Security around Hopkins

[zarathustra]

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Any comments on the security situation around the medical campus?

What would be good (secure, affordable - 600 to 800$ type, and close to JHU) areas to live with a family?

 

[njbmd]

Any comments on the security situation around the medical campus?

What would be good (secure, affordable - 600 to 800$ type, and close to JHU) areas to live with a family?

Hi there,
The areas close around JHU are not very condusive to family living but the mass transit system has made many of the more "livable" neighborhoods that are further out, very workable. The campus itself, is very secure but you are given many warnings about where to park your car and how to keep yourself safe. While the neighborhoods in the immediate area are still pretty rough, they are getting better every year.

When I interviewed at Hopkins, many of the residents lived in areas that were as far out as 20 miles without any problems getting into and out of the city. I doubt that you are going to find anything in the price range that you quote above as Baltimore is not a cheap place to live in the first place. At that price range, you are looking at renting a room in a very downscale neighborhood as opposed to trying to take care of a family.

Good luck!
njbmd 🙂

 

[tinkerbelle]

Any comments on the security situation around the medical campus?

What would be good (secure, affordable - 600 to 800$ type, and close to JHU) areas to live with a family?

I spent a year in that area. Walking around at night is scary & the area is deserted. If you want something safe and resonably cheap, live near the undergrad campus. The undergrad campus has a shuttle which goes to the med campus (and it runs very frequnetly and is reliable).

 

[sb_MD]

I was an undergrad at Hopkins. That price range is pretty realistic for the Charles Village area (the area around the undergrad campus) and that area is pretty safe. I WOULD NOT advise living around the med campus with a family. Also, if you have a family with school-aged children, you might want to consider a place like Towson because of the school system. The public transit system in Baltimore is horrid. I mean, really terrible.

 

[zarathustra]

Is Charles Village undergoing major renovations?

Does Reed hall have housing for couples?

 

[tinkerbelle]

Is Charles Village undergoing major renovations?

Does Reed hall have housing for couples?

Yup, Charles Village is being renovated. I think they are putting in a Barnes and Nobles and some other stuff. Plus, there are a few places to eat (American food, coffee shops, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Indian, etc).

I'm pretty sure Reed Hall doesn't have couples housing. But Reed Hall is a horrible place to live. I hated it the whole time I lived there.... I enjoyed living in Charles Village so much more.

 

[zarathustra]

is there an online site to look for places in Charles village?

i will start in sept. and moving from overseas

 

[Winged Scapula]

The security around the undergrad campus has been beefed up since the murder of a student in January of this year. A suspect (former boyfriend of a sorority sister of hers) was arrested a couple of weeks ago. Another student was murdered about 18 months ago as well. So, while things are better and the campus is investigating more high tech security its really not the best place for a family.

While $600-$800 might be doable in Charles Village, its still a small place and probably not the best for children. I agree with above posters who suggest living outside of the city and commuting. That will become much easier during 3rd and 4th years when you have to be at the hospital earlier and later than the usual rush hour times. The commute will be much better. I would be loathe to make my family sacrifice their safety, happiness and just general room to stretch to lessen my commute to school.

 

[Winged Scapula]

Some links to both the student murder (look up Linda Trinh or simply Hopkins murder for stories), other local news and housing can be found in the local paper, http://www.baltimoresun.org

 

[sb_MD]

I would respectfully disagree about Charles Village as being unsafe. I spent four years there, so I can say that I felt perfectly fine walking around by myself, at all times of the day, no problem. If you have not experienced this area firsthand, only read about it, than you should not make snap decisions about it. These two incidents do not accurately represent the atmosphere of Charles Village. That said, I was recommending this area because of cost concerns. The suburban areas of Baltimore are quite expensive. And it could be impossible to live in these areas without a car for the commute. But if you can afford these areas, I would definitely live there over living in the city with a family. On the other hand, if you are single, I would most definitely live in the city.

 

[Winged Scapula]

I didn't mean to sensationalize things about JHU but it sounds as if the OP isn't a US citizen nor very familiar with Baltimore. This is a dangerous city and it would be doing a disservice to him/her not to mention it.

That said, Charles Village is a nicer area with lots of things to do. I can't say I feel safe there or much anywhere around here at night, but that's me and I would agree that with a family the choice should be in the 'burbs if possible.

 

[b&ierstiefel]

Having gone to Hopkins undergrad and living in Charles Village during the last two years of college, I think Charles Village is relatively more safe than let's say downtown Baltimore. Just don't walk too far out eastward or southward cuz then panhandlers who ask you for fiddy cent become panhandlers with guns who ask you for fiddy cent. Just kidding 🙂

 

[zarathustra]

I do understand that people tend to sensationalize minor incidents. I heard a lot of scary things about U. of Chicago and the neighborhoods around it. It wasnt too bad when I was there.

So it seems Charles village is a good option. I will look into it. Thanks.

So, do a lot of people turn down Hopkins because of the security situation?

 

[Winged Scapula]

Yes! I am not a US citizen, actually moving from a developing country.

My main concern, however, is about my fiance who will be living with me.

I do understand that people tend to sensationalize minor incidents. I heard a lot of scary things about U. of Chicago and the neighborhoods around it. It wasnt too bad when I was there.

So it seems Charles village is a good option. I will look into it. Thanks.

So, do a lot of people turn down Hopkins because of the security situation?

I would hardly call murder a "minor incident" and this girl was murdered in her apartment, not walking down the street scoring some rock (where you might expect some trouble). I think the area around Hopkins is worse than that around U of Chicago, but that's me.

I doubt too many people turn down Hopkins for any reason, let alone the crime. Like anyplace you have to be careful and if your fiance is not used to living in an area with a high crime rate, he will need to learn what precautions to take.

Sounds like you don't have any children and its just the two of you, so Charles Village should be fine.

 

[zarathustra]

yeah, but these cases are rare and can happen anywhere. As I understand it, this murder had nothing to do with robbery/ break-in. I was more concerned about random muggings, car-thefts etc...

No, i dont have any kids. Just me and my fiance.

How does Baltimore compare with other US cities- New York for instance, in terms of crime rate?

 

[Winged Scapula]

yeah, but these cases are rare and can happen anywhere. As I understand it, this murder had nothing to do with robbery/ break-in. I was more concerned about random muggings, car-thefts etc...

No, i dont have any kids. Just me and my fiance.

How does Baltimore compare with other US cities- New York for instance, in terms of crime rate?

Plenty of those here. Don't get me wrong, I like Baltimore. And while murder may be rare on a university campus it and other violent crimes are not rare on the streets of Baltimore (along with property crime; I've had my car broken into twice here in 10 months of just visiting my BF).

If you check the US Bureau of Justice pages http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/welcome.html

you'll see the overall rate of violent crime in Baltimore is nearly twice that of NYC, and the rate of murder is more than twice that in NYC. You can also compare non-violent crimes and other cities if you wish. NYC has become quite a bit safer over the years while Baltimore (or "body-more, Murderland" as its otherwise known by the gangstas) has gotten worse.

Look, you'll have a great time here and get a great education at JHU. But it would be foolish IMHO to assume that violent crimes don't happen randomly, or that you wouldn't be the victim (there are not infrequent cases of innocent children hit in random gun fire occuring streets away).

 

[f_w]

Bolton Hill along Park Ave/West Lafayette/McMechen/Bolton (near MICA). It is a 6 block wide corridor of nicely maintained brown and brickstone buildings. (had a great 2bdrm there for $675) The community is pretty interesting, mostly people who work for the colleges hospitals and non-profits. Maybe not prime 'family living' due to the lack of greenspace, but if you value being in the city it is a good option. There is no shopping in the area. The neighbourhoods east of there are a bit sketchy, and some of the property crime spills over into the Bolton Hill area. (so, get a crappy car and don't bother to lock it. Don't store your families jewlery in the apartment etc. But that applies to any metro area in the US)

If you have some money to burn, there are a couple of nice apartments in the Fells Point neighbourhood.

Getting to the medical campus has a touch of Bagdad to it. There are 2 roads in and 2 roads out which are secured by Baltimore PD and JH security. The rest is 'red zone' and shouldn't be ventured into if you are not used to life in a city. (IEDs, insurgents, you name it)

(Oh, comparing Baltimore with other cities is a bit misleading. While NYC has large suburban tracts in Queens, Staten Island and Brklyn, Baltimore is a 'core city' without such areas. If you want to make a comparison, you should include part of Baltimore Co into the analysis.)

> A suspect (former boyfriend of a sorority sister of hers) was
> arrested a couple of weeks ago.

'all politics is local'. Same applies to violent crime. Your spouse or an aquaintance is much more likely to hurt you than a stranger in the parking deck.

 

[zarathustra]

Thank you for the help.

>>>Getting to the medical campus has a touch of Bagdad to it.

Unbelievable!! Have you had any personal experiences?

 

[f_w]

> Have you had any personal experiences?

With Bagdad ? Thankfully none. With Baltimore, thankfully yes.

 

[conrad]

The Baltimore City Police Department has a crime-tracking website where you can look up the reported crimes up to a half-mile radius around your location of interest over the past 90 days. It can give you an idea of crime in the area.

http://141.157.54.34/bpdmaps/police.htm

 

[zarathustra]

If the stories are so bad and you make them sound as if they really are, it is hard to imagine how Hopkins keeps on attracting the best?

 

[f_w]

> it is hard to imagine how Hopkins keeps on attracting the best?

Not once you have worked there. It is an awesome place to train at in pretty much all specialties.

Now, if my graphic descriptions have scared you, I just like colorful language.

But, if you live in B'more keep a couple of things in mind (most of these things apply to any US city south of International Falls, MN) :

- be careful when you leave the medical campus during the daytime. There is a nice covered food-market nearby and due to the high number of staff that goes there the way there and the facility itself is safe. Be reasonable, don't try to explore the neighbourhood wearing your hospital clothes and a nice watch.

- DON't leave the medical campus at night, except in your car and taking the main road south leading to downtown (don't head north of the hospital bc you think, 'what the heck, it's only a mile to I95, how bad could it be')

- the majority of violent crime in Baltimore is 'inside' of certain communities. A lot of it is drug and gang related and you are EXTREMELY UNLIKELY to be victimized (no, there aren't daily drive-by shootings in front of the hospital)

- that said, 'normal people' DO get mugged and car-jacked. Allways have $20 in small bills and an expired credit card (with a 4 digit number scribbled on it) held together with a paperclip in one pocket. In case some lowlife robs you you give up the $20 and at the same time give the cops an opportunity to get a nice mugshot of the guy from the video camera at the next ATM.

- Get yourself aquainted with the areas you have to cross during the daytime, that makes it less likely to get lost (=prey) at night.

- get a map, know how to read it.

- carry a cellphone

- Know where the police stations are. If a car rear-ends or sideswipes you for no good reason, keep on driving an pull into the yard of the next police station or into the hospital driveway. (not that Baltimore PD is the most trustworthy organization, but it is the fine blue line that keeps the place from descending into anarchy)

- If someone comes up to your car gesturing like something is wrong with your tires/headlights/etc : Keep driving. Your car is your best defense. It is hard to stab someone through a closed window.

 

[zarathustra]

Thank you for the tips.

Coming from the safety of Berlin, the stories about Baltimore did scare the hell out of me.

This web-page didnt help either....
http://omalley.ismad.com/

I guess I needed some insiders thoughts...

One more question: How are Hopkins biological sciences graduate programs(molecular biology/ biochemistry/ genetics) rated compared to Harvard and MIT?

Thanks

 

[MacGyver]

1) Hopkins undergrad Homewood campus has a worse crime rate than the Hopkins medical campus

2) The hopkins medical campus is perfectly safe as long as you STAY ON THE GROUNDS where the security guards are and dont walk off campus. I have no idea why anybody would need to walk off campus anyways.

 

[zarathustra]

1) Hopkins undergrad Homewood campus has a worse crime rate than the Hopkins medical campus

2) The hopkins medical campus is perfectly safe as long as you STAY ON THE GROUNDS where the security guards are and dont walk off campus. I have no idea why anybody would need to walk off campus anyways.

I thought Homewood was much safer....?

 

[conrad]

I've lived in Baltimore for 5 years going now, and I really don't find it to be as bad as the rumors seem to make it. I live in the downtown area close to the University of Maryland hospital and the Inner Harbor, and go to both JHH and Homewood campuses on a regular basis. The area around JHH is not great, but as has been mentioned above, the campus itself is very safe. The undergraduate campus feels pretty safe too... it is surrounded by mostly nice neighborhoods, particularly the white collar Guilford (which is very expensive) and Roland Park, and artsy and blue collar Hampden and Charles Village. You are (most likely) not going to get shot at walking around either place!

I agree with the above post that there are certain, general, precautions that one needs to take when living in a city of any size, and the main thing about Baltimore is to get to know the city because neighborhoods transition rapidly and you can walk from a "safe" neighborhood into a "dangerous" one rather quickly. But it's totally feasible for someone going to JHH to live downtown in a very safe apartment complex and either use the Metro or the JHMI shuttle or drive to get to campus. Federal Hill, Mount Vernon, Fells Point, and Canton are all nice neighborhoods to live in that are relatively (compared with other parts of Baltimore) safe. Of course, if you REALLY want to be safe, one could always move out to the suburbs in Owings Mills, Towson, or Columbia, and commute the 20-25 minutes by car to the hospital. Those areas have houses with backyards, parks, schools, and other niceties for families.

Bottom line is that Baltimore gets a bad rap for being a city/war-zone/STD capital, but I don't think it's THAT bad. It's not New York, but for a small city it has a symphony, theaters, art museums, and other cultural events; cost of living is much lower than NYC/Boston/Philly/DC; and traffic is not nearly as bad.

 

[f_w]

And don't believe a word of what a realtor or landlord tells you about the location of an apartment. They tend to have a very expansive view in what they consider 'Fells Point' or 'Canton'.

As mentioned, the problem is that the good areas are interspersed with less desireable ones. As a newcomer to the city (or the US for that matter) it can be difficult to pick up on the telltale signs of a good vs a bad neighbourhood.

I forgot the Metro. If you can find a good place along the metro line, you don't really need a car.

Don't get me wrong. I love Baltimore. If the jobs in the medical sector wouldn't have such a crappy pay, I would go back in a heartbeat.

 

[b&ierstiefel]

I thought Homewood was much safer....?

I thought so too. I felt pretty safe within the confines of the Hopkins undergrad campus. But that was between 1994-1998. Perhaps things have changed...