College Park Neighborhood (Greenbelt, Hyattsville: apartment complexes, crime, safe neighborhood)

[Jamerican]

Guys,

My daughter has been accepted to The University of Maryland, College Park Maryland but not familiar with the area. She will need to get an apartment very close to campus or one in a very safe neighborhood close by. Is there anyone familiar with the immediate and surrounding area that can give us some advice because I do not think they have on campus housing for Grad students as that may be reserved for Undergraduates.

I am a very concerned dad that would like to know that his daughter is safe especially not knowing the area etc. Thanks

[ion475]

Originally Posted by Jamerican

Guys,

My daughter has been accepted to The University of Maryland, College Park Maryland but not familiar with the area. She will need to get an apartment very close to campus or one in a very safe neighborhood close by. Is there anyone familiar with the immediate and surrounding area that can give us some advice because I do not think they have on campus housing for Grad students as that may be reserved for Undergraduates.

I am a very concerned dad that would like to know that his daughter is safe especially not knowing the area etc. Thanks

I would say look around Route 1 in College Park and also Hyattsville as a start. Lots of new apartments built up in that area anyway and lots of UMD students.

Alternate would be somewhere like older part of Greenbelt.

[NJ2MDdude]

Congratulations!

I'm aware of two on campus graduate housing complexes at UMCP:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lL_Bu1JPLYA


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKCnI0zwnZQ

Both complexes are located on the outer perimeter of the campus and are far away from classes, shopping and eateries. Unless your daughter has a bike or a scooter, she'll have to rely on UMD shuttle bus transporation to take her to and from the center of the campus and to Route 1, where the stores/eateries are located. Walking is doable. I don't think crime is an issue, especially during daylight hours.

The first complex is comprised of old brick buildings. It must have been built at least 60 years ago. When I was an undergrad student there in the early 1980s, many of the low rise housing complexes didn't have a/c. But UMD has since renovated many, if not all, of these buildings.

The second complex is fairly new. My niece lives there with 3 roomates.

There's a third complex, similar in style to the first. It too is located on the perimeter of campus, along Guilford Road, near Route 1. It's owned and operated by Southern Management for graduate students.

https://www.google.com/maps/@38.9792...8192?entry=ttu

There are also many newly contructed apartment complexes along Route 1.

[Jamerican]

Originally Posted by ion475

I would say look around Route 1 in College Park and also Hyattsville as a start. Lots of new apartments built up in that area anyway and lots of UMD students.

Alternate would be somewhere like older part of Greenbelt.

Thanks for the assist .. Cheers!

[Jamerican]

Originally Posted by NJ2MDdude

Congratulations!

I'm aware of two on campus graduate housing complexes at UMCP:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lL_Bu1JPLYA


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKCnI0zwnZQ

Both complexes are located on the outer perimeter of the campus and are far away from classes, shopping and eateries. Unless your daughter has a bike or a scooter, she'll have to rely on UMD shuttle bus transporation to take her to and from the center of the campus and to Route 1, where the stores/eateries are located. Walking is doable. I don't think crime is an issue, especially during daylight hours.

The first complex is comprised of old brick buildings. It must have been built at least 60 years ago. When I was an undergrad student there in the early 1980s, many of the low rise housing complexes didn't have a/c. But UMD has since renovated many, if not all, of these buildings.

The second complex is fairly new. My niece lives there with 3 roomates.

There's a third complex, similar in style to the first. It too is located on the perimeter of campus, along Guilford Road, near Route 1. It's owned and operated by Southern Management for graduate students.

https://www.google.com/maps/@38.9792...8192?entry=ttu

There are also many newly contructed apartment complexes along Route 1.

This is very great and detailed information and for that I am truly grateful. Thanks a million. I was even thinking of getting her a car especially if she has classes at night of has to work late in labs .. do not like the idea of her standing alone at the bus stop etc .. any ideas on that?

[NJ2MDdude]

All of the student parking lots are located on the outer perimeter of campus. So, for most students, having a car doesn’t offer much convenience. And I believe only one lot (Parking Lot #4 – the overflow lot) may offer bus service to the central part of campus. But that may be only for football game day.

https://transportation.umd.edu/parki...us-parking-map

Alternatively, UMD does have visitor parking near the center and around campus, either on the street or in garages. Both options are expensive. Otoh, residential parking is also expensive. I believe the annual fee is about $700. My niece doesn’t own a car. So she rides on the university shuttle bus. She’s never had any issues at any bus stop.

https://transportation.umd.edu/parki...d-permit-types

As to safety, I’m not sure what the campus is like today. When I was there 40 years ago, the campus was not well lit at night and there a few sexual assaults committed by outsiders. But, in response, UMD installed more outdoor lighting and blue light emergency phones everywhere on campus.

https://maps.umd.edu/map/index.html?...ed&layers=pert

Generally, pedestrian safety shouldn't be an issue from 8am to 4pm when day classes are held; and between 6pm and 10pm when UMD Global Campus conducts its night classes. After 10pm, UMD locks the campus entrances, allowing only those with permits as well as emergency vehicles and food deliveries to enter.

https://dbknews.com/2024/02/02/gate-...cort-students/

But none of the added security measures stops outsiders from simply walking on to campus.

https://dbknews.com/2024/04/08/umd-car-theft-spike/

UMD does offer walking escort services.

https://arch.umd.edu/resources/schoo...cort-resources

And UMD shuttle provides door-to-door transportation for students on campus but not on a bus route.

https://transportation.umd.edu/shuttle-um/nite-ride


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUH36CA--pk