Rowhouses in Baltimore (SE part of the city) (for sale, apartments)

[Tiger Beer]

So what's the story with rowhouses in Baltimore. It seems that there are some REALLY nice ones that I am observing on google maps.

They seem to be in the southeastern part of Baltimore...what's the story with them? They look gorgeous, and look very liveable, and desireable

Are they expensive? What kind of crime rates do they have? Looks like a great neighborhood environment, pedestrian-friendly and very walkable. How late do the stores that are there stay open? Does it change in feel after dark? What's the whole story with them?

What's the name of those neighborhoods...do they have a general all-encompassing names...seems like they envelope several communities in that region...all predominately below US-40.

[janetvj]

You might be talking about Canton. Along with some wonderfully rehabbed original houses are some really nice newly constructed townhouses. This is a great area if you're young and like to socialize - my daughter lives there. Lots of restaurants and bars in the neighborhood. Fairly safe - although there have been some highly publicized muggings over the last couple of years and a couple where the victims were hurt and one I recall was killed. Not saying this is acceptable, although it is pretty rare. This is Baltimore, after all.

My daughter's biggest complaints are the problems finding parking if she gets home after the crowds start coming in, and occasional crowd noise outside her door (she is in a ground floor apartment in one of the converted townhouses very close to the Square, which is on O'Donnell Street where many of the restaurants are located).

Some of the houses for sale are very pricey, although I understand they have come down a bit from the inflated prices of a few years ago. Still, I believe you could find a nicely rehabbed smaller house for $250,000 or so (others may want to chime in here, as this is an estimate). Property taxes in the city are much higher than in the surrounding counties.

[carthell]

Originally Posted by Tiger Beer

So what's the story with rowhouses in Baltimore. It seems that there are some REALLY nice ones that I am observing on google maps.

The style of rowhomes that you were probably looking at were built, for the most part, in the very late 1800s or early 1900s, and surround the downtown core for a number of miles.

Crime is more influenced by the characteristics of the neighborhood rather than the type of housing stock, and can range from dirt cheap in the worst areas to $300-$500k in some of the areas of greatest interest.

Baltimore city's government runs an interactive map (i-map) of the city: Baltimore City Online Maps (http://www.baltimorecity.gov/residents/maps.php - broken link). You can use the controls to divide the city into neighborhoods.

Most retail stores close around 9 or 10. I've had no problem getting groceries until 11-12 at the nearby Shoppers supermarket, and Santoni's operates 24 hours a day. If you have a craving for prepared food or liquor, you can get the items until about 1-2 a.m. in many cases.

[jonjj]

Southeast Baltimore is more cohesive than other sections but I don't think they have the nicest rowhomes. For that, Mt. Vernon, Bolton Hill, Charles Village are pretty fine. The southeast homes were built primarily for working-class. They are great rehabs though. Butchers Hill and along Baltimore Street across from the park are the nicest ones.

[janetvj]

Originally Posted by jonjj

Southeast Baltimore is more cohesive than other sections but I don't think they have the nicest rowhomes. For that, Mt. Vernon, Bolton Hill, Charles Village are pretty fine. The southeast homes were built primarily for working-class. They are great rehabs though. Butchers Hill and along Baltimore Street across from the park are the nicest ones.

I agree - the huge townhomes in Mt. Vernon, Bolton Hill and Charles Village are beautiful. But I'm curious - are most of them still single family homes? Years ago (1970's) my sister lived in Bolton Hill, and at that time it seemed quite a few of the houses had been converted to apartments. The case seemed to be the same for Mt. Vernon. I don't know much about Charles Village.

[Tiger Beer]

Originally Posted by janetvj

You might be talking about Canton. Along with some wonderfully rehabbed original houses are some really nice newly constructed townhouses. This is a great area if you're young and like to socialize - my daughter lives there. Lots of restaurants and bars in the neighborhood. Fairly safe - although there have been some highly publicized muggings over the last couple of years and a couple where the victims were hurt and one I recall was killed. Not saying this is acceptable, although it is pretty rare. This is Baltimore, after all.

My daughter's biggest complaints are the problems finding parking if she gets home after the crowds start coming in, and occasional crowd noise outside her door (she is in a ground floor apartment in one of the converted townhouses very close to the Square, which is on O'Donnell Street where many of the restaurants are located).

Some of the houses for sale are very pricey, although I understand they have come down a bit from the inflated prices of a few years ago. Still, I believe you could find a nicely rehabbed smaller house for $250,000 or so (others may want to chime in here, as this is an estimate). Property taxes in the city are much higher than in the surrounding counties.

That's the area. I also saw on google maps, some baby strollers as well. So maybe a mix of young people AND young families?

So, sounds like it's a popular place for a lot of people outside the neighborhood as well...if parking and crowds outside your daughter's door is commonplace?

[Tiger Beer]

Originally Posted by carthell

The style of rowhomes that you were probably looking at were built, for the most part, in the very late 1800s or early 1900s, and surround the downtown core for a number of miles.

Crime is more influenced by the characteristics of the neighborhood rather than the type of housing stock, and can range from dirt cheap in the worst areas to $300-$500k in some of the areas of greatest interest.

Baltimore city's government runs an interactive map (i-map) of the city: Baltimore City Online Maps (http://www.baltimorecity.gov/residents/maps.php - broken link). You can use the controls to divide the city into neighborhoods.

Most retail stores close around 9 or 10. I've had no problem getting groceries until 11-12 at the nearby Shoppers supermarket, and Santoni's operates 24 hours a day. If you have a craving for prepared food or liquor, you can get the items until about 1-2 a.m. in many cases.

Yeah, I love the look of that style. I did notice that similar look throughout Baltimore. But it seems like most other areas also have heavily bordered up areas.

Late 1800s and early 1900s...nice...old, of course. But a lot of history, and the streets seem a more cozy and neighborhood-ish. Love the fact that appears that this part of Baltimore appears lively and people are living there, opening up businesses, as well as pedestrian-friendly, walkable, etc.

[janetvj]

Originally Posted by Tiger Beer

That's the area. I also saw on google maps, some baby strollers as well. So maybe a mix of young people AND young families?

So, sounds like it's a popular place for a lot of people outside the neighborhood as well...if parking and crowds outside your daughter's door is commonplace?

Yes, Canton draws a lot of people from all over to its restaurants and bars. As for families, it's not uncommon to see couples with very young children, but from what I have seen there aren't a lot of school age kids and older. Baltimore City has some issues with its schools; not specific to this part of the city but in many neighborhoods, and a lot of people move out to the suburbs when their kids get to be school age.

[are you kidinme?]

Originally Posted by jonjj

Southeast Baltimore is more cohesive than other sections but I don't think they have the nicest rowhomes. For that, Mt. Vernon, Bolton Hill, Charles Village are pretty fine. The southeast homes were built primarily for working-class. They are great rehabs though. Butchers Hill and along Baltimore Street across from the park are the nicest ones.

I agree. The nicest rowhomes are not in the SE. There are some nice ones and many affordable ones, but to see really great homes look in the areas stated above.

[Merc63]

Originally Posted by janetvj

I agree - the huge townhomes in Mt. Vernon, Bolton Hill and Charles Village are beautiful. But I'm curious - are most of them still single family homes? Years ago (1970's) my sister lived in Bolton Hill, and at that time it seemed quite a few of the houses had been converted to apartments. The case seemed to be the same for Mt. Vernon. I don't know much about Charles Village.

Many of them have been converted, but many have not. my best friend owns a Bolton Hill brownstone (on John St.) and is rehabbing it. Very large, and very cool. He's got a buddy just down the same street that also has a nice rehabbed brownstone. So yeah, they are still available as single family occupancy.