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My wife and I are a young couple moving from Baltimore to Albuquerque this summer and are looking for some good neighborhood ideas. I will be starting a job at the beginning of August near the airport so will be moving there as soon as possible.
We would like to rent a house, apartment, or loft in an area that is safe, has decent access to public transportation(wife does not drive), and is within(short) walking distance to stores and restaurants. Safety is probably the biggest concern as my wife walks, bikes, and takes the bus everywhere.
If anyone has some suggestions, they will be much appreciated.
Try Nob Hill, EDo (east downtown) or west of downtown (Raynolds/country club)/old town area. All close to restaurants/shops, bus lines along central, relatively near airport.
The area just north of the airport, between Yale and San Mateo, is one you should look at. The further north the better, and then you end up in the Nob Hill/University areas along Central Avenue, which is another area to consider that is close enough to the airport and has lots more walkability and transit options. Actually, the Nob Hill area is probably the most desirable area that offers most of what you seek, but cost (and availability) can sometimes be prohibitive factors there.
There is also Siesta Hills, south of Gibson between San Pedro and Louisiana, but it isn't a very walkable neighborhood and is sort of inconvenenient to public transportation, but it's a good neighborhood that's close to the airport. For Siesta Hills there are some amenities within a close enough range on Gibson to be reachable on foot occasionally.
Elder Homestead, on the north side of Gibson opposite Siesta Hills is also worth a look. It is more convenient to public transportation and within walking distance of more amenities than Siesta Hills, but it is also in a more sketchy part of the Southeast Heights. Elder Homestead itself is nice, but it is surrounded by less nice areas to the east, north and west.
Getting farther away from the airport, but still more convenient to it than other parts of town (and also convenient for walking and public transportation), you should also look to areas more downtown such as EDo (East Downtown) east of Broadway and west of I-25 along Central Avenue, and the area sandwiched between Downtown proper and Old Town - the areas west of 6th Street and east of 15th Street straddling Lomas Boulevard and including the funky, up-and-coming area around the intersection of Mountain Road and 12th Street.
I grew up in Albuquerque, also lived in Baltimore for a couple years, then NYC, now Denver. I still have a lot of love for Albuquerque!
It is a hard transition though from a place like Baltimore, which is very green and condensed and has lots of urban culture, easy to get around for the most part without a car.
You really need a car in Albuquerque--it is spread out, and public transport is really limited to buses, and they do not run as regularly or take you to as many parts of the city as they do in Eastern cities. I really think your wife will need to start driving to feel independent and happy in Alb.
But, that said, in terms of neighborhoods, I'd strongly recommend Nob Hill as well. It's the best option for walkability, cute cafes and shops and restaurants, and has a young vibe. The other best option is the general UNM area, which is a bit West of Nob Hill. Lots of extremely cute little houses in that area, again it's young, and you can get around easily on bike or walking.
The area near Old Town is also really nice--and the area near the Zoo/Country Club is up and coming and cute. But not as walkable.
Long time Burquena (female person from Albuquerque)....ABQ is not great for public transit. I agree with those before me....probably the Nob Hill area is your best bet.
Some great information here, but it is mostly meaningless without budget guidelines. Georgetown, DC is nice, too, but few can afford 3500 per month for a one bedroom.
Some great information here, but it is mostly meaningless without budget guidelines. Georgetown, DC is nice, too, but few can afford 3500 per month for a one bedroom.
I agree and that's why I mentioned cost as being a prohibitive factor for Nob Hill.
Out of all the areas I and others mentioned two that would be places you'd more likely be able to find a great deal on a fixer-upper are the area around 12th Street and Mountain Road and the Raynolds Addition. In the Raynolds Addition you'd want to look more south in the neighborhood along Lead, Coal and Iron avenues from about 8th Street west toward the river.
The Raynolds Addition is right next to my neighborhood of Barelas, which I already mentioned in your thread on the Bethel and Broadway area, and which is also a place where you can still find a cheap fixer-upper. In Barelas the best areas to look right now are around 8th Street from Atlantic Avenue south to Bridge Boulevard. Another area to look is along 2nd Street south of Stover Avenue to the Avenida Cesar Chavez overpass. You can find places throughout the neighborhood, but those particular areas have been slower in attracting redevelopment and thus have more cheap properties still available.
Our max monthly is around 1000(I would go over for the right place). We'd prefer to rent, rather than buy because we most likely will only stay ~2 years.
My wife will probably learn how to drive, but it would be nice to have some things near by.
We are concentrating our search in the Nob Hill and UNM areas for now. Thanks again
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