Hey, so I'm moving to this area and figured I'd make a direct thread for more advice so I don't end up making a mistake when I decide to pick an apartment. I'll be working at the NNSY in portsmouth and was looking to poll some more wolfwebbers who were familiar with the area about a neighborhood or two in question.

First off, how's olde towne portsmouth? There's an apartment building here with its own private parking deck, awesome views, some included utilities, decent amenities, decent rent (I mean, considering the water views it's only 5-10% more than some of the newer 1br apartments I've seen offered in Chesapeake, plus it's only 2 miles from work). I wanna know, when am I going to not want to walk around in this area and how far out is a safe area to walk in (outside of night time/whenever things get rough out there). Street names would work (i.e. stay east of elm st or whatever).

If I were to want to commute within 20 minutes of the shipyard in a townhouse or apartment, what neighborhoods should I be looking in? Looking for an area with families and young professionals. I'd like to keep the rent under $1100 or so (just for a place for me, with no included utilities). 1br/1ba is ideal, but 2br places would work as well. Would prefer an area where people aren't likely to roam through your neighborhood while you're at work. Somewhere off to the side or with decent security in the complex/neighborhood. Would also really like it if the place is quiet. I'm not a damn party animal and I want to get my sleep when I want it. Townhomes are probably best for that reason.

Right now I'm kind of torn between the awesome views and location and convenience of that tower in olde towne (as you pretty much don't have to deal with the surrounding area unless you want to, so safety should be fine), or a more open, spacious place a short drive out from the shipyard (when gas rebounds I don't wanna get raped on how much I spend each month).

The relo lady at the shipyard was helpful but sounded absolutely paranoid about portsmouth, even the churchland area. I'm trying to get more objective opinions than that and would appreciate some tips.

Also, how's downtown norfolk near macarthur center? The ferry ride over there would be about five minutes and there's some decent shopping there. However, if it's like walking through downtown chapel hill on a bad day (I'm talking about vagrants, numerous and plentiful) I might just deal with the drive there. The odd guy going "hey, you have any change?" doesn't bug me that much, unless they tend to be crazy ass homeless people.

Spam me with your info TWW!

5/15/2009 1:13:07 AM

from my experience, both areas you speak of = hood, hood, and more hood

maybe i was driving too fast to get out of the area to notice any nice places to live.

i will say you are better off in portsmouth than anywhere near downtown norfolk

5/15/2009 2:19:51 AM

I think you've already talked to leftyisreal, but I like the Greenbrier area in Chesapeake the best out of the three places that he's lived in so far. The drive isn't bad to NNSY and the area is much nicer than where he was in Portsmouth, which was the churchland area. I wouldn't go in the parking lot at night by myself in that area (and I had just lived in West Philly for a year).

[Edited on May 15, 2009 at 8:50 AM. Reason : ]

5/15/2009 8:50:25 AM

I don't live in that area but from what my co-workers have told me Portsmouth = BAD. They say it's better to find a place in Suffolk or Chesapeake

[Edited on May 15, 2009 at 12:14 PM. Reason : ...]

5/15/2009 12:14:07 PM

Portsmouth is the most dangerous city (by statistics anyway) in the area, but I'm pretty sure it's limited to certain neighborhoods and gets noticeably worse at night overall.

I was trying to avoid hearsay opinions from paranoid suburbanites, so if you've actually lived in the olde towne area or know somebody who has that would be helpful.

Anybody have experience with places in the western branch area of chesapeake?

I did talk to leftyisrael, and the complex he suggested seemed OK but it got a lot of bad ratings. I mean, it really seems like a whole lot of people have trouble with the quality of the apartments there, and I'd like to live somewhere decent. This was the site I was talking about: http://www.apartmentratings.com/rate/VA-Chesapeake-Birches.html

I know that the whole area is basically a good neighborhood then a bad neighborhood then a good one then a bad one, etc. Some good/bad areas are bigger than others, and I will probably end up getting a townhouse/apartment in a good area for a year then end up finding a roommate who works at the shipyard. Still, if I could get a clearer picture of olde towne I might live in that apartment tower.

5/15/2009 4:13:11 PM

Quote :

"Suffolk"

only if you want a long commute with frequent traffic jams

I can't offer any more advice, I co-oped at Newport News and I always lived on the penninsula

5/15/2009 5:18:21 PM

I lived in Chesapeake for 18 months and in Portsmouth for two years.

Downtown P-town is pretty safe. As long as you stay along the river. (looking at google maps...North of London in some pockets...and the Eastern part of Effingham from 264 North...that corner is pretty nice...we had friends who lived in an historical home over there....but again....a home).

My wife and I lived at 1700 Bain street. In fact, if you look at up in google maps and check out the street view, you will see our minivan. We moved last September. That neighborhood isn't too bad, but that's a house and not what you are looking for. The only apartments I would even mention to you in P-town are the ones right by the Naval Hospital. i don't remember the names, but they seemed really nice driving past them often. You may want to consider living in Chesapeake if you are going to be working at the SY. That's what I did for 2 years. The traffic wasn't that bad (if you found a good route to take).

I'll tell you, though, that the ROADS are horrible. They are so bumpy and pot-holey.

You could always go for it and suck up the traffic and live in VA Beach, or downtown Norfolk. A buddy of mine lived in a complex off of Boush (sp?) and I thought it was a pretty spacious place.

[Edited on May 20, 2009 at 6:33 PM. Reason : more]

5/20/2009 6:30:09 PM

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&ll=36.970741,-76.389313&spn=0.456427,0.884399&z=10&msid=101040285391160026106.00046a60e9ce489432380

I lived in a different place for each of my co-op rotations there and they each had their own advantages.

1st time was in Portsmouth in an older neighborhood. Took around 25 minutes to get to one of the lots for the Yard and often 40 - 50 minutes to get home. The traffic was always much worse in the tunnel in the afternoon. I often came back to Raleigh for the weekends and this place was about 30 minutes closer. It was also a straight shot out to VA Beach on 264. No problems with the neighborhood.

2nd time was at the north end of Newport News. Took 10-15 minutes to get to Bldg 901 and maybe 15-20 to get home. This was an apartment not a house, but the general area seemed fine.

3rd time was in Hampton on the water right near the Yacht Club. Took 5-10 minutes to get to VASIC. The small area right near downtown Hampton is decent and this was probably my favorite place.

Most places in Hampton and Portsmouth aren't terribly far from ghetto areas.



Where will you be working?

5/20/2009 8:19:51 PM

At the norfolk naval shipyard in portsmouth.

I got a lot of detailed info from the portsmouth PD about the downtown area I was looking at. The harbor tower apartments seem to not be the worst priced place in the area, given that it's 2 miles from the shipyard and given the utilities they include.

I'm also willing to pay a little extra to just be about ten minutes from work, lol.

If you're asking me for a specific building I'll be working in I do not know yet. They haven't even processed our preemployment paperwork, let alone sent out more information on our first day at work.

5/20/2009 8:45:21 PM

i just visited a friend up there this past weekend

5/20/2009 8:58:20 PM