Okay - for someone who has spent her entire life in suburbia . . .

[Bullwinkle925]

where would you recommend one should look if thinking of buying a condo and living an urban life-style for a while? Quaint neighborhood is a must. Access to coffee shops, markets, movie theaters,delis & bookstores within walking distances are absolute must-haves.
Any city - any state.
Give me your best shots.

[City of Mills]

1. Lowell, Massachusetts

http://www.lowell.org/

Sizable city (100K+) with a bustling urban downtown and saturated with historic mill buildings, most in use for commercial and residential purposes. This community thrives with art and culture, I highly encourage you to take a closer look. I'm moving downtown next month and I can't wait!!!

[Bullwinkle925]

2. thank you so much . . .

exactly the type of area i'm looking for - where are you moving from if i might ask?

[City of Mills]

26. Southern NH

NH is a nice place to visit, just not much to do around here. Everything is driving distance or further, hell there's no sidewalks where I'm currently at.

[Critters2]

3. Lowell? Seriously?

Things have changed in 20 years, I guess.

[City of Mills]

25. Oh, most certainly...

I've lived here almost 32 years, off and (mostly) on. The city has really recovered from hard economic times. If you haven't been in the past 5-10 years you really have an old impression of the city. A LOT has changed, mostly all for the better :)

[Nevernose]

37. I keep hearing about Lowell as an up-and-coming place to live

Mind you, I've only driven through it. On the interstate. Once.

But it's in all the magazines and TV shows as being "hot" right now. Something about all the abandoned mills and factories being converted into high-priced lofts for the cool kids who are willing to commute into Boston.

[City of Mills]

27. Some more information here:

Lowell is home to the largest free folk festival in the country:

http://www.lowellfolkfestival.org/

We're also the home and birthplace of writer Jack Kerouac:

http://ecommunity.uml.edu/lck/

If you're interested in learning more, here's a good place to start:

http://www.liveinlowell.com/

And the city government website:

http://www.lowellma.gov/

My favorite local blog:

http://www.leftinlowell.com/

And, my favorite place to eat:

http://www.lifealive.com/

There's some things to get you started! :)

[rug]

4. Thick walls.

[greatauntoftriplets]

8. I know what you mean....

Thankfully, my place has extremely thick walls. The developer went bankrupt building this place. But it is quiet!

[distantearlywarning]

5. Pittsburgh, PA

Try Squirrel Hill, Point Breeze, Shadyside, Regent Square, the South Side, Oakland (and probably a few other neighborhoods I'm overlooking).

http://pittsburgh.about.com/library/neighborhoods/bl_shadyside.htm
http://pittsburgh.about.com/cs/neighborhoods/p/squirrel_hill.htm
http://pittsburgh.about.com/cs/neighborhoods/p/point_breeze.htm
http://pittsburgh.about.com/cs/neighborhoods/p/regent_square.htm

One really great thing about living in Pittsburgh is that you get all of the amenities of living in a big city (public transportation, cultural events, hip liberal neighbors) without any of the big city price. The median home price here is about $120K, which is incredible for any city these days. You could buy a very decent condo in any of the safe neighborhoods I mentioned for quite a bit less than 200K, and have access to everything you mentioned within a few blocks walking distance. Also, we were voted #1 "Most Liveable City" in the US last year by Rand-McNally.

[RetroLounge]

15. and would Pittsburgh be a good place

to move my used bookstore?

I was thinking on Carson, but not too close to Joseph-Beth at South Works...

RL

[distantearlywarning]

30. Yes, absolutely.

As a patron of used bookstores myself, my personal opinion is that there aren't enough in the city proper.

[RetroLounge]

42. I was looking at property on Carlson

there's a possibility of my running away, er, I mean, Moving to Pittsburgh...

RL

[Wcross]

6. It would be nice to know what kind of housing budget you have.

Peoria probably has a neighborhood like that but so does Boston.

[Bullwinkle925]

10. $250,000 - $400,000 for condo.

[Wcross]

18. When you start getting ideas, check out this web site;

http://www.realtor.com/Default.aspx

It will give you an idea of what you are looking at in your price range. I hope you find your perfect place.

[City of Mills]

28. Sorry to keep harping on it

But here's something you may want to check out:

http://www.cottonhouselofts.com/

Cottonhouse Lofts at Appleton Mills are stylish one to three
bedroom condominium units in a historic mill building. Units
feature exposed brick, lots of sunlight, scenic views, and a
convenient location in a great neighborhood.

Artists and musicians are drawn to downtown Lowell for the many
cultural activities and arts festivals held here. Within minutes'
walking distance from Cottonhouse Lofts are fine restaurants,
antique stores, coffee shops, and bookstores. With cobblestone
streets and beautiful old-world architecture, downtown Lowell is
home to nine art and historical museums and well-manicured
public parks and gardens.

[dropkickpa]

29. Dayum

You could live in a REALLY NICE place just about anywhere in Pittsburgh, then.

$399,900 buys you this house in Squirrel Hill http://homes.realtor.com/search/listingdetail.aspx?ctid=401&ncs=80310%2c76383%2c52463&ml=3&mnp=24&mxp=27&typ=3&sid=e86107998cbd4d82a985910a0a8a876c&sdir=0&sby=2&lid=1087188130&lsn=4&srcnt=617#Detail

$399,000 gets you this condo with an AMAZING view in Squirrel Hill situated right next to a massive park but also easy walking distance to shops http://homes.realtor.com/search/listingdetail.aspx?ctid=401&ncs=80310%2c76383%2c52463&ml=3&mnp=24&mxp=27&typ=3&sid=e86107998cbd4d82a985910a0a8a876c&sdir=0&sby=2&pg=4&lid=1081693778&lsn=31&srcnt=617

$389,900 buys you this Georgian beauty in the heart of Shadyside http://homes.realtor.com/search/listingdetail.aspx?ctid=401&ncs=80310%2c76383%2c52463&ml=3&mnp=24&mxp=27&typ=3&sid=e86107998cbd4d82a985910a0a8a876c&sdir=0&sby=2&pg=7&lid=1078655487&lsn=68&srcnt=617#Detail

$389,000 gets this condo/townhome in Shadyside
http://homes.realtor.com/search/listingdetail.aspx?ctid=401&ncs=80310%2c76383%2c52463&ml=3&mnp=24&mxp=27&typ=3&sid=e86107998cbd4d82a985910a0a8a876c&sdir=0&sby=2&pg=8&lid=1079416729&lsn=71&srcnt=617#Photo

$389,000 also buys this house in Squirrel Hill http://homes.realtor.com/search/listingdetail.aspx?ctid=401&ncs=80310%2c76383%2c52463&ml=3&mnp=24&mxp=27&typ=3&sid=e86107998cbd4d82a985910a0a8a876c&sdir=0&sby=2&pg=8&lid=1085356414&lsn=72&srcnt=617#Detail

$379,00 gets you a condo in this converted church (my brother wasone of the plumbers who worked on this project) http://homes.realtor.com/search/listingdetail.aspx?ctid=401&ncs=80310%2c76383%2c52463&ml=3&mnp=24&mxp=27&typ=3&sid=e86107998cbd4d82a985910a0a8a876c&sdir=0&sby=2&pg=10&lid=1068875966&lsn=100&srcnt=617#Detail

[Shakespeare]

7. Washington DC

Capitol Hill (my old 'hood) and Dupont circle are both awesome neighborhoods with everything you describe. Capitol hill a little moreso, with the Eastern Market. DC has a surprisingly small-town feel, too, which is nice.

[Bennyboy]

9. Sacramento CA....(really)

Downtown is great, About 30 blocks long and wide. Reasonable prices, especially in the condo scene.

Great restaurants. Very politcal town. Art galleries. neighborhood markets. Brew pubs, Outdoor dining. River close by. Great place to bike. Music venues. Gay section. Old theaters, new multiplexes. Lots of plays.

It is also close enough to SF to be able to make that run when you wnat and close enough to Tahoe and the mountains to available anytime you want to get away.

[AlCzervik]

11. i agree, i live in Elk Grove and i'd gladly move down town.

my plan is to move the hell out here in 6 years and off to the northern coast.

[Bennyboy]

14. Me too, I jsut moved back to Sac..

to be closer to my folks. I used to live in Nevada City and that is the sweet spot right there.....
I really miss it...

Elk Grove...used to be nice when it was (like Folsom) a little town. but now it is boom town. I made a lot of money building it however so I can't complain.

BTW< ever been to the taco truck on EG Blvd at Sheldon? The best. Silva's Sheldon Inn is great too.

[AlCzervik]

16. i live off Sheldon and EG Florin-95624 represent!

i've had the taco truck come through my neighborhood when they were finishing out the charmless subby next to my charmless subby and it's always been delicious.

[Bennyboy]

20. No, the one that is permanent at the the feed store. La Fuenga....

Just mexican food. the best buck tacos ever. Great menudo. Used to be by the Y NOt Club but I heard that burned down.

[AlCzervik]

24. omg the Y-not!! It did burn down---arson, quell surprise!

[NMDemDist2]

38. holy chit! the Y-Not burnt down?

talk about shades of my past...

(EG Hi class of '73)

[AlCzervik]

44. it was sometime back and i'm pretty sure they're rebuilt it.

[NMDemDist2]

45. we'd drink there underage WAAAAYYYYYY underage

but if we'd hand the guy the $$$$ he's hand us the beer

It got a bit scary on the first of the month though, the guys would come off the reservation and tear the place up

:scared:

[AlCzervik]

46. Do you remember "Bob's" in old town?

[NMDemDist2]

47. old town Sheldon?

wasn't it just down the road from YNot?

[AlCzervik]

48. no, old town eg, it's on elk grove blvd.

[NMDemDist2]

49. my step dad managed the pizza place up by hwy 99

:evilgrin:

wasn't Bob's the one in the old white bldg right by the tracks heading south outa town? that place was a hoot!

[AlCzervik]

50. hells ya. I've been there twice and you know you can't smoke inside anymore

so they have a smoking patio in back and i swear it's about 5 years away from the tracks, you should see it when a train comes by, it is hilarious! That place is a true dive.

[NMDemDist2]

51. speaking of trains, we'd go down 99 and pull off into the middle of the highway

where there was some grass and trees by where the train trestle went over the freeway and when we were good and high we'd go out on the trestle and put our backs against the crossbeam thingies as the train went by

what a rush!

yeah Bob's is a dive alright, can't believe it's still there 35 years later......

[AlCzervik]

52. When was the last time you came back for a visit?

[NMDemDist2]

53. let's see, I left Sacto in 1996 and it had probably been 3-4 years since I had been through EG

I looked at a google sat map the other day and my old home is still there completely surrounded by tract homes. the house was moved from the 40th and T st area when they put in Hwy 50 back in the 60s and it was an old house then, but it's still there and the mulberry trees we planted the first year can be seen by the satellite

what a hoot

here's the link for the view of Robbins road, the arrow is pointing right at the trees, the house is to the right of them

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=robbins+road,+Elk+Grove+CA&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=30.819956,59.765625&ie=UTF8&ll=38.455992,-121.36631&spn=0.007427,0.014591&t=k&z=16&om=1

edit to add, what are those race track looking things to the right? I used to ride my horse all the way to Bradshaw road, it was all open field....

[AlCzervik]

54. well you will pass out when you see elk grove, i've lived here for only 7 years

and there are times when i barely recognize it, the sprawl is way out of hand and you see all the foreclosures. i'm looking at the pic and i don't quite see what race track looking things you're referring to.

[NMDemDist2]

55. you have to zoom out, they are on the other side of Bradshaw there's two of them

pretty big complex too.....


edit to add, in my day Waterman Rd deadended at Calvin

we'd pile into my parents ford station wagon, I'd pull out the choke knob and we'd all hang out the windows passing joints over the roof as I steered the car with my feet doing down waterman (no traffic ya dig?)

[NMDemDist2]

40. Nevada City is sweet for sure

sigh

I love where I am, but those were seriously good times

[Capn Sunshine]

31. Being a politico, I spend a lot of time in Sac

Nice downtown, great fishing....and I really dig Davis, CA

[NMDemDist2]

35. agreed, downtown Sackatomatoes rocks.

and yet close to hiking, skiing and the ever popular San Francisco with better weather and cheaper housing


edit to add, an old friend of mine is a Realtor in that area, let me know and i'll give you his contact info

[Throd]

57. Mid-town Sacto would be my choice

That area has really turned around from how I remember it in 1984. It seems authentically vibrant without being too smug and in love with itself. If I wasn't married-dad-guy in EDH, I would move there.

[Rabrrrrrr]

12. There are only three places for proper urban - NYC, San Francisco, and Seattle

Accept no substitutes.

Though some other options, if you also want serious access to country, Denver, Calgary, Portland, Vancouver, Anchorage, and Banff.

[opiate69]

13. Seattle..

http://seattlecondosandlofts.com/search/

[Gormy Cuss]

17. The inner ring of Boston towns.

Cambridge, Somerville, parts of Arlington, Medford, Brookline, and Watertown.

Many neighborhoods around DC, including Metro stop towns in VA and MD.
Dupont Circle and many areas north of there in the district have those attributes.


Or you could come over the hills -- Pleasant Hill, downtown Concord, WC all fit the bill but as you know aren't cheap. They do have the same easy BART access to Oakland and SF.

[midnight armadillo]

36. Specifically, Allston!

Slightly shabby, full of energy.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

19. Portland, Oregon!

Or Minneapolis/St. Paul

But really, you need to take a major road trip and check out a few likely cities.

Since you're not moving for a job, you do have a choice, so make it a good one.

[Bennyboy]

22. Portland is great!

Fantastic downtown. Great transit. lefty vibe for days. Breweries all over.

[Capn Sunshine]

21. Vancouver, BC

GREAT urban scene. OUT of the states yet close enough if you have to go back.

[Arugula Latte]

23. I was going to say Portland, as well.

We're a good walking city, and gawd knows there's no shortage of coffee shops, bookstores, cafes nor farmers' markets here. There is a district called "The Pearl" in Portland which is very hip and trendy (and expensive -- but $400,000 would go fairly far), or you could try the Division/Hawthorne/Belmont St. areas on the very cool, very walkable, very bicycleable, very livable eastside of Portland. You'd be amongst liberals, there is no doubt about that. :)

There are plenty of cute little pre-war houses like this:



Or yoy could go for one of the cooler than cool condos being built around there:

[jobycom]

32. New Orleans. nt

[mark414]

33. Milwaukee, WI; Portland, OR; Asheville, NC; Chattanooga, TN

and probably a few more...i like those places though

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

34. You had best keep your butt in California

I will have to beat you severely otherwise!

[Bullwinkle925]

39. hahahahahahahahahahaha

you KNOW i have the wanderlust

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

43. I will smash your wanderlust with my blunderbuss!

[TK421]

41. This place , hands down..and if I had just a little more money I would be there

in a friggin' heartbeat

http://www.doylestownpa.org/

That was Googled, and I'm not sure the site does this town justice. I will say that it is a very artsy and eclectic town with plenty of things to hold your interest ( just 30 minutes north of me ). I absolutely love it there. Hope that helps in some way...


edited for crappy spelling

[Bullwinkle925]

56. Looks like I'm going to have some traveling in my future . . .

thanks for all the recommendations - I may just go and rent a while in each place to get all the experiences.

YAY!

[JTG of the PRB]

58. Denver, Colorado

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denver

How can you say no to scenery like this?

[momophile]

60. I second this, especially the Platte Valley area

there are so many new condos in the area that are affordable and it's walking distance to the business district, the train/lightrail station, the local bus station, the 16th street mall shuttle bus that will take you to the capitol and the other end of the downtown, lots of walking/bike paths along the river, baseball field, ice hockey/basketball arena, football stadium, aquarium, amusement park, tons of good restaurants and coffee shops and it finally has a good grocery store too.

If my husband would agree, that's where I would be.

[JTG of the PRB]

61. If I made a little more money, I might be there too.

Denver has always seemed like a beautiful, exciting place to live. Even though I've spent most of my life living just about 35 miles away from Denver, it's still somewhere I wouldn't mind living. Not one tiny bit.

[philosophie_en_rose]

59. Portland

Seattle and San Francisco are also good, but I think public transport in Portland is best.