Anyone have any experience with apartments in Durham? Ideally at or under $1,000 a month. The more centrally located the better, though that isn't required.

2/5/2012 12:20:08 AM

How many beds? When you say center, you're talking about City Center, or what?

2/5/2012 1:01:14 AM

A lot of flexibility on number of bedrooms/apartment styles, probably 1 or 2 bedrooms, standard or loft or studio style, wouldn't be opposed to having a small study. And yeah, centered around the downtown or 9th street areas, but again there is flexibility there. Didn't want to give too many specifics and miss out on hearing anyone's experiences.

2/5/2012 1:29:34 AM

I lived at the Hamptons near Southpoint mall. It was a good experience, close to work/highways, pet-friendly, lots of young working professionals + Duke/UNC students. I think I paid $900 for a 1-bedroom 800+ sq ft which included a washer/dryer, digital cable/internet, and a detached 2-car garage.

This is probably the only "area" in Durham I'd recommend (near RTP/Southpoint)

[Edited on February 5, 2012 at 1:41 AM. Reason : ]

2/5/2012 1:38:40 AM

I don't really consider Southpoint Mall as being in Durham.

2/5/2012 2:16:10 AM

It is within city limits, but definitely on the edge being south of 40. Kind of like how Brier Creek is technically Raleigh, even if people don't typically think of areas outside of 540 as inside the city.

2/5/2012 2:32:26 AM

Quote :

"This is probably the only "area" in Durham I'd recommend (near RTP/Southpoint)"

2/5/2012 3:20:03 AM

Thanks to my job, I think I have seen every single freaking apartment in Durham proper lol. Some ones I can tell you to avoid are Campus Walk, Crestview, Holly Hill, Duke Manor, and Chapel Tower. Actually you should probably just avoid anything managed by Trinity Props. They're slumlords as far as I'm concerned. And I'd probably avoid anything east of Miami Blvd.

I have some students living in University Apartments that like them. You can easily take the bus into downtown from there or ride your bike. Some of my students live in West Village and I think it's called Erwin Square. Both of those apartments are really nice from what I've seen.

Although to be honest the best setups I've seen are from my students who are renting efficiency apartments. They're usually over someone's garage. Prices are reasonable, they're private, and they seem to be kept up better than any of the complexes inside the city other than the most expensive ones around ATB and the like. I have one person right now renting an efficiency in the Watts Hillandale neighborhood (super nice area within walking distance of 9th street) for $400/month and that includes utilities!

2/5/2012 10:32:38 AM

My friend get a place off Davis drive for 925.... It's pimp

2/5/2012 10:38:15 AM

^ I don't think Supplanter is looking for an RTP apartment.

2/5/2012 10:39:57 AM

Quote :

""don't go to Durham, it's dangerous!""

2/5/2012 1:48:25 PM

I'd check out West Village. It's centrally located (almost) in downtown. They used to be old tobacco warehouses which makes them pretty unique. I think phase two apartments have more amenities than phase one from what I remember, but I'm not sure.

http://www.westvillagedurham.com/

Phase One Prices
http://westvillagedurham.com/pdf/WestVillage_price_sheets_phase1.pdf
Phase Two Prices
http://westvillagedurham.com/pdf/WestVillage_price_sheets_phase2.pdf

2/5/2012 3:36:31 PM

Oh didn't you know, all white and/or educated people get mugged at least 2x/month, there's gang fights regularly on every street corner, and you can get a hooker any time you want. Hell, I can see one through the bars on my window right now.


That being said, I've had friends that have lived at 500 N. Duke, University Apts., and West Village without too much complaint about the complexes. Most of the people I know either own or rent 2-3 bedroom houses,and found them by calling in to the number advertised by the private landlord. They drove or biked around for a few days and found those places.

You should wander around Walltown, Trinity Park, Old West Durham, Old North Durham, and Burch Ave to see what's out there. Northgate Park, Tuscaloosa, and Duke Park are nice, but sometimes 20+ min bike rides to parts of town imo and a little far away.

We rent from a private landlord in a 3 bedroom house and she's awesome. She's let us set up everything how
we want, paint, and usually fixes major problems on a reasonable time scale. And, the rent is cheap ($900 for the whole house).

Living at Southpoint would defeat the purpose of living close to the downtown area and all the crap going on (venues, restaurants, art, walkability), and I don't hear about petty crime being any less out there (just as many, if not more, break ins to cars in some complexes).

2/5/2012 3:48:00 PM

Tried to find a map of some neighborhoods in the area for perspective.



[Edited on February 5, 2012 at 6:09 PM. Reason : .]

2/5/2012 6:08:39 PM

^ Oh yeah, I forgot about Watts-Hillandale. Some parts are close to NCSSM and the Broad St. cluster, other
parts are further up by the golf course.

Can't say I'm stoked on Cleveland-Holloway or Old Five Points. There's some good stuff out that way like Triangle
Brewery and SEEDS, but it can be hit or miss at night.

2/5/2012 7:05:18 PM

I live near Southpoint. It's safe, and close to I-40 (which is handy for me as I work in Raleigh) but that's about all that it has to recommend it. Not much character. If I had it to do over again I'd live closer to downtown. West Village is defintely a nice development and there seem to be some cool places in Watts-Hillandale too, just going to take some looking to find as there aren't as many apartment complexes out that way. More houses/duplexes for rent.

2/6/2012 4:46:14 AM

thirding West Village.. so pretty

2/6/2012 10:48:05 AM

I suggested it first

2/6/2012 11:18:43 AM

west elm is nice but probably not sub $1,000.

Golden Belt has some pretty cool loft style units.

2/6/2012 1:32:20 PM

At Station Nine now (right next to 9th street) - nice place but starting a massive construction project next door. Almost all grad students (MBA & Med School). Also have friends at the Lofts, Trinity Commons and Alexan Place. PM me if you have specific questions, happy to help out...

2/6/2012 1:32:43 PM

Thanks for the comments and tips everyone! I've still got a couple months until my current lease is up, but this gives me some places to start my research in addition to the generic apartment search websites. There's a good chance I'll end up in Durham in the next 3 to 6 months (unless I happen to end up in Greenville, NC instead). I appreciate the help, see y'all around Durham!

2/9/2012 12:20:17 AM

Quote :

"West Village"

2/9/2012 11:49:18 AM

I will be wandering by with a blue fixie, a green cruiser, or a gray-blue Surly bike iwith an orange and white helmet. Probably will have panniers on.

Welcome to Durham!

2/9/2012 6:30:06 PM

^ haha I think I've seen you before.

2/9/2012 8:35:10 PM