Looking for an Apartment in Norfolk, VA

June 29, 2007 10:26 AM

My wife has landed a job as a professor at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA. In anticipation of moving in August, we are visiting to look at apartments next weekend. What neighborhoods/areas (or specific locales) can you recommend for a young academic/professional couple on a budget? Some factors that we think add to a location: cultural amenities like book stores, music shops, good food, and music venues. We have read about Ghent and will check it out, but are there other neighborhood to look into as well?
posted by Verdant to home & garden (5 comments total)

That depends on what kind of commute you want. Ghent is the cheapest place near ODU that has what you want. Most of the other areas turn into houses, or they have water views and then you're not fitting into your budget. That being said, relatively speaking, Ghent is a reasonably varied place. East Ghent, West Ghent, Right On Colley Ghent, you'll get the feel real quick when you're with your realtor and you find out what prices people are asking.

As far as other neighborhoods, just be watchful. Safety in Norfolk is a real block to block affair. It's a good idea to know what busted crack vials look like. I've been out of the town for two years up here at Tech. I'm sure a local will come along and give much clearer details.
posted by False Jesii Inc. at 12:01 PM on June 29, 2007

Ghent is about it. There are some new condos closer to downtown and the waterfront but pricey. Although most of Ghent is also high. ODU area has a lot of student housing. By the navy base is some affordable housing. Also don't rule out Portsmouth. There has been a lot of revitalization and it has a better reputation then just a few years ago. But you would have to drive a tunnel or bridge everyday.

Norfolk is not a bad place to live. We walk around a lot and feel safe.
posted by Beaufort at 1:41 PM on June 29, 2007

Ghent really is the place to be in Norfolk (as I have mentioned before :). You should be able to find an affordable place pretty easily (especially if you are coming from a larger city with your idea of "affordable." I pay $1250/mo for about 1200sqf 2br with a beautiful kitchen and all the extras, so that is on the pricy end of things.) I would recommend walking around the neighborhood and looking for "for rent" signs, as that's how rentals usually happen, there don't tend to be a lot on CL.

But to actually answer your question, I can think of three other areas I might live if I had to choose a place other than Ghent (though you may have picked up on the fact that I'd have to be dragged kicking and screaming from here)...

1) Downtown/Freemason: tend to be loft-y apartments and condos for rent, downtown Norfolk has kind of a bar scene, so you would be close to that if you're interested

2) Larchmont : parts are very nice, that's the neighborhood closest to ODU, and depending where you end up you can walk to the campus and surrounding shops etc. A mix between students and families.

3) Colonial Place: a little edgier (definitely "block to block" safetywise), but it's where a lot of young couples end up buying houses because you can get some nice deals (I'm less familiar with rentals there). So if you found a rental there you might have some cool neighbors. However, you can't really walk to any "stuff" from CP. Though you may be able to live near enough to water to drop a kayak in whenever you feel like it.
posted by eileen at 2:10 PM on June 29, 2007

Mrs. Irontom & I used to live in Norfolk. We owned a home on Gosnold, but I know there were plenty of houses in there that were rentals. The farther north (closer to Mayflower Ave) you go in that neighborhood, the less you have to worry about the "block to block" thing. I wouldn't live any farther south than Carolina Ave.
posted by Irontom at 4:50 AM on June 30, 2007

Thanks for the responses, everyone. These will be extremely helpful as we visit and check out the area!
posted by Verdant at 7:37 AM on July 2, 2007