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What are the pros and cons of renting a downtown apartment? If you're considering renting an apartment downtown, you probably already know that a downtown apartment has its advantages and disadvantages. Read on for a few reasons why you might choose to look to rent a downtown apartment, an analysis of some of the pros and cons, and a look at some of the more famous downtown areas.
Although it's often the case, a downtown apartment is not always located in the southern part of a city. In general, downtown refers to the main business district of a city—an area largely populated by shops and office buildings, although every city's downtown has its own unique characteristics. If you're looking for a downtown apartment, it may be for a number of reasons. One may be that you work downtown. Finding an apartment rental close to where you work could save you a great deal of time on your daily commute, especially if you live in a city without a highly effective mass transit system. Another reason might simply be price. Because downtown apartments are not always in what one would consider residential areas, they can sometimes be significantly cheaper than apartments in other areas of the city. Finally, you might just enjoy downtown. Some people like the feel of the downtown area in the city. There is a life and vibrancy to many downtowns that some people enjoy living around, not to mention restaurants, local hot spots, museums, and theaters.
Apartment rentals can be expensive, especially in a big city, and opting for a downtown apartment can be a great way to be a part of city life without wiping out your bank account. In addition, being in a downtown apartment gives you close access to many local attractions. There are often some major shopping areas downtown that are within walking distance of new apartments. Also, a downtown apartment can be great for young people just starting out. Due to price and local entertainment options, downtown areas often attract a younger crowd. Of course, that doesn't mean you have to be young to enjoy and benefit from a downtown apartment.
On the downside, downtown areas are not always the nicest or safest parts of a city. All that commerce can sometimes attract an unsavory element, and incidences of crime and homelessness may be higher downtown. In addition, if peace and quiet is a prerequisite for your apartment, you may not want to live downtown. A lot of industry means a lot of noise, and some cities never sleep, which means the sounds of the city may go on well into the night, which can be very distracting to those unaccustomed to the noise.
If you feel fairly confident that a downtown apartment is for you, don't just take the first one you see. Use an online apartment finder like Rent.com to find downtown apartments and compare them. You can find multiple options in the price range and size you are looking for quickly and easily, without having to do a lot of legwork. Of course, you'll eventually want to see some downtown apartments for yourself once you've narrowed your selection down, but using online resources can make the whole process go a lot faster.
To help you make your decision, here are a couple of famous downtowns that people have been excited about living in for decades, or even a century. Perhaps you will consider a downtown apartment in one of these cities.
Some people think downtown New York City was the first "true" downtown, and it is indeed located on the southern part of Manhattan Island. Downtown New York, also referred to as Lower Manhattan, features such attractions as the artistic SoHo district, the financial Wall Street district, and the bohemian Greenwich Village. Downtown New York is also the locale of one of the biggest and most well known city residential development areas, Peter Cooper Village-Stuyvesant Town.
In contrast to New York, downtown Los Angeles is located in the eastern part of the city. It's most notable landmark is probably STAPLES Center, home to the multi -NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers. Downtown Los Angeles is also where you can find the University of Southern California, one of the country's most famous institutions of higher learning, the Walt Disney Concert Hall, several theaters and museums, a monthly art walk, the Fashion district, great restaurants, clubs, and more.
Another famous downtown is located in the Pacific Northwest, in Seattle Washington. Visitors and residents of downtown Seattle can view and visit the Space Needle, one of the world's most recognizable structures, and can also enjoy a variety of coffee shops and ale houses that give Seattle's downtown a unique urban flavor. Downtown Seattle, like the majority of the city, also caters to an active cycling community as well as people who bike for commuting or just for fun.
When people think of St. Louis, they immediately think of downtown St. Louis, or rather, the structure in downtown St. Louis known as the St. Louis Arch, or "The Gateway to the West." Visitors and residents of downtown St. Louis can actually enter the arch and travel to the top of it to get a better view of downtown. Downtown St. Louis is also the location of Laclede's Landing, the area surrounding the arch that is host to a number of popular bars, clubs, and cafes. Famous companies headquartered in downtown St. Louis include Hardee's and Nestle Purina PetCare.