Ah, the big three: Canton, Federal Hill, and Fells Point

Buz is sorry for not posting enough in this blog, but I've really been busy with stuff. I did however, have another relocation tour--a young gal and her boyfriend, who basically wanted to look, pretty much, in only one of the three neighborhoods all young professionals (almost all) want when they come to Baltimore: Canton, Federal Hill, and Fell's Point.

So we took a tour of the three areas and looked at Upper Fells Point, too (though, of course, the Craigslist poster said the rental property was in "Fell's Point"--well, close, but............)

We didn't find much in Fells Point to interest her, but found out that a $2400/month place in Upper Fells Point was really much and really small and really too close to where a lot of day laborers were hanging out looking for work. The house was all brand new, never lived in and down a small alley street. And the "investor" landlord was coming from DC to show it. We/she cancelled him after taking one look at the outside and the immediate neighborhood.

Places in Canton were really small and pricey, and several were already taken by the time we called.

Federal Hill places were really dear, but if you wanted to be near.............the tailgating/barhopping action, this was it.

Coming to Hopkins and looking for a place!?

Buz has learned that this is the season, and many people are coming to work and train at Johns Hopkins. Since he has dealt with a few poignant cases of people unknowingly renting in real bad areas, for them, I have some observations which might be helpful for the neophyte Baltimoron (that's what some of us modest residents call ourselves, hon.):

Johns Hopkins actually has three main campuses in Baltimore, not counting its subsidiary, the Peabody Conservatory of Music.

```there's the main undergraduate campus in North Baltimore at "Homewood", adjacent to Charles Village, Hampden, and Guilford.

```several miles away to the east, are the famous Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, including the hospital, medical school, school of nursing, school of Public Health, and the Kennedy Krieger Institute.

```several miles east of that is the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, near the southeast city line and Greektown, Brewer's Hill and not too far from Canton and Eastpoint.

Your renting or relocation options differ significantly depending on which campus you are working or learning at. And your position and working hours are big factors, too. If you are being hired as a doctor or nurse or faculty member/researcher, you might want or need different living arrangements than if you were a student, post-doc, doing an internship, or a patient.

The area around the main hospital (JHMI) is complicated for living arrangements. Basically, living due east, north, or west of the hospital complex is not recommended for professional people who are from out of town who don't know their way around. 

Some good rental choices can be found in Fells Point, Upper Fells Point, Canton, and Butcher's Hill around Patterson Park. Canton is generally too far to walk, though. If you don't feel like living in a cramped rowhouse apartment in Fells Point (and most of them are, as well as pricey for what you get), you may want to try the Thames Point Apartments, right in Fells Point, but off the beaten path by the Eastern end of Thames Street. You're close to everything, but away from the noise and bars, though they're just a short walk away, along with a good coffee house and great views of the harbor all around. This building has a straight shot up Wolfe Street to the Medical complex.

Relocating to Baltimore

Buz has had some success as an Independent Contractor helping folks relocate to Baltimore. He sometimes sees bad advice on other websites, so decided to blog about it.

Most young people relocating to Baltimore are only told that 3 neighborhoods exist: 

Canton

Fells Point

Federal Hill

There are others!

Well, this is just not their fault. Many people move to Baltimore with only very cursory knowledge of the city or area. It is sad to see them relying on websites and talk forums in which the city boosters or haters are predominant.

Like most cities, Baltimore has a mix of good neighborhoods, bad neighborhoods, and in-betweens.

If you're moving to Baltimore, you kinda have to hook up with a native who knows their way around (someone like me!). Otherwise, you'll be spending a lot of time wandering abaout and being fooled