Yup. I'm making another one of these threads. Expect more as long as I'm scoping out job opportunities.
Saw a job posting in Baltimore. Not sure if that's worth pursuing. Baltimore has... quite a reputation. Wondering if anyone here lives there currently and can speak to what things are like. I see a lot of mixed reviews much to the effect of "it depends on what neighborhood you live in." Was hoping someone could speak to that.
It would be really convenient for visiting my brother in Alexandria. It's definitely one of the less expensive places on the east coast. But I'm sure it's less expensive for a reason.
Also got contacted about a startup in Calabash, NC - just across the border from Myrtle Beach. I think that locations sounds sweet, if a bit small. Wherever we go has to have an active Women's Rugby Club team for my wife to play in, though. Myrtle beach *used* to, but isn't clear if it still does. If not there, Wilmington would be the closest.
GRMer Infinitenexus moved from Baltimore to Cleveland last year. My perception is that the two are similar in that where is good is good but where is bad is bad to a multitude. A key difference being that to get to the good-Baltimore you actually start to get somewhere else and that is the far suburbs of the Wash DC metro plex and that is a unique thing in itself with a significant cost of living.
Gimpy is near Baltimore, I'm south of DC.
There's areas you don't really want to be after dark and there are good neighborhoods, there should be some semi pop culture maps floating around that would be more informed than I am. There are also good suburbs at varying price points and commute distances.
Sure, all I know of Baltimore I know from The Wire, but I would be hesitant to move into the city limits and maybe even the county limits because it seem they have systemic problems that they will never be able to buy their way out of.
On the other hand, an Ohioan moving to NC/SC is already a cliche so I'm sure the area will feel "more like home" (more like Ohio) every day (even if NC/SC natives don't want it to.)
paging Captdownshift for knowledge of Baltimore, and of brewing in Baltimore
In reply to Beer Baron :
It really is a "depends where you live" type of place. They have a great music scene up there though. There are also nice places outside of the city. Your budget and commuting tolerance will dictate where to live though. I'm also in Alexandria VA
John Welsh said:
.... to get to the good-Baltimore you actually start to get somewhere else and that is the far suburbs of the Wash DC metro plex and that is a unique thing in itself with a significant cost of living.
Respectfully, this is nonsense. I lived in Bmore from 2019 to 2021, so I'm not there currently, and it was during COVID so I didn't get a lot of exposure to the city, but.... there's nice areas in the city, there are nice bedroom/suburbs around the city, there's no reason to talk about DC here unless you want a long commute and increased costs.
John Welsh said:
Sure, all I know of Baltimore I know from The Wire....
I'm going to end up under the porch if I'm not careful. That's probably saying enough.
Hey Baron, the brewery in Baltimore have a name that rhymes with "Guilford Hall Brewing", does it? I lived two blocks from there while I was living in the city.
What are your requirements for a home, hard and soft both, and general idea for a budget? I'm going to assume that you're going to rent first while getting into the new job and new area. Accurate?
In reply to John Welsh :
Last one to leave Ohio needs to turn the lights off.
I never thought I'd say this in my life, but I'd rather live in Baltimore than MB. My parents moved to the beach, after living 25 years near Charlotte. They made it less than 1.5 years and moved back to NC. Biggest complaint is that it felt like the Vegas strip in the summer and a cold ghost town in the winter.
A childhood family friend lived along the I-95 corridor north of Baltimore in Aberdeen. Foxtrapper lives in the northern MD area as well (although IIRC, farther inland - it's been awhile since I was at his place). Seems like a nice area, although judging by the ever expanding size of I-95 heading into the city, I'm guessing a lot of commuters live there too. But my general impression is that area will be less expensive than the areas south of Baltimore, as you aren't competing with DC commuters.
I'm working on a project for work near the stadiums. Seems like an OK area.
I'm here, in Baltimore and likely have very strong knowledge (and opinions) of any potential landing spot in town from a professional standpoint.
In reply to pres589 (djronnebaum) :
Of the breweries in Baltimore, that one would be one of, if not, the best fit for him, from a quality and style standpoint.
In reply to Captdownshift (Forum Supporter) :
I've heard good things about it. It opened not that long after I left the city.
At times I wish I hadn't left and I do not have negative thoughts about the place at all. I'm not pretending it's perfect, because it's very much not, but I think it's very unfairly judged. Often by people in Maryland! I didn't stay because I just didn't feel like I had any roots in the area and Wichita seemed to make more sense for me and what I think I want.
I have some emotions when people I talk to, who haven't spent any real time there, are negative about the city.
Baltimore is like any other major city, don't be a dumb ass and you will be fine.
I've lived the good, the bad and the ugly of Baltimore, including a pair of GSWs, one at the hand of a 14 year old who himself became a terminal victim of gun violence 3 weeks afterwards. I'm also confident that I wouldn't be alive if it weren't for the medical expertise of those at Hopkins and University of Maryland.
I'm also a firm believer that situational awareness matters more than neighborhood. The quintuple shooting last weekend at the corner of Hamilton Ave and Harford Rd, smack dab in the middle of the Lauraville neighborhood, was a firm reminder of that. Prior to the last 2 years I felt that the east side was firmer safer than the west side, now, honestly, I'm more comfortable in spots on the west side that are fairly suspect, at best. They still respect that people who aren't caught up in the game don't need to be berkelyed around with and that drawing attention to yourself isn't a good look. That being said, I still consider the east side my adopted home side, am on Morgan's campus 4 times a week and consider Remington my second neighborhood.
A few broad strokes, that would be a long time in coming even if approved today, would greatly improve things, but I suspect that they will be approved and funds appropriated within the next 3-5 years. Viable east to west mass transit/rail will be an excel start. I won't get it to ways to stop the drug game and associated traps, as I'd end up Hoffa'ed under a patio large enough to host an autocross. Speaking of switch, we have a highway to nowhere, it's a great place to practice 60' launches on a challenge car.
In reply to Steve_Jones :
As someone who exploits the outside food policy at Oriole Park at Camden Yards to bring in edibles, and has had 2 GSWs, your statement couldn't be more true.
I have a good friend who just moved there three weeks ago, and he seems to like it so far but I have no idea what part of the city he's in.
pres589 (djronnebaum) said:
Hey Baron, the brewery in Baltimore have a name that rhymes with "Guilford Hall Brewing", does it? I lived two blocks from there while I was living in the city.
That is the one. It immediately jumped out to me with how it jived with my brewing experience and styles.
What are your requirements for a home, hard and soft both, and general idea for a budget? I'm going to assume that you're going to rent first while getting into the new job and new area. Accurate?
Hard requirement is 3+ bed / 2+ bath with capacity for good internet for my wife to work. Space to park 3 cars and set up a home gym. Move-in condition.
Semi-soft requirements, nice neighborhood, preferably suburban, that is good for walking the dog around. The best thing about our current house is that there is access to a nice wooded bike path off our street. Would love to be walking distance to bike paths and/or parks.
Budget - ideally mid 300's. Can do $400k without breaking a sweat. Have capacity to go above that, but would rather not unless there's a compelling reason. Zillow looks like we could easily hit our needs for <$400. Renting while getting settled, then buying.
I'm totally fine being on the suburban outskirts of the city and commuting 20-30 minutes in to work.
The other potential job isn't actually in Myrtle Beach. It's actually in Calabash, just over the border into NC. Wherever we move, wife has to be able to play rugby, and the closest club team for her would be in Wilmington. As much as the opportunity is cool, I'm strongly suspecting that georgraphic area just doesn't work for us.
I have another place in Raleigh that I'm interviewing with next week. I know that would be a great fit for us. I think Raleigh/Durham or Virginia Beach would be perfect locations for us. Baltimore would just be convenient for visiting family.
yupididit said:
In reply to Beer Baron :
It really is a "depends where you live" type of place. They have a great music scene up there though. There are also nice places outside of the city. Your budget and commuting tolerance will dictate where to live though. I'm also in Alexandria VA
Okay. That is the strong impression I get. That's how I feel about pretty much every city. Just seems like the lows of Baltimore are especially low, but I wouldn't be living in those places.
Heck... the specific pocket of Columbus we live in is... weird... as far as crime goes. We're within 2 miles of one of the highest violent crime pockets, someone got shot just walking on the bike trail near us, it's not uncommon to hear of people trying to break into cars in the middle of the night... but it's a quiet, safe neighborhood where we'll leave windows open when we're gone and won't lock the door when we walk the dog for an hour+. I've accidentally left a laptop out on the front porch overnight.
Captdownshift (Forum Supporter) said:
In reply to pres589 (djronnebaum) :
Of the breweries in Baltimore, that one would be one of, if not, the best fit for him, from a quality and style standpoint.
If their quality is up there, that's a strong selling point for me.
It sounds like it is an opportunity worth pursuing. Would just need to take time to find the right place.
Watch the property taxes inside the city line. For example, Parkville is a popular community.
$300k house a block into the county, $2460 tax bill.
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/2626-Canterbury-Rd-Baltimore-MD-21234/36400593_zpid/
$265k house 2 blocks away (but in the city), $3800 tax bill.
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/2607-Creighton-Ave-Baltimore-MD-21234/36610300_zpid/
$300k house 1/4 mile away (but in the city), $4635.....
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/6903-Moyer-Ave-Baltimore-MD-21234/36584132_zpid/
All 3 of those houses are within walking distance of each other
In reply to Steve_Jones :
That's a crazy difference. Also reinforces that I'd probably rather live in the county, but not the city.
If you're looking for country living in that area of SC/NC, head toward Wilmington to Supply. About half way between Myrtle and Wilmington and smaller than Calabash or Shallote. There are housing developments, but there are also lots of roads off 17 that a will put you alone in the pines in less than a minute.
My parents have a house in south Myryle, right by Surfside Beach.
North and South are good, Myrtle proper has gotten more rough, hopefully it turns around sometime
