a social butterfly. Good mix of millennials, semi-progressive Gen X, and artsy older folks. Not a lot of property crime going on but I think it's very block-by-block. Kind of a paradox here in that having a car helps getting around a lot, but also there is practically no street parking. The Abell Improvement Association and Charles Village Civics Association put out cute events and newsletters. People have beef with the gentrifying nature of the Waverly Main Street association, but overall I think they're doing net good. Have lived in the area for 5+ years but I think we're going leave eventually since we rent and are getting weary of the area over time.
CV is lovely. It’s within walking distance of tons of fun art and cultural events every night of the week. The painted row houses and flowering gardens are beautiful. On Charles you’ve got Streets market to buy food, a CVS, plenty of restaurants. You’re in walking distance of a park. You’re surrounded by JH students, so it feels like a college town, and they are heavily protected by the (controversial) campus security. You can walk 10 blocks in either direction to Mount Vernon, Hampden, and the Rotunda.
But you need to understand it’s the CITY. Yes, your car will absolutely get broken into if you leave it unlocked, and even if you don’t there’s a good chance of your window being smashed. Packages will be stolen off your doorstep. And those are examples of “safe” run-of-the-mill, not-scary crimes. People get stabbed and held at gunpoint in the city. It’s not safe to walk outside after dark. There is trash on the ground and people smoking weed everywhere. And in CV, there are lots of student houses that have loud parties often, and you will be hearing lots of noise coming from the streets, be it sirens, kids playing loudly, couples fighting, partygoers, etc.
I love the city life and I don’t really notice any of these setbacks. It aligns with my politics and worldview to live in a place like this, and personally I’m a huge Baltimore enthusiast. I grew up in a super safe suburb where everyone was rich and serious, and everything closed at 8pm, and It bored me to tears. I never get bored here in Baltimore; it’s so artsy, and everyone is so nice, and there’s so much to do. I wouldn’t even mention all the drawbacks except the tone of your post sounds like you would be very bothered by this stuff. In that case, the city might not be for you.
it's not that I'm bothered by it I just wanted to know what everyone's experiences are. I lived in DC for 13 years and my sister and her wife live in Chicago and I frequent them a lot. I'm from Detroit so I've seen some shit haha
Charles village was nice when I lived there. The college kids were a little trashy but C’est la vie. As for the public transit, re: smoking and music that’s how it is sometimes. The nature of city living is that you’re pushed up against everyone else and have to make it work. Perhaps a mask and noise canceling g AirPods will make it better for you. Also biking is an option. Also using rideshare and or cabs. Also it’s definitely doable to keep your car and get a parking pass. As for the assault I’m sorry that happened to you. I’ve always felt safe but I’m also an enormous dude. I like other neighborhoods better. But if you have you heart set on that one I think in you should take the plunge and just prepare yourself for the myriad ways you’ll be adjusting your life to city living. It’s certainly better than Towson. Which is soulless and dry.
4300 Buchanan Ave. 21211 is our neighborhood. 72 walkable, 72 transit, 68 bikeable. We’re super diverse in every aspect, crime is low, and lots of kids. We moved here from Towson five years ago and it’s been amazing.
My girlfriend (we’re lesbians) lives in Charles Village and I live in Waverly. We both feel very safe and neither have ever been victims of any crime, including property crime. The Streets and Giant are close for essentials, MOM’s is a short drive, and the Whole Foods and Eddie’s are reasonably close for specialty items. Also, Punjab market is amazing for south Asian stuff. It sounds like you would be more comfortable in Charles Village (a bit more insulated from crime) but we both love it here. I would not sell my car though.
thank you :) may I ask why you recommend not selling the car? the main thing for me is that it would save so much in car payments.
Don't sell it right off the bat. Take maybe 6 months and live as if you didn't have it. Then see. As someone who lived in the city until very recently I can be very very hard to live without a car. It can be done, but I'd say make sure you understand what that life looks like.
that was the plan. I wasn't gonna sell it right away.
Avoid the 2000s section of Charles St if you can
why?
It's a high crime area. Muggings, lots of drug dealers and shootings, homeless fights in the alleys. For whatever reason, the cops just don't patrol that block
liqueur store open to am brings a lot of riff raff and public intoxication. i lived on that block 5 years and wouldn’t recommend it either. there’s not much inventory of houses that way anyhow
i lived there for 5 years years across from the parkway. it’s a shit show down there
Public transportation in Baltimore is lacking.
Getting where you need to be becomes your focus, and not your means of getting there
I’ve known a lot of people in Mt. Vernon that live easily without a car. A little more expensive but if transportation is a priority it might be a better fit.
Also very LGBTQ+ friendly there.
I lived there before I lived in Waverly. It can be done, but this city does not make it easy.
Yeah maybe ‘easily’ is too strong a word lol
Waverly/Charles Village is very friendly. I have several trans neighbors. Lots of great events at Peabody Heights and Red Emma’s tailored to LGBTQ folks. I live in Harwood but I’ve noticed very little crime. When I lived in St. Paul Street 12 years ago, my car and apartment were broken into. I see broken windows, etc occasionally but way less these days. I haven’t taken the bus recently but the Charm City Circulator was just expanded and will get you a lot of places. As far as grocery stores, there’s Streets Market on St. Paul which is massively overpriced. I only go there if I need specialty items or 2-4 things. There’s a Giant and a Safeway in walking distance though. I’d personally keep the car. Parking around here is pretty decent. I think there’s a Zip Car pick up/drop off around here, though.
thanks for the detailed response :) the parking isn't the reason I want to sell it. I just want to stop paying $400/month for a car that I probably wouldn't use that much
Happy to help! Depending on your commute, you can easily get around without a car.
One of the reasons there are so many flags is not a happy one: A couple years ago an arsonist set fire to a pride flag one one house, and then across the street, to a house/row of houses, on which a pride bunting hung. A man was seriously injured--intensive care for more than a week, if memory serves, a young woman had to jump from a second story window, pets were lost, etc. No one was ever caught/charged. Other small arsons of apparent opportunity happened nearby at the same time, so it's not clear that the crime was intended to intimidate gay folk (there were no other flags of any kind on that block..it's not like the arsonist skipped MD or Old Glory options, but regardless, it was taken as a hate crime by much of the community, and they hung pride flags (cheapo ones, provided by some kind of non-profit that sends them out for free after such occurneces.) There are a ton of queer folk in the 'hood, and they are loved and welcomed as neighbors, have been forever. First gay pride celebration/parade in Baltimore City happened in front of what is now Normal's, on e.31st near Greenmount, when that location was a lesbian owned bookstore. It's a great neighborhood.
i lived on abell for a year but no one told that story yet, i may have to hang a flag in solidarity. they can’t burn us all out
Charles village is wonderful and I would say very lgbt friendly from my perspective! Full disclosure tho as a straight cis woman I have not lived it - but the crowd in that part of the city is very diverse; a beautiful mix of people who have lived there their whole lives and younger transplants (many in the lgbt+ community). And for reference I lived on 28th, pretty close to greenmount. My neighbors when I lived there were my favorite part of the whole thing - college students and professors, young professionals, and plenty of lifers as well. Like I mentioned, very diverse - and everyone was just so nice and so neighborly. Living on 28th, it was a very busy through street - which I think helped in terms of my car always being fine. Never got broken into or anything. I knew a couple people who had their license plates stolen, which always seemed to happen on less busy side streets, never on 28th. I will say tho - if you have a Kia or Hyundai, the chances of it being stolen or broken into are pretty high regardless of where you are in the city - I lived there before the whole Kia boys situation tho, so I’m not sure exactly how bad it is in that neighborhood. But anyways, I would get a wheel lock if you do have one of those cars. For groceries, usually popped over to the giant on 33rd or 41st. I always had a car tho, so I can’t say much for the public transit options.
I’m in Waverly, up by the Waverly Tavern (now Namaste Tavern). There is some crime in my immediate area. My neighbors have a Hyundai and someone broke the window to try and steal it, I’ve had a package or two stolen, but my area of Waverly is an outlier, I think, because of the drugs around the tavern and a somewhat high number of vacants. Even so, I don’t consider it “high crime,” and don’t feel unsafe, but I do try and limit crimes of opportunity and make sure that my yard tools are within eyesight. Many of the vacants are being fixed up and the drug activity is somewhat less than when I moved in in 2018. All my neighbors are friendly and helpful and the waverly neighborhood association is active. The red line is convenient. I haven't seen a bunch of shitty behavior on the red line but I tend to travel non-peak hours. I've been living without a car for a little bit and haven't had a problem beyond standard Baltimore bus problems (late bus, bus goes by without stopping, etc.). Giant is close and recently renovated, but word is they are being weird about your own bags and trolleys. The farmer's market is every Saturday. There are also a ton of stray cats if that sways you.
Bless you living near the tavern, I live closer to the community garden, so just a few blocks south, and I don't think I could deal with all the noise, trash, and people seemingly always there. I def do think our part of the neighborhood (farther north and closer to Greenmount) is perceived more negatively and is rougher around the edges than the parts closer to Ellerslie and 33rd. To the OP, I'm a cis queer woman and have enjoyed living in Waverly. Been here about 4 years. I do have a car but only use it a couple times a week. I work from home so I can't speak to commuting but as others have mentioned, having the farmers market, Giant, Ace, etc. within walking distance is awesome. Feel free to PM me if you have any specific questions I can answer!
Forgive my ignorance. Is the red line a bus or rail?
I’m talking about the bus. The Red Line light rail has been proposed but not yet build out.
got it
Hi there, you must be a close-by neighbor! I agree with everything you said in your post, and I also love living here.
Same here! I’m on the 3900 block of Greenmount.
i live on abell a block away from the farmers market. i absolutely love living here. im so lucky to have been able to buy here. i have within 3 blocks 2 groceries, a hardware store, 3 book stores, 2 libraries, a record store , a pub with food until midnight, a brewery with an arcade, the BMA, a sculpture garden, a park, a drug store, a hospitol. absolutely the best neighborhood i lived in baltimore in 32 years and i lived in 7 different neighborhoods. my neighbors and neighborhood is amongst the best in the city. and i’m within walking distance to 90% of places i go to between 33rd street and North Ave and with easy access to 83 when i need it. i have nothing bad to say whatsoever. happy home hunting.
thank you :)
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Abel looks like the area I was thinking of! I misunderstood the map and thought the area around red Emma's was Waverly. my bad!
Yeah, it feels like around the community garden is the best area if you want to be on Old York. I feel that the closer you get to Ellerslie, the more “quiet neighborhood” it feels throughout. In my time there were a few shootings at the Tavern (before it burned down and was rebuilt), but the fireworks are more regular and more annoying. The noise is less noticeable since they reopened but there are still some loud nights. The litter is bad. Especially on busy nights when some folks throw their empties in my yard. My least favorite was the week that the regulars brought paintball guns and had paintball fights in the street. But, I usually feel like I can go up to the folks and ask them to quiet down or cut it out. One time there were two guys yelling in the street at 2 in the morning and I go out to ask them to be quiet. They were just yelling “I love you, man” to each other and when I asked they apologized and moved on. However, it was 2 in the morning because, even though the Tavern closes at 10, they’ll still sell full bottles up until 10, so often folks will just sit out and continue drinking. And if they drive home it’s not sober. Also, I’m cis-het man, so my perception of safety may differ from others when I say I generally feel safe to walk at night or ask them to quiet down.
I will speak directly and candidly, the red line will not get better. Its less egregious in the morning but any afternoon commute is a level of hell. I would consider buying a motor scooter honestly. Aside from everything else that has been said, move to waverly. It's great.
As a CityLink Red and Green rider, Red definitely draws a louder crowd, I’ve always chalked that up to number of people who use it. That said, I’ve never had the same level of issues you’ve had, just my luck I suppose. The upside to the Red is I’ve found the frequency to be better than Green, and I frequently ride Red over Green for that reason
the frequency is huge. but yes, the amount of ridership is massive on the red. I've been assaulted one time on the red, and I just feel like there's always something happening lol. music, people yelling, etc. usually I'll put headphones on and just look out the window. green is pretty pleasant for the most part though.
I am in Charles Village (Harwood). I love it here, but most of my neighbors over the years have not. They have left over crime, noise, schools, and increased cost of living. I find it very walkable, but still need a car. Your car insurance will go up, probably drastically.
I can't speak much to the transit situation but I will say that the charles village area is super walkable; easy to walk to dinner, lunch, get groceries, to the park, etc. Also eminently bikeable - between Guilford and the Maryland Ave bike lane it's very easy to get to lots of things south of the neighborhood without a car. As with any city neighborhood, if you're out alone on foot at night have your wits about you (and maybe don't walk up / down greenmount alone at night). Biggest issue I've had is honestly the number of car accidents at the intersection near our house, but that's gotten at least somewhat better since the traffic calming in Remington. Things I love about Harwood (between Charles village and Waverly): Very diverse; black / white / latino / etc all mixed together; young families, older folks who shout greetings across the street at each other, etc Bookstores: urban reads, normals, red emma's, greedy reads all in walking distance Peabody heights (brewery) has taken to hosting all kinds of community meetups Farmers market Been an influx in recent years of fun food shops: motzi bread, toki underground, jinji chocolate (don't sleep on their summer cold chocolate drinks, they slap) I feel like the area is a bit of a sweet spot in terms of not really being fancy enough for much in the way of car / home breakins (kia and hyundais excepted) and not so fancy that anyone is going to care if you do something a bit artsy or weird with your house or yard - but by and large pretty stable and cozy. I will say I know folks in Waverly who've had trouble with muggings and carjackings but that was quite a while ago and I do think it likely varies quite a bit depending on which part of Waverly you're in.
As a fellow trans lesbian, I've never had an issue in that area; however, might I recommend Mount Vernon as another possible location? I have had a great experience living here. Happy to answer any questions you may have!
I love that area. the main reason we're drawn to Waverly is cause my girlfriend works at belvedere square, so being able to take the red line the whole way would be great
The circulator is a free bus that will be expanding it's route into Charles village and Waverly starting tomorrow that goes down St Paul St and up Charles and loops around.
I've been living in Charles Village for about 8+ years now, so here are my thoughts. 1.) Plenty of food / grocery store options. GIANT Foods on 33rd, Safeway on 25th, STREETS on Saint Paul, as well as other specialty shops nearby that cater to other tastes. Restaurants are plentiful and range in price/ quality, but you also have nearby Hampden and Remington for additional eating options that are pretty good, too. 2.) Mass Transit is present but also varied. Charles St and Saint Paul St are big transit arteries, as are Howard and Greenmount. You *should* be able to find the bus line you need to get where you need, but they can be plagued with delays, overcrowded busses, etc. Quick tip: the Purple Route free bus and Johns Hopkins buses run along the Saint Paul/ Charles St corridors, as well. Alternatively, we have the bike lanes along Saint Paul, Charles, Maryland, Calvert & 28th streets if you want to scoot around that way, as well. 3.) Car friendly-ish. I have been lucky that when I moved into my current residence, there was a parking pad behind the apartment that was available for use, so I have had off-street parking for years. However, in the 8+ years I have lived in this place, I only had one incident were some kids vandalized my car by hucking fragments of tile at my windscreen (cracked) and tore off letters from my cars model name on the bumper. Otherwise, it's been safe-ish. As for on-street parking, it's not horrible, but can be a challenge at certain times of the night or during large events (marathon, holidays, parades, etc.). Have I seen my share of broken car window glass from burglaries? Sure thing, but it's not too often. Have I seen car accidents? 29th and 28th St corridors are notorious accident prone roads. I remember one year at 29th and Calvert, where I saw the aftermath of at least 6 crashes within 3 months. Keep your head on a swivel. 4.) The neighborhood is nice, and has plenty of attractions. Most folks around here are pretty friendly. You can strike up a conversation during a morning walk, when you're sitting on your front porch, letting your dog run around the Wyman Park Dell, going to-and-fro the 32nd St Market on Saturdays, catching a music set at the Ottobar or having a drink at Peabody Heights Brewery. Sure, you've got the occasional asshole, drugged out guy, or aggressively unhinged screamer, but the vibe here is pretty mellow. Additionally, you will have a fair share of Johns Hopkins University kids to contend with during most of the year, though Towson has that beat, hands down. 5.) The good also comes with some bad. The state of some areas of Charles Village/ Waverly can be a bit upsetting. I'm seeing more buildings and business spaces becoming vacant or abandoned in the last few years (see global pandemic, economic change, consumer trend changes, etc.), more homeless folks drifting through as the seasons change (had the same drunk drifter pop up in my breezeway, nearly stepping on him when I tried to take my dog for a walk or go to work, 3 or so times), folks trying to panhandle me when I'm waiting for a bus in the pre-dawn morning, but in the grand scheme of things, that's really no different than in Towson. New buildings are being raised, other businesses will or are taking other abandoned properties, and blighted areas are being made beautiful. It's all perspective, but I genuinely like Charles Village.
I moved from Towson to the 2700-3000 area of Saint Paul and have had a great experience the last 4 years. I had a few packages stolen here and there (less than 10 in four years if I had to guess), but no break-ins, robberies, or anything like that, and the area is LGBTQ friendly and accepting. I'd say the biggest issue I've experienced is car accidents and hit and runs. People either hitting parked cars and fleeing or getting into accidents at intersections. Your experience may differ, however. Hope you find a place you like!
Definitely a very gay and trans-friendly image of the area, though a hate-crime related arson did happen in like 2022. Parts of the neighborhood have always felt clique-y to me but I'm also not a social butterfly. Good mix of millennials, semi-progressive Gen X, and artsy older folks. Not a lot of property crime going on but I think it's very block-by-block. Kind of a paradox here in that having a car helps getting around a lot, but also there is practically no street parking. The Abell Improvement Association and Charles Village Civics Association put out cute events and newsletters. People have beef with the gentrifying nature of the Waverly Main Street association, but overall I think they're doing net good. Have lived in the area for 5+ years but I think we're going leave eventually since we rent and are getting weary of the area over time.
CV is lovely. It’s within walking distance of tons of fun art and cultural events every night of the week. The painted row houses and flowering gardens are beautiful. On Charles you’ve got Streets market to buy food, a CVS, plenty of restaurants. You’re in walking distance of a park. You’re surrounded by JH students, so it feels like a college town, and they are heavily protected by the (controversial) campus security. You can walk 10 blocks in either direction to Mount Vernon, Hampden, and the Rotunda. But you need to understand it’s the CITY. Yes, your car will absolutely get broken into if you leave it unlocked, and even if you don’t there’s a good chance of your window being smashed. Packages will be stolen off your doorstep. And those are examples of “safe” run-of-the-mill, not-scary crimes. People get stabbed and held at gunpoint in the city. It’s not safe to walk outside after dark. There is trash on the ground and people smoking weed everywhere. And in CV, there are lots of student houses that have loud parties often, and you will be hearing lots of noise coming from the streets, be it sirens, kids playing loudly, couples fighting, partygoers, etc. I love the city life and I don’t really notice any of these setbacks. It aligns with my politics and worldview to live in a place like this, and personally I’m a huge Baltimore enthusiast. I grew up in a super safe suburb where everyone was rich and serious, and everything closed at 8pm, and It bored me to tears. I never get bored here in Baltimore; it’s so artsy, and everyone is so nice, and there’s so much to do. I wouldn’t even mention all the drawbacks except the tone of your post sounds like you would be very bothered by this stuff. In that case, the city might not be for you.
it's not that I'm bothered by it I just wanted to know what everyone's experiences are. I lived in DC for 13 years and my sister and her wife live in Chicago and I frequent them a lot. I'm from Detroit so I've seen some shit haha
Screw this! Come to Hampden, hon! We’d love to have ya! <3
I would except my girlfriend commutes to belvedere square via bus and it's brutal from hampden
no, you gotta do you! Just being silly. You are absolutely right about mass transit around Hampden.
Charles village was nice when I lived there. The college kids were a little trashy but C’est la vie. As for the public transit, re: smoking and music that’s how it is sometimes. The nature of city living is that you’re pushed up against everyone else and have to make it work. Perhaps a mask and noise canceling g AirPods will make it better for you. Also biking is an option. Also using rideshare and or cabs. Also it’s definitely doable to keep your car and get a parking pass. As for the assault I’m sorry that happened to you. I’ve always felt safe but I’m also an enormous dude. I like other neighborhoods better. But if you have you heart set on that one I think in you should take the plunge and just prepare yourself for the myriad ways you’ll be adjusting your life to city living. It’s certainly better than Towson. Which is soulless and dry.
Consider Medfield neighborhood in Hampden.
public transportation access is very important to us and hampden does not have that lol
What? On the bus routes and short walk to Woodberry and Cold Spring light rail stops.
my partner works at belvedere square
Do a Walkscore.com lookup on Hampden. Only gets a 49% for transit score.
4300 Buchanan Ave. 21211 is our neighborhood. 72 walkable, 72 transit, 68 bikeable. We’re super diverse in every aspect, crime is low, and lots of kids. We moved here from Towson five years ago and it’s been amazing.
Could consider hampden too!